We have heard the stories about the conditions miners worked in, some as young as 8. It really hit home for the boys when we visited the miners memorial and read the names, ages and causes of death engraved into the glass. " Paddy Baker, 17, fell down mineshaft".....or " crushed by ore bucket" or " suffocated on explosive fumes". A hardcore life for many, many men and their families.
The art here is pretty fun. We have viewed the worlds largest painting on canvas (4 tonnes of paint used), hiked up to the sculpture symposium and gloried at the sandstone works amidst stunning wildflowers and views to make your heart ache. The countryside is wild and sparse and lush and dry and colorful and subtle and hard all at once. Super prickly bushes next to the most delicate pale blue wispy flowers I have ever seen.
But the prize for favorite creative space goes to the Palace hotel, where Priscilla was filmed. So quirky and kitch and fun!