Canberra, Australia's Capital City

 

Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, November 3

 

Perth to Sydney and on to Canberra. Our friends, Harold and Chris Small, were standing at a window at Canberra Airport watching for our arrival. It was fun to be able to wave to them before we even got into the terminal.

 

When we moved to Canberra in 1996, Chris was the first person I met. She was the secretary of the local Uniting Church and I had dropped in to find out about services and activities. We immediately clicked and have been fast friends ever since. This friendship was further cemented when we learned that we both had teenage daughters who would be attending the same school. Happily, Karen and Nadia also became good friends and still stay in touch.

 

We spent one evening with Harold and Chris at home and the next day, we drove out to Yass (about 45 minutes) to have dinner with Nadia and her husband, Joel, and their six delightful children. Everyone  was friendly and on their best behaviour. We enjoyed our visit very much. It was great to see Nadia again. Here’s a photo of a playground across from their home.

 

So we were excited to be in Canberra, staying with Harold and Chris and having a look around town while we were there. Canberra is the capital city of Australia and has all of the features one would expect to find in a capital city. We had the opportunity to be driven around the city and see the sights. The Parliament Building is one of most spectacular and unique government buildings in the whole world. It is primarily built below ground with a sloped turf roof leading up to a peak where the Australian flag is flown. It used to be possible to walk up the slope until security was tightened. Now it is all fenced off and one can only look up to the flag. Of course there are ancillary government buildings in every direction, often surrounded by native shrubs, gorgeous rose gardens (all in bloom at the moment). Statues of significant people are on display as well as pairs of ‘ordinary people’, carved out of bronze, positioned to indicate that the parliament is for the people.

 

We drove through the community where we once lived. Our modest home has been replaced with more modern student accommodation. The nearby shops remain offering a range of shopping from food to clothing to fine china and bronze figurines. The tree-lined streets have maintained their character and make the community look mature and beautiful.

 

Next came the old Parliament House, the original home of the government when Canberra was named the capital of Australia. Rose gardens flourish on all sides of this building, blossoms of many colours festoon the area. 

Across from the old Parliament House is a lovely lake surrounded by well maintained parkland. What a wonderful place to relax and read a book, visit with a friend.

 

We continued on our brief tour of Canberra, now choosing routes that would take us to the airport. It seemed to take no time at all and suddenly we needed to bid farewell to Harold and Chris Small. What great hosts and terrific friends they are.