our national capital........

What a great week.............an excellent chance for some of our parents to attend a school excursion with the kids (and help supervise) to our national capital Canberra. 

I fondly remember my school excursion to Canberra so was very excited to go again.............

the last time I was in Canberra was about 20 years ago going thru to the snow...........

Canberra is so un "city" like...............it is spread out..........lots of big lawns and  open space..............suburbs spaced out............great road network from what I saw............this is what happens when a city is planned..............don't get me wrong there are high buildings...........it is beautiful.......the cooler climate helps too with the trees...............

Cockington Green a display of miniature buildings - either English or a famous building from another country.............it's been going for 33 years............this is a replica to scale of the main building.............

the gardens were at their peak....

the weather was perfect............

.....it was wonderful to see tulips as it is to warm where I live to grow them............

Black Mountain Tower.................gorgeous views of Canberra from here................

Sculptures somewhere in Canberra................

and everywhere in this park it looks like snow see all the white fluffy stuff............it was coming off some trees and it was horrible..............floaty and wafting around................up your nose and in your mouth if you weren't careful............

New Parliment House............opened in 1988............

Australian War Memorial...........up in the arch windows down both sides are walls with all the soldiers names who have died fighting in wars/conflicts for Australia..............I found my great great uncles name and placed a poppy in the wall.............

Looking from the front of the War memorial back over lake Burley Griffin (narrow light strip) then Old Parliament House (white building) up to New Parliament House (see flag just at the top of the hill)................this is a very impressive view from both New Parliament House and the War Memorial...............well planned............

We stayed for the closing ceremony..........the lone piper played and then turned and walked as he played into the tomb of the unknown soldier and then the gates on the tomb closed............ 

We did lots more............but these are my highlights............still catching up on sleep...........and so pleased we have no stairs in town............I am so not used to them.........my knees were killing and everywhere we went there was lots of stairs..........
&&&
last time I posted it was cold.........yesterday was a stinker.............today got warm then the clouds came over and we had a few spots of rain but nothing to measure.........the weather is so changy.........
&&&&
hope you have been busy with your Secret Santa Christmas Swap or SAL quilts.............
sorting the binding for my quilt tomorrow.............
Catch you later..............

Chookyblue