A capital time.

Canberra is in the ACT, the Australian Capital Territory.  It was created in the early 1900s to a design by an American Architect.  It has about  380,000 population and all the cultural facilities of a national capital, museums, art galleries and science centres.   But more importantly it is home to our twin grand nephews!
Oliver

Sebastian

The cultural facilities are concentrated in a Parliamentary area.

The National Gallery is at one end.

It has an extensive collection of Aboriginal art.

Jo made a bee line for the National Library.

Nearby is the National Portrait Gallery, which we found surprisingly interesting.

In fact, we finally learned the fate of Biggles and Algy, but there was no mention of Ginger.

This may confuse you if you never read Capt. W. E. Johns


The city has a long axis.  At one end is Mount Ainslie with the National War Memorial at its foot across the lake.  

 Looking the other way we see Government House, the original Parliament and behind it surmounted by the huge pyramid is the new Parliament building.

We took a trip out to a nature reserve at Tidbinbilla.

Now, Africa has its "Big Five", the animals you must see, Australia by comparison has its "Weird Three".

There is the Koala.  It eats toxic leaves and has to rest in the trees to try to digest this diet.

Then you have the "Duck Billed Platypus", an animal that appears to be cobbled together by a demented taxidermist.

It is really there.  Just double click the image.   They are elusive.

More elusive was the Wombat.  Who only left behind its cubic poo!

Our final treat in Canberra was their multicultural festival where we got to hear the Didgeridoo during a dance presentation.

It was a great trip.