One more day in Canberra

Trip Start Mar 19, 2007
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Trip End Oct 15, 2007


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Flag of Australia  ,
Thursday, March 29, 2007

Well, looks like I couldnt bring myself to depart with the lovely city of Canberra.  I had actually planned on leaving for Melbourne today, but my host Jonathan freed himself up to take me around for the day.  We had a lovely lunch/coffee at a local cafe where the workers are indeed a bit crazy.  I had a vanilla latte ($5) and bruschetta (2 pieces of bread with olive oil, tomatoes, and spice for $10!!).. People dont eat as much here as in the US and it's much more expensive!  Lucky for me, Johnathan took the tab and said I could repay him by buying him a beer in the US sometime.. lol.  (Most aussies good and bad love their beer!).

Afterwards, we went to the Australian art Gallery which actually had quite a bit of cool sculptures to look at (see the photos).  We walked to the High Courts, which is what we call the US Supreme Court back home.  Interestingly though, here, you can enter the building at any time and even watch any of the trials or hearings you'd like British aussie thing
British aussie thing
 .  The Australian government still allows the people to be very involved in all affairs and as a result, the morale is a bit better.  I also discovered that voting here is mandatory.  If you are a citizen, at 17 u have to register, and if you dont vote at elections- u pay a fine.  The second offense, u go to prison.  As a result, there is about 100% turnout, BUT, luckily for those who refuse to vote on government affairs- all they have to do is turn up to the polls and have their name checked off.  Personally, I think it's a great way to motivate people to vote.  Cause once they are there, they are more likely to do it. 

Finally, we went and did this 'reconciliation walk' .  It's a monument sortof thing that symbolizes the reconciliations made between the aboriginals and aussie people. 
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Comments

saltsage_dave
saltsage_dave on Mar 30, 2007 at 12:09AM

You Go GIrl
Jenny, this is really great!!! Thanks for sharing all these pictures and all the details, and doing so often.
-UnD

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