Canberra

We enjoyed a lively tour of The Royal Australian Mint, where we saw their coinage being made (robots do the work, humans check it). We resisted the deal of 1 new dollar for the price of 3 and headed to Capital Hill and Parliament House. At security, the penknife on my keyring was seized but we avoided incarceration by smiling sweetly. The building is a true 20th Century icon, quite grand and everything relating back to this distinct and unique land, from the wood used, symbolic carvings and artwork. As neither the MPs or Senators were sitting, we saw both chambers and then took in panoramic views of the Capital from the roof. We had lunch there just so we could say we had. We picked up our weaponry again on the way out. Next was The National Museum of Australia which was excellent, especially the Aboriginal art and artefacts. We popped into The High Court of Australia which was also mighty impressive, with massive spaces and superb furnishings in native wood. This court, being the 'highest' in the land concerns itself with constitutional matters and interpreting the law of Australia. Next was The National Portrait Gallery, one painting stood out, being done on jute cloth but having beautiful detail of the subject while the edge of the painting was basically old farm sacks.  Amazing. Finally we went to The National War Memorial, a stunning place, again capturing solemnity and respect while being grand and imposing in a 20th Century way. We stayed for a moving last post ceremony with wreaths laid outside the memorial to the unknown soldier. Canberra is like nowhere else we've been, it only exists because it is the capital but despite only being 101 years old as such (and nothing much happened here for the first 20 or so years of those), it nevertheless holds its own in terms of things of state and perhaps in another few centuries, some of the buildings we've been in today will still seem grand and of their own time in a good way.

Evert Ploeg's painting

http://www.portrait.gov.au/gallery/portmnth/may/hirez.htm