Canberra Part 1

We seem to have brought some bleak weather with us to Canberra that has limited our sightseeing to indoors but that is definitely not a problem in Canberra.  

Just driving around the well laid out streets it is easy to see that this is the hub of Australia.  Universities, museums, galleries, parliamentary buildings, innovation centres, law courts, Embassies, you name it and it is certain to be here in the National Capital. With so much to see and now limited to indoors, we made a list of the places that we didn't want to miss seeing.  Obviously we are just touching on Canberra but with family living here I'm sure we will be back another time to explore some more.  So, our list in order of priority is.....

1. War Museum

2. Parliament House (new)

3. Embassies

4. Telstra Tower

5. Lake Burley Griffin

6. Questacon

7. Wineries

Monday was our first full day here in Canberra and as we were meeting family for lunch we really only had a short time slot to do any of the tourist spots so on advice from the family we drove up the winding narrow Black Mountain Road to the Telstra Tower.  As the rain hadn't quite settled in on Monday we were afforded some magnificent views of the city below us.  We watched an interesting video of the construction of the tower in 1980 and it certainly was an incredible engineering feat.  The 90 tonne steel mast is socketed into the concrete Tower and is designed to sway 1.5 metres from the centre! As well as offering spectacular views the Tower also provides essential communications facilities for the national capital. 

By Tuesday the rain had really settled in so it was off to the War Museum.  I first visited the museum when I was around six years old with my mum, dad and uncle.  I remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday. As we drove up to the building the memories came flooding back.  Of course at the age of 6 it didn't really mean that much to me but from my parents reaction to the displays I knew it was significant.  Today at the age of 63 I can now understand my parents reaction.  It is so moving and I just feel incredible sadness when I read about the precious lives lost in Wars.  We watched a video of the battle of Kokoda.  How on earth those brave soldiers won that battle against the Japanese was against all odds. Our guide told us that there is a major renovation happening at the museum that will mean that more memorabilia can be displayed as there is nothing much on display from Vietnam forwards.  It will be interesting in the future to see the difference in the wars conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan to the ones fought previously.

I was particularly moved at this photograph from the Tower of London with each poppy representing a man or woman lost in the First World War..... 

(Who remembers from their school days, Simpson and his Donkey from the battle at Anzac Cove?

As you are only given a three hour time limit to visit the War Memorial we were home in time for lunch and on this cold and rainy day, and feeling very patriotic, this is what we ate......