This is getting to an end! In fact, this is my last day in Australia, tomorrow I'll be heading back to Spain. The last couple of weeks have been crazy, travelling to Sydney, sightseeing the city, giving a talk, working here, etc .... but here I am, in front of my computer and trying to keep this blog as up-to-date as possible. I will continue once I am back to Spain ;)
This is the first entry I write from Sydney (and the only one). I've been working at the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO) but do not worry, I have allowed the last four days of my stay to go sightseeing the city, needles to say, one of the most incredible cities in the world!! Those days were amazing... I love this city!! But I will leave those anecdotes to my next post...
Anyway, it's time to speak a bit about the experience of working at an observatory (Mount Stromlo Observatory in this case) and DRIVING ON THE LEFT!! I am used to working in Granada, a small (around 250000 inhabitants), quiet and comfortable city where you can have the privilege of walking to work. However, Canberra is different. I have already talked to you about the kind of dwelling you can find in Canberra, so you can imagine that if every family in Canberra prefers to live in a house with a small (or not so small) garden around it, the area that you need to fit 250000 people is huge!!!
Just some numbers, the closest shopping centre was located 8 km away from my house and the distance between the observatory (where I had to go everyday to work) and my house was 6.1 km. I like running, and I can easily run 10 km, but I do not think running to the observatory or to do the shopping is a good idea, especially if you have to carry all the bags with you! But do not worry, no matter how far your destination is, it will take you a 20-minute drive to get there ;) Everything in this city is 20 minutes apart!!
Working on the observatory was a great experience. I really love nature and I prefer mountain rather than beach or city, so it was great... Although you have to watch for the kangaroos that might jump to the middle of the road. Normally, everyday you can find a bunch of them while driving up and down. They are normally by the side of the road, staring at you while you pass along them, waiting to resume their quiet life. Another very positive point of working in the mountain during Spring (good weather) was the barbecues that every other week people at MSO organise, typical Australian Barbecues!!
Driving on the left was another interesting experience, although to be honest I got used to it sooner than I thought. Dealing with the windshield wipers and lights controls was the worst part. Instead of turning the lights indicators on (right or left), I started the wipers... but apart from that, even the roundabouts had no secrets to me!! Having to use the left hand to change gears was the aspect I was more worried about, but in the end I drove an automatic car so, no worries about changing gears!! ;) I didn't think I was going to say what I am about to write... but I miss my old Toyota Corolla ;) see ya mate!!
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| Some of the traffic signals I run into while walking around Canberra, walking, not driving... I am not suppose to take pictures while driving!!! |
And this is it for now!! The next time I'll be back in Spain talking to you about my last experiences in Sydney... A city everyone must visit!!
