Broken eyeglasses, flat tire...excitement in Canberra

January 10
While washing up this morning, my eyeglass lense fell into the sink....just the lense. I tried to put it back together, but without my glasses I couldn’t see anything! All packed, breakfast done, I used Uber for my ride to the airport. Love Uber!! Hugs, kisses, and tears saying bye to Tanya.

At the airport, I found a young lady working at Sunglass Hut who fixed my glasses as best as she could. Boarded my plane only to find a young man sitting in my window seat. He tried to give me his isle seat.....I didnt give in. All through the flight, he kept leaning over taking videos on his phone. He didn’t know what private space meant! I was so glad when the flight was finished.

Got my Uber ride to my cute little bungalow. Met Tony the owner. He was great.... lent me a bike to ride, rode with me to the grocery store, and gave me a name of his friend, Colin who could fix my eyeglasses. After grocery shopping, I found the location on Google map and headed out on my bike to meet Colin at Vision City. It was about a 10 minute ride on main streets. Colin was so helpful and wonderful. He fixed it for free.

I had to ride back home because I forgot to pack my portable charger for my phone. Once back, I headed back out to ride around Lake Burley Griffin. Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake in the centre of Canberra, the capital of Australia. It was completed in 1963 after the Molonglo River—which ran between the city centre and Parliamentary Triangle—was dammed. It is named after Walter Burley Griffin, the American architect who won the competition to design the city of Canberra.

The lake is located in the centre of the city and is the centrepiece of the city. Important institutions, such as the National Gallery, National Museum, National Library, Australian National University and the High Court were built on its shores, and Parliament House is a short distance away. The many parklands in the area are popular wirh recreational users, particularly in the warmer months. Though swimming in the lake is uncommon, it is used for a wide variety of other activities, such as rowing, fishing, and sailing.

I visited The National Museum of Australia.

I rode around Kings Park

then tried to get to The Australian War Memorial. Took a wrong turn and found myself trying to cross a motorway. Found a detour and was happily riding to the memorial, it kept wondering why the bike felt so heavy. I stopped and found that I had a flat tire!

Plans changed....started walking home with the bike. Tony was kind enough to give me his bike while he fixes the flat tires. Had dinner and spent a quiet night.

January 11
Had breakfast and decided not to go to the National War Museum because it opened at 10 and it wouldn’t give me enough time to get back to meet Rachel. Here’s a picture of Tony (air bnb owner) and his bike.

My home away from home....

Rachel picked me up and we headed off to the National War Museum. The Australian War Memorial consists of three parts: the Commemorative Area (shrine) including the Hall of Memory with the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, the Memorial's galleries (museum) and Research Centre (records).

Eternal flame

Tomb of the unknown soldier

View of Parliment House from the War Museum

We headed up Mount Ainslie

Canberra Glassworks is an Australian gallery and glass art studio open to the public to view the glass artists working. Opened in May 2007. It is the largest dedicated glass studio facility in Australia.

Parliment House was next...
The main foyer contains a marble staircase

and leads to the Great Hall, which has a large tapestry

The House of Representatives chamber is decorated green

The Senate chamber has a red colour scheme

Between the two chambers is the Members' Hall

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Old Parliment House is known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the seat of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988

The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a semi-permanent assemblage where residing activists claim to represent the political rights of Aboriginal Australians. It is made up of signs and tents on the lawn opposite Old Parliament House in Canberra.

Telstra telecommunication tower rising 195.2 meters above the summit of Black Mountain offers 360 degree panoramic views of Canberra and its surrounding countryside from an indoor observation deck, two outdoor viewing platforms.

Rachel and I met her friend Jeanette for a 5 km walk. Saw this kangaroo while walking.

After our walk, Rachel picked up Chinese food for dinner. I met her beautiful twins....Georgia and Isabella

Thanks Rachel for showing me Canberra. It was so nice to finally meet you....until next time!