Canadian Capitals 6/16/19 (Ottawa)
We got to sleep in as we did not need to meet until 9am today. We started in the hotel lobby where we given Vox Box devices. This allows everyone to hear the tour guide without the need to stand in a closely huddled group. They are pretty nifty and should be used by all tour groups. It allows you to wander around, look at additional sites and take pictures while listening to the tour guide.
Our hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, is adjacent to Parliament Hill. This morning we skipped the bus and started with a walking tour; our first stop was to learn about the locks where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River. The canal connects Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River at Kingston, ON.
Moving on to Parliament Hill, Gen told us about the Canadian governance system; the houses of parliament, how laws are passed, Federal vs Provincial oversight, etc. We were only able to see the buildings from the outside, as most are undergoing renovation. We did get to see preparations for Canada Day, the anniversary of the effective date of the Constitution Act in 1867; this marks the founding of Canada as a nation. This day is celebrated with a large outdoor concert on the grounds of Parliament Hill and crews were already using large cranes to construct the stage.
In the center of Parliament Hill is the Centennial Flame which was constructed to commemorate Canada's 100th anniversary in 1967. It is frequently used by those that wish to protest against the government. This morning, a group was protesting the actions recently taken by Hong Kong regarding an extradition law.
We boarded the bus for a short ride over the river to the city of Gatineau, Quebec. It sits directly across the Ottawa River from Ottawa which is in Ontario. A large number of Federal government offices are located here. The official language of Quebec is French, so business in these offices is conducted in French. Our purpose for traveling here was to visit the Canadian Museum of History.
Once in the museum we split into two groups, each with a local museum guide. The guided portion of our visit focused on the recently renovated wing that includes a large focus on the original inhabitants of Canada, showing the migratory routes that were used to bring people from many different areas of the world to Canada. There is also an entire level of the museum devoted to the First People. Many controversial issues in Canadian History are now covered in the newly remodeled areas of the museum.
Following the museum visit, we returned to the Ottawa side of the river and dropped those interested at the National Gallery of Canada. This afternoon we were free to see Ottawa on our own. We opted to get off in the Byward Market and had lunch at the Giant Pizzeria enjoying our first bite of pizza in over a week!
After lunch we walked over to the starting point for a Rideau Canal Cruise. The cruise lasted about 90 minutes going down to Dow Lake and back. Along the way we saw various landmarks and lots of people enjoying biking/walking paths and even a few kayaking on the canal. We found Ottawa to be a great place to visit. There are many parks, as well as planned green spaces throughout the city. The locals seem to be out and about, enjoying the city. Bicyclists are everywhere, as are people using the many parks/green areas.
Dinner was in the hotel dining room, Wilfrid's was excellent, although the portions were a little overwhelming. Mary started with a tomato tart and Bonnie had poached lobster claws. We split the 14 oz ribeye and took dessert back to our room.
CLICK BELOW TO VIEW PICTURES:
Pictures 6/16/19
Our hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, is adjacent to Parliament Hill. This morning we skipped the bus and started with a walking tour; our first stop was to learn about the locks where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River. The canal connects Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River at Kingston, ON.
Moving on to Parliament Hill, Gen told us about the Canadian governance system; the houses of parliament, how laws are passed, Federal vs Provincial oversight, etc. We were only able to see the buildings from the outside, as most are undergoing renovation. We did get to see preparations for Canada Day, the anniversary of the effective date of the Constitution Act in 1867; this marks the founding of Canada as a nation. This day is celebrated with a large outdoor concert on the grounds of Parliament Hill and crews were already using large cranes to construct the stage.
In the center of Parliament Hill is the Centennial Flame which was constructed to commemorate Canada's 100th anniversary in 1967. It is frequently used by those that wish to protest against the government. This morning, a group was protesting the actions recently taken by Hong Kong regarding an extradition law.
We boarded the bus for a short ride over the river to the city of Gatineau, Quebec. It sits directly across the Ottawa River from Ottawa which is in Ontario. A large number of Federal government offices are located here. The official language of Quebec is French, so business in these offices is conducted in French. Our purpose for traveling here was to visit the Canadian Museum of History.
Once in the museum we split into two groups, each with a local museum guide. The guided portion of our visit focused on the recently renovated wing that includes a large focus on the original inhabitants of Canada, showing the migratory routes that were used to bring people from many different areas of the world to Canada. There is also an entire level of the museum devoted to the First People. Many controversial issues in Canadian History are now covered in the newly remodeled areas of the museum.
Following the museum visit, we returned to the Ottawa side of the river and dropped those interested at the National Gallery of Canada. This afternoon we were free to see Ottawa on our own. We opted to get off in the Byward Market and had lunch at the Giant Pizzeria enjoying our first bite of pizza in over a week!
After lunch we walked over to the starting point for a Rideau Canal Cruise. The cruise lasted about 90 minutes going down to Dow Lake and back. Along the way we saw various landmarks and lots of people enjoying biking/walking paths and even a few kayaking on the canal. We found Ottawa to be a great place to visit. There are many parks, as well as planned green spaces throughout the city. The locals seem to be out and about, enjoying the city. Bicyclists are everywhere, as are people using the many parks/green areas.
Dinner was in the hotel dining room, Wilfrid's was excellent, although the portions were a little overwhelming. Mary started with a tomato tart and Bonnie had poached lobster claws. We split the 14 oz ribeye and took dessert back to our room.
CLICK BELOW TO VIEW PICTURES:
Pictures 6/16/19
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