Summer Christmas Holidays in Canberra (ACT)

Summer is definitely here, Christmas coming. But without both my  Spanish Friends and  family, Australia could be a little bit frustrating or depressing by these times. However the surprise called to my door when my Australian but resident in Barcelona friend Emily Foppoly sent me a message asking the next proposes.  –Would you like to spend Christmas time in Canberra? … -Why not, I thought. And next day I got the booking for my next trip in Australia.

At first view Canberra is not very popular; in fact there is more than one, who still think that Sydney is the main Capital of the down under country. Well if I’m honest I thought the  same by the first time when  I put the finger in the map for establishing  Australia as my next provisional country   address. 

Anyway.. By the 25^th of December and without letting the food came down from last night at Derrico’s Home, I was in the Canberra Airport trying to find out where the heck was the exit. Without any surprise, and considering how punctual they are in Australia, Emily was waiting for me outside with her car…. Well, when I was approaching to her I thought, may I be polite and use Australian kind of greeting?... You know… But finally I didn’t, “I did as Spanish do, like  Mr Joaquin  Sabina says in one of his songs “One each cheek”

After presentations we went back to her home, a Beautiful area located in North Canberra. During the trip and looking Through  the left side of the window I realized that, the landscape in Canberra is really different from Victoria State. -It looks like if we were in the African grassland! isn’t it?   Green Hills,  some isolated eucalyptus trees, Cows, wild horses…. Just like Africa!   I thought.

By the time we arrived to her home, there were her parents waiting for us. After  a short meeting,  I came inside….-Well…. It was like a time travel, I mean…. The inside part of the house was the traditional  alpine cosy home  from the region of  Italy Alps with pine  wooden and  sloped roofs, the Italian Radio  switch on at any time and there were no carpet floor as I am costumed  to see in everywhere ¡ Yes of course! Of course both her parents are from  north Italy.

Diner was ready at 7:00 PM . Well… Christmas dinner on the 25^th    That was completely new for me, however I really enjoyed de meal, and of course chatting about costumes in Italy, Spain  and Australia. In addition I was surprised when I received my Christmas gift “The Guide of Queensland” A great detail!

On the next day we went to the City centre of Canberra. It really looked as, in Spain we call “a Phantom city”. No one was in the city, no traffic vehicles…. No sound out there…. –Well is this the Capital of Australia? The excuse was – Well, we’re on holiday’s time. Aren’t we?

The first visit was The parliament House, a building constructed in 1988 Located not far from the old Parliament House. This new building is in a really dominant position in the city. Inside and according to the instructions which  Emily thought from the  time she spent at the high school   we found the two main rooms The House of Representatives chamber, decorated green and  the Senate chamber has a red colour scheme. In my honest opinion, in Spain we’ve better parliaments buildings however the  inside politics  leave  a lot to be desired rather than Australian’s ones During the second day we went to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, located approx. 40 km from south east from the city centre. Kangaroos, Birds, and mild walks across the mountain.  Tidbinbilla is a place for enjoy the day, keep relaxed, ride your bike and In my opinion drifting away.

We spent the afternoon in the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. But,- What’s that I said?  Then I was told by Emily , that the Nasa complex has several antennas around the world for making a good communication with deep Space. So there’s one complex in the States,  another in Australia and the last one in…… Spain!!! Yes we’re on the top of the sky!! So with these three antennas we cover the space at any time.  Basically the complex is a group of several antennas with a big one structure Constructed in 1973,  it’s the largest steerable parabolic antenna in the Southern Hemisphere. The massive structure, weighing more than 3000 tonnes, with diameter of  70 m The reflector surface is made up of 1,272 aluminium panels with a total surface area of 4180 square metres. –Amazing!!. Isn’t it?   In addition there’s  a  museum. It Offers visitors the chance to learn about the role that Australia plays in the exploration of space. You can take in magnificent views of the largest antenna, see a piece of the Moon that's over 3.8 billion years old, check out the latest images from across the Solar System and beyond, or just sit back and relax in the Moon Rock Café where I enjoyed having a really Canberra Coffee and piece of  delicious chocolate cake.

Back home, after a long day, we kept relaxed the rest of the day, enjoying a delicious Italian dinner with her family and friends.

To sum up, this has been a completely different history about other Australian’s places and kind of life, were on top of that I’ve enjoyed about their hospitality. And Despite the fact that Canberra as a city has not much interesting attractions to offer, my Special Summer Christmas trip really was worth it!