Thursday April 23 - Canberra

Off to Canberra…My first impressions of Canberra are not the best. I would describe it like a State University campus during the summer. There are collections of government buildings around the Capitol like the science building or humanities building around the quad. To give credit where credit is due, Parliament House is beautiful. It is incredibly new, dedicated in 1988 and reflects that shiny newness with glass and modern fixtures. The Mall out from Parliament House is also very pretty but it lacks any activity. Small groups of people are wandering around, but they have no sense of wonder or beauty like those that wander around Washington D.C. And lest you think that my opinion is somehow biased, while getting lunch at the café in Parliament House, the young man behind the counter described Canberra as “the biggest hole in Australia.” Most of the Australians that I have met have been quite open about calling Canberra “boring.” I can see very clearly what they mean. First impressions may change, but I don’t suspect that they will.