Canberra

My cousin has been visiting and last week I took her to the nation's capital, Canberra. When we arrived, it appeared likely to fulfill its reputation for dullness. There were wide streets which were strangely depopulated, boring government architecture, spaces through only cold winds seemed to blow. It was as if nothing had been touched by imagination, even the houses seemed a uniform brick. Given that Canberra is government town, this you thought was what a safe, middle class world looked like. On the positive side, its very middle classness gives it the NGA, cycling rides around Lake Burley Griffin, decent book shops, a university feel and the like. In fact in the night we were surprised to find the city restaurants and cafes to be quite lively. I once had the idea of opening a chocolate bar (as one does inspite of not quite liking the stuff) - but they appear to be quite the thing given Sydney has Max Brenner and Melbourne TheoBroma and yes even Canberra has Koko Black.

Then again, I have lived in towns like Canberra and there is nothing to say that the internal worlds of Canberra residents are any less vivid than those of people elsewhere. Perhaps we have become too accustomed to wanting to live in "happening" cities, to wish every city to be tourist ready and can't appreciate those that adhere to neither.

As the above sampler of pictures shows, Canberra's natural setting is quite spectacular (the pictures are taken at the lake and in the city). Even this like the city is partly man made - the lake was created for the city and the tree plantings ensure a spectacular autumn and spring. But the backdrop of the straggly bush set on flat spaces and the cold clear air which in itself is akin to a relaxing massage is all Canberra's own.