‘You must understand’, says the personable owner, ‘it’s not a normal museum; more a madhouse’. A truly astonishing collection of mechanical musical instruments ranges from a ghostly keyboard-tinkling Steinway to a robotic violinist to a full-scale orchestra emanating from a large cabinet. This is just the beginning; political cabaret in several languages and an overwhelming sense of good humour and imagination make it a cross between a Victorian theatre and Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It's an extraordinary place.
Entry is by guided tour that lasts around 75 minutes. Having a coffee outside under the steely gaze of a sizeable macaw seems like a return to normality. The museum is signposted 1km west of the main north–south highway.
