Weather
In winter the weather is stable. -1 at night and +10 at noon.
The sky is blue and the sun is there. Not many clouds, and when they cover the sun it becomes chilly very quickly.
So everybody wears proper wear. It is rather easy to have it a proper way when the weather is chilly almost all the time.
Air is not humid. I would say it’s dry.
Canberra is visually between Melbourne and Sydney, so it was interesting for me to check how humid it is in comparison to humid Sydney and not humid Melbourne.
It felt dryer than in Melbourne.
We were told that it’s not much rain in Canberra. What about snow? No snow either! :) But sometimes when wind blows from Snowy Mountains, there can be little of snow which does not last long on the ground anyway.
The usual thing for Canberra is fog. This is what I saw from the airplane fearfully thinking whether it’s snow or not.
University of Canberra
University of Canberra impressed me by its size. Not the university buildings size, but the land the whole Uni occupies. Can you imagine that the Uni has 3 banks, several cafes (serving different cousin each. Sizzle Cafe is the best! :-D But my favourite Chai Latte is in the cafe which is in a cozy inner yard :) ) and even a Post Office.
They even have a space ship! :-)
Uni area with buildings, trees and overall spirit reminded me Akademgorodok, which is a Russian scientific centre (located in Siberia) where I was studying at the University.
Originally Akademgorodok was build for a State University and a whole bunch of research institutions. It’s a nice place with a special atmosphere. Lots of trees, nice alleys. To get from one institution building to another you usually walk through a forest and you can see squirrels along your way. (It’s very cold in Siberia in winter, so squirrels come to the buildings and literally sit near windows they can reach waiting for food.)
Ref: Akademgorodok:
(photo source: us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/sergeyp/sergeyp0506/sergeyp050600246/200659-russia-novosibirsk-akademgorodok-transition-between-the-right-and-left-sides-of-house-of-scientists.jpg)
Ref: Squirrell in Akademgorodok:
(photo source: farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4538052433_5f751726af.jpg)
University of Canberra reminded me my Uni city. Just instead of squirrels between trees you see kangaroos and rabbits :)
(sorry, I could not zoom because my camera lens were broken)
Parking sign:
Computer Centre building:
I like how University of Canberra linked the current winter term with “cool” winter weather (even I become really frozen every time I look at this sign :-D)
The sign says: “Our new winter term is a cool idea”
What’s Next
The business trip continues, we are heading to Sydney.
And you know what, road between Canberra and Sydney is only 3 hours of driving but surprisingly this road turned out to be the most boring for me. The same landscape, the same brown color…
You will not believe that, but the road to Coober Pedy was much more pleasant for an eye! :-)
Roads, roads, roads. Road windshield walls, small bridges, turns left, turns right. What else can you see on a business trip if you are busy from the early morning till dusk?
Till next time, Canberra! We need to meet up again. I need to double check all that feelings you brought to me, to understand you more. There should be something attracting. I just need to find out what that is. Otherwise… it all feels a bit strange and “man-, not historically-, created”.
This is the final part of series of stories. See other parts:
Canberra, the Very First Impression – Links to all stories
Later in Sydney (between rains :-D):
Author: Natalie
Your blog is showing more interest and enthusiasm. Thank you so much.