Friday, August 23, 2013

Vacay - Part 3

The drive back from New Brunswick was pretty uneventful. We had overcast and rainy weather.  We got back to my place at about 9:30 pm. The next day we took a relax day and got the car unpacked, laundry done and the lawn mowed.

On Friday, we went downtown to the Governor General's official residence Rideau Hall and then to Parliament Hill. It was the first time I had been to Rideau Hall.  We went for a tour of the public rooms. You aren't allowed to photograph inside so I don't have any pictures.


This is a picture of the tent room I found online. The walls are wood paneling covered in fabric to look like a tent but at one time these were drapes that could be lowered so that the room could be used for banquets. When it wasn't being used for banquets, it was used as a tennis court. The chandelier wasn't there then. After the tour of Rideau Hall, we spent a little while touring the grounds. It would make a really nice place to go for walks except that dogs are not permitted.

Changing of the Guard

Sentry at Rideau Hall

Fountain in front of the Hall

Rideau Hall

Garden on the grounds

Video taken while at Rideau Hall

Afterwards we went up to Parliament Hill. We had thought to do the tour then have lunch but the next tour that was available was at 2:30 pm so we quickly changed our plan and had lunch first then walked the Sparks Street Mall until it was nearly time for our tour. It looked like it was going to pour rain for awhile and we took shelter under the Peace Tower but we only got a few sprinkles before the clouds passed over. 

Parliament and the Eternal Flame

Lion carving on the Peace Tower

Another stone carving
You are able to take photos inside Parliament but you can't use a flash or a tripod so some of the photos aren't the best.

House of Commons

Stain glass window to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

The Senate
One of the reasons that I wanted to go down to Parliament was that on display in the Hall of Honour are the plaques of each solider who died in Afghanistan. These plaques had been in Kandahar but since Canada's mission is ending they were brought home and will go on tour after being on display in Ottawa.



I worked with Major Ray Ruckpaul and Sergeant Craig Gillam while I was the Quartermaster at the Armour School in Gagetown.


Every soldier was led home by a piper and these bagpipes were used in Kandahar to lead many a soldier home.

The next day Saturday, our youngest sister, Maureen and her partner Steve were coming up from Toronto to stay the night. My sister Juanita and her family hosted dinner so we made a couple salads to add to the dinner fare and had a nice evening together. For my sister Annette, it was the first time she met our nephew's fiancee.  

On Sunday, Annette and I went to the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum to see the Star Wars Identities Exhibit. 

Annette at the Aviation Museum




We chose the right time to go, we headed out just before lunch and when we bought our tickets we only had about 45 minutes to wait to see the Star Wars exhibit, by the time we came out the wait was over two hours.  Admission to the air museum was free with your admission the Star Wars exhibit. 

C3PO

Anakin Skywalker

Darth Vadar

Video of Star Wars Identities Exhibit

We didn't do much the next two days as I was having windows installed. Luckily the first day of the install was a beautiful day so we spent it out on the back deck, reading, surfing the net and playing with the dogs. We did go downtown Monday evening to see Mosaika. It's a sound and light show on Parliament Hill using the Parliament buildings as the screen. Pretty cool, if you're ever in Ottawa during the summer, you have to go see it. It's free, just bring your own chair if you don't want to sit on the grass. Here's a link that gives you an idea and has a link to some photos on Flickr.

On Annette's last night we went to dinner and then our nephew's place for dessert and coffee. Annette's last day here was pretty quiet, she got her stuff all packed up and then we went to the mall as I was having some problems with my cell phone and on our way home we picked up something for lunch. Later in the afternoon, it was off to the airport ending the staycation portion of my holidays. 

I'm still on vacation for another week. I don't have much planned so there won't be a part 4. Keltic has the K9 Kup this weekend so we're hoping for nice weather and that he hasn't forgotten how to do agility. Have to get back to teaching that boy to weave!

6 comments:

  1. The plaques of the soldiers are beautiful. WHat an amazing tribute to them. ANd that tent room is really interesting!

    Enjoy your last week of vacation!

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  2. What a holiday you've had. Pictures are lovely and very poignant. Good Luck at the K9 Kup GO!

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  3. Fun to play tourist in your own city.

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  4. The fact that you knew some of these soldiers brings it a lot closer to home. Thank you for reminding me that these people have friends and families whom I might actually know.

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  5. Reading your post, it brings the death of these soldiers a lot closer to home. In my case, everyone I knew in the Forces have either resigned or retired.

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  6. Very cool post. Very poignant too. Canada seems really similar to England in some ways.
    ~lickies, Ludo

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