Our Nation's Capital

It was recommended that we use public transit to get into the heart of Ottawa instead of trying to navigate the Monday morning rush and then try to find parking downtown. So we left the campground about 7 AM and drove to a nearby Walmart that was next to a bus route. For $3.50 each we let the bus take us into the heart of the City. So far so good. We were there by 8 AM or so.

So tours of our Parliament buildings are free to all. The only thing is you need a free ticket to get on one of the numerous tours. Apparently everyone lines up at the same time and patiently waits for the doors to open at 9 AM so you can then specify what time slot you would like your tour to begin. So, we stood in line for about an hour until we made our way to the front of the line. We picked the 1030 tour. That gave us time to watch the changing of the guard at 10. The guy at the visitor center gave us a good tip about where to stand so we could get good pictures and be at the right location for the tour.

Line up is not too bad

Line up behind us is getting longer.....

......and is now over two blocks long. Yikes! Sure glad we came when we did.

The Enternal Flame.

The Peace Tower and the Centre Block.

The West Wing

Peace Tower

The tour was about 45 minutes in length. The guide did a very good job of describing how things worked in government, and showed us inside many rooms. The highlight has to be the Parliamentary Library. The ornate woodwork is amazing.

Pipes and drums bring in the guards

Heading to the large field in the background.

A brass band brought in the remaining guard.

Lots of music, marching and a whole lot of orders being barked!

Entering the Peace Tower to begin our tour.

Beautiful stained glass windows everywhere.

Main doors from the front foyer.

House of Commons Chamber

Incredible architecture.

Doors to the Parliamentary Library.

Inside the Library

Ceiling dome

Look at the woodwork details!

Ceiling of the Senate Chamber

The Senate

Senate with Speakers Chairs in the front.

Front Foyer

Front Foyer

We wandered the grounds, saw the Rideau locks, then decided to head for lunch and a cold beer.

The Women's Right to Vote statues

The West Block will become the home of the Parliament once the Centre Block is closed next year for ten years of restoration.

Statues on the grounds

Former Prime Minister Laurier. His statue is outside the East Block, which is under renovation.

Rideau Canal Locks

Fairmont Chateau Laurier

National Museum of History. Across the Ottawa River

Basilica

US Embassy. It's in the shape of a ship.

Famous 56 Sparks Street. Former home of the United Save the Children Fund (USC).

Lota Hitschmanova found the USC and was often heard on radio and TV asking for donations.

James Hope and Sons building. Called Bible House. Interesting features on this building.

Good spot for lunch and a beer!

We spent time at the National War Memorial. A very sobering place. I spoke to one of the military folks in attendance and he told me the two guards took one hour shifts as sentries. These days many are working at either the 'Ironman' or the 'Marathon' shifts. The Ironman means the sentries do not move for the full hour. The Marathon has the sentries march back and forth for the full hour. Both are incredibly hard to do, especially in the high temperatures and high humidity of recent days. The temps were close to 30 C (90 F), and humidity close to 70% bringing the humidex to feeling like mid-30 C (high 90's).

Tomb of the unknown soldier.

Sentries on duty at the Memorial. 

They marched continually for an hour in 35 C weather!

In the Fall of 2014 one of the Sentries was shot in the back while on duty at the Memorial. The shooter was eventually shot in the Parliament buildings. A terrible tragedy, performed by a madman.

A beautiful spot!

The heat was getting to us too so we headed to the bus and then home to the campground. A great day and saw lots of sites.

.......and that was Our View From Here!