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26/04/09: We got to Canberra about 4.10, as we drew nearer it got cloudier and cloudier and started raining. We drew into bus station and stepped off the bus into the freezing cold- I had forgotten what the cold felt like- it was apparently 9 degrees- colder than home!!! We then had to walk to find the hostel in the cold and the rain!! We managed to find it before long and checked in. The hostel is a YHA hostel (its the first time we have stayed in one and it is a proper Youth Hostel Association hostel). It is really nice- it has a pool, jacuzzi and sauna!! Plus the facilities are a lot better. There are a strange mix here though- a few families and old people- its more like a hotel. We are in a four-bed dorm with two English girls who seem ok. We dumped our stuff and went to get something to eat cos we were starving. We walked to the shopping centre and got takeaway burgers and chips- very healthy! Then we popped to supermarket for supplies. Canberra looks ok, except the weather- there is an expected minimum temperature tomorrow of 3 degrees- who would of thought!!!! I went for a nice swim and jacquzzi but the sauna was out of order. Then I chilled in the room and read, while lil alex watched a film in the lounge area.
27/04/09: Got up about 9 and got ready- weather still not great!! We booked a bus trip for tomorrow that takes us around the sights of the city and to some of the museums, etc, because they are all too far to walk to. Then we went to the shopping centre around the corner- it is huge- we walked around it for a couple of hours then got lunch in the food courts- I had a Mediterraen Pizza roll thing and an asparagus salad. We also got stuff to cook our own healthy dinner tonight of vegetable wraps. We walked back and it was very cold and drizzling. We are stuck with what to do for the rest of the day- especially as the pool is out of order! Maybe everyone was right about Canberra! We went to the cinema in the end and watched 'Rock the Boat'- dunno if anyone has seen it- it was probably released ages ago in England cos they seem a bit behind here. But we really enjoyed it- it was a lot better then we thought and actually quite funny. We come back and cooked dinner- the kitchen has good facilities but was full of about 20 old people!?!?! Lil alex watched a film in the lounge while I steamed on with The Da Vinci Code. We didnt have anyone else in our room which was a bonus so we slept well.
28/04/09: We got up and had breakfast of watermelon and cereal bar. Then we got bus at 9.20 from outside hostel- it was only a small minibus and we was 2 of 4 on it. The driver John set up the tour cos he was fed up of everyone criticising Canberra for being boring. First stop was the Australian War Memorial Museum, we only had about 1.5hours there but we could of spent sooo much longer there. It is the most visited attraction in Australia. It had loads of stuff like planes and guns, etc. Then we got picked up and went around to Parliament House- we had a guided tour where we saw the chambers and Great hall, etc, and learnt all about their parliament. Then we had a sandwich in the cafe and went up to the roof to views of Canberra. We drove up the driveway that has all memorials, etc. Then we went to Old Parliament house- which is next door and was their parliament house until 1988. It is now a musuem. We looked around that and then drove all around the embassy buildings- they are all themed and designed to look like the country they represent. Finally we went to National Museum of Australia which was a bit disappointing- it was really random. We looked around and then got dropped off back at hostel. We walked to supermarket and got stuff to cook. We come back and I went for a swim (pool open again but sauna still out of order) but it was freezing so I went for shower instead. Then we cooked tea- pasta. Chilled the rest of the night- I read and listened to music and lil alex paced up and down bored. Had noone else in room again!
29/04/09: Happy Birthday Auntie Debbie!! Moving on to Melbourne today- 2 days, 3 nights was more than enough here in Canberra. We got up about 9 and got ready to check out before 10. Put bags in storage and chilling til we get bus at 1- long drive (8 hours) to Melbourne. Weather a lot brighter today but still cold- minimum temperatures of 0 degrees today and expected frosts tonight!?!?
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