Canadian Capitals 6/17/19 (Ottawa to Montreal)
Breakfast at 7am, bags ready at 7:30am and once again we pulled away from the hotel on time at 8:30am. We took a brief ride past a few embassies, the prime minister's residence and the home of the US Ambassador before pulling into the home of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stables.
The RCMP is a federal police force for Canada and has primary jurisdiction in all areas with the exception of Ontario and Quebec. These provinces have their own police force and RCMP assists only where needed. The RCMP has responsibility for functions that in the US are handled by the FBI, CIA, Border Patrol, Secret Service, and the DEA. We were greeted at the gate by Bob Taylor, a retired RMCP officer.
The stables we visited are home to the Musical Ride which is an event that showcases the equestrian skills of 32 cavalry members who are also regular members of the police force. A third of the team is replaced each year and they travel the world performing. They have been performing since 1887.
All the horses are that are part of the "ride" are bred and selected primarily for their coat color which is dark brown to solid black.
Following the tour of the stables, Bob talked about the history of RCMP, the application process and the many different areas of services available to officers today. The stables also has a small museum and wait for it....a gift shop!
Moving on, we headed for Montreal, our next capital city. However, this being a Tauck tour, and we had not eaten in a couple of hours, we stopped for lunch at Chateau Vaudreuil. The Chateau sits on the Lake of Two Mountains where the Ottawa River meets the St. Lawrence River; they recently experienced the flooding that we have seen on many of our stops since the tour began. Known as a prime location for weddings, the grounds are beautiful, though the lawns are being repaired due to the flooding. We were treated to a fabulous luncheon buffet and had some time to walk around the grounds.
We arrived in Montreal around 2:15pm, stopping at the hotel just long enough to off load luggage and pick up our local city guide, Carol. Carol pointed out various buildings and landmarks on our way to our first stop, the Notre Dame Basilica. We have visited many churches and cathedrals in our travels, but the interior of the Basilica is one of the most stunning we've seen. Carol told us about the history and meaning of several of the stained glass windows which depict historical events in the history of Montreal rather than biblical scenes. The church has a magnificent organ with 7,000 pipes; wishing that we were able to hear it! The church is used for many important events. Pierre Trudeau's funeral was held here as was the wedding of Celine Dion.
Back on board the bus, we toured the area a little more before stopping at the Symphony House; we entered the venue which leads to the Underground City. Exiting on the opposite side, we found ourselves in the middle to several blocked off streets. The city is preparing for Spectacle a Montreal. The event spans many days and includes free concerts on multiple outdoor stages. Additional concerts are held at indoor venues for a charge. It seemed to be a cross between a regular concert and a state fair with many food vendors/trucks lining the streets.
Dinner tonight was at the hotel Restaurant, Roselys, where we ate with three other couples and enjoyed the meal.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE TODAY'S PHOTOS
Pictures 6/17/19
The RCMP is a federal police force for Canada and has primary jurisdiction in all areas with the exception of Ontario and Quebec. These provinces have their own police force and RCMP assists only where needed. The RCMP has responsibility for functions that in the US are handled by the FBI, CIA, Border Patrol, Secret Service, and the DEA. We were greeted at the gate by Bob Taylor, a retired RMCP officer.
The stables we visited are home to the Musical Ride which is an event that showcases the equestrian skills of 32 cavalry members who are also regular members of the police force. A third of the team is replaced each year and they travel the world performing. They have been performing since 1887.
All the horses are that are part of the "ride" are bred and selected primarily for their coat color which is dark brown to solid black.
Following the tour of the stables, Bob talked about the history of RCMP, the application process and the many different areas of services available to officers today. The stables also has a small museum and wait for it....a gift shop!
Moving on, we headed for Montreal, our next capital city. However, this being a Tauck tour, and we had not eaten in a couple of hours, we stopped for lunch at Chateau Vaudreuil. The Chateau sits on the Lake of Two Mountains where the Ottawa River meets the St. Lawrence River; they recently experienced the flooding that we have seen on many of our stops since the tour began. Known as a prime location for weddings, the grounds are beautiful, though the lawns are being repaired due to the flooding. We were treated to a fabulous luncheon buffet and had some time to walk around the grounds.
We arrived in Montreal around 2:15pm, stopping at the hotel just long enough to off load luggage and pick up our local city guide, Carol. Carol pointed out various buildings and landmarks on our way to our first stop, the Notre Dame Basilica. We have visited many churches and cathedrals in our travels, but the interior of the Basilica is one of the most stunning we've seen. Carol told us about the history and meaning of several of the stained glass windows which depict historical events in the history of Montreal rather than biblical scenes. The church has a magnificent organ with 7,000 pipes; wishing that we were able to hear it! The church is used for many important events. Pierre Trudeau's funeral was held here as was the wedding of Celine Dion.
Back on board the bus, we toured the area a little more before stopping at the Symphony House; we entered the venue which leads to the Underground City. Exiting on the opposite side, we found ourselves in the middle to several blocked off streets. The city is preparing for Spectacle a Montreal. The event spans many days and includes free concerts on multiple outdoor stages. Additional concerts are held at indoor venues for a charge. It seemed to be a cross between a regular concert and a state fair with many food vendors/trucks lining the streets.
Dinner tonight was at the hotel Restaurant, Roselys, where we ate with three other couples and enjoyed the meal.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE TODAY'S PHOTOS
Pictures 6/17/19
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