Canberra

Keeping up the crushing pace, we zipped back to Whalie and scooted off again, this time for the nation's capital. The folks and I were in the advance party, leaving a day ahead of PK and the kids. We managed to get lost in the middle of Canberra (there were no lights!), and then miraculously intuited our way to Joan's doorstep. I think I'm getting a feel for this place.



After all the nature worshipping, it was time for some culture. We spent the morning at Parliament House, the afternoon at the National Gallery, and the evening at the Canberra playhouse for the Bell Shakespeare production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Parliament House is quite a wonder. The architects went overboard with the symbolism but in the best of ways. For example, you enter into a majestic hall that evokes the gum tree forests with its many green marble columns and the color schemes of two houses were also inspired by the gums (green for the leaves and red for the blooms). By far the coolest feature is the building's green roof, built way ahead of its time. Its environmental friendliness is only a side benefit--the main function of the roof's grassy expanse is to encourage the feeling that the people are above the government. I likey.

With its Sydney Nolan paintings of Ned Kelly, the National Gallery is awfully special too. Besides the Ned Kelly collection we enjoyed seeing some great American art (Jackson Pollack's "Blue Poles" and two Chuck Close portraits) cleverly purchased before their value went into the stratosphere, and some powerful Asian art.

Back at Joan's, we met up with PK and the kids and then set off to see the play, a rollicking production that capped the day off perfectly.

Oh, and PK and I once again climbed the hill behind Joan's house looking for kangaroos . . . and we saw about 20 of them. Aren't they gorgeous?