The Australian Government has a nice piece of real estate with this Embassy and became the owner apparently because the Germans gave it to us when they were losing the war and retreating from Paris, so it is kind of tainted with the liberty of the French, but still Australia knows what's good for it so we ain't going to give it back.
The building is totally gross and looks like it hasn't been renovated since the war. It is grey and kind of gross generally, I got very bad vibes from it, even though it was nice to see the Australian flag etc. On the other side of the building is this huge billboard advertisment from Tourism Australia, which has some guy in a crocodile hunteresque outfit in the middle of a desert in what looks like the outback of the Northern Territory with "Visit Australia".
Now I am not saying that the outback of the Northern Territory isn't Australian but surely we are more than the bloddy outback. I thought it was a bit fo a shame that this is what we have decided to show the French (and all the tourists going to the Eiffel Tower too) and perpetuate the sterotype that Australia is just one big dustbowl. I think that a collection of images that showcased our forrests, outback, beaches and cities would have been a better reflection of what people can expect from Australia and a better use of the advertising space.
The House of Japanese Culture in Paris is amazing even though there really isn't anything to see. They don't have exhibitions but they do have a TV screen where you can watch sumo matches and a collection of bonsai's that rich Parisian woman have created. The same rich Parisian woman are the ones who sit down and watch the sumo with a puzzeled look. It was the perfect mix of cultres. The gift shop is also amazing if for the only reason being that old Japanese woman speak French in it - A-MAY-ZING!!!!!
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