Day 19 - July 3, 2008
Yesterday sunny and hot – today torrential rainfall approx 18 degrees with highs of 22. We start off really early today as there is a lot to pack in. Off to the Parliament Buildings! The tour of the centre block is where we see the parliamentary library, House of Commons and Senate. The building is absolutely beautiful. Stained glass on the roofs, archways, friezes, tall and majestic hallways, and grand hallways. The House of Commons is as green as seen on TV and the Senate is done in all red. Beautiful rooms and quite an inspiring place to be, especially around our country’s birthday.
Our tour guide was awesome – she is a history student, so her eyes would get big, and she would talk fast when we got to the special rooms and places! It was really cute! As we said before, the library was the only building that survived the parliament building fire. This was an absolutely beautiful place, very quiet, lots of wood paneling, and carving and archways, alcoves of books all over the place. Wonderful place to flip through a magazine with a chai tea! Except they don’t let commoners into this library, just members of parliamentary and their staff.
We then went on to the East Block – this is another building on the grounds, which was not destroyed by the parliament fire. This is where John A. MacDonald worked and sat, and in a different office, where most of the other Prime Ministers up to and including Trudeau were located. This is also where the Privy Council chamber was, which is where cabinet meetings were held since confederation until 1976. Just think about all the important discussions and decisions made in that room and around that table! It was amazing to look inside the offices of the men who helped form our country.
The War museum was our next stop, and believe me if you don’t know about Canada’s history in the time of war, this is the place. It begins with the first wars, with the first nations peoples and the French back in the early days of 1605 to the present and even has a place where you could play out a simulation of what WW 3 might look like in the future. I realized how much I did not know, and how much Lucas and Phil do know. This was a highlight for them both. This is where both of them were wide eyed and talking fast!! The one exhibit that moved me the most was WW 2, and the whole Hitler thing. They actually have a car that Hitler used in parades. The Americans took the car after the defeat, and then later gave it to Canada. It was quite disturbing looking at it realizing that
Hitler had sat there. It was a real heavy moment. You could almost feel the hate and the horror that came from that seat! They also have an exhibit of tanks, cannons, and all vehicles of war from little war jeeps to the big transport trucks. We spent hours at this museum – time well spent. To finish off our day we took a drive to 24 Sussex drive to see the Prime Ministers house, and Rideau Hall, to see where the governor general lives. Beautiful area. Beautiful buildings. We also saw the embassy of Saudi Arabia, and US. These were unexpected, but cool to see.
Our tour guide was awesome – she is a history student, so her eyes would get big, and she would talk fast when we got to the special rooms and places! It was really cute! As we said before, the library was the only building that survived the parliament building fire. This was an absolutely beautiful place, very quiet, lots of wood paneling, and carving and archways, alcoves of books all over the place. Wonderful place to flip through a magazine with a chai tea! Except they don’t let commoners into this library, just members of parliamentary and their staff.
We then went on to the East Block – this is another building on the grounds, which was not destroyed by the parliament fire. This is where John A. MacDonald worked and sat, and in a different office, where most of the other Prime Ministers up to and including Trudeau were located. This is also where the Privy Council chamber was, which is where cabinet meetings were held since confederation until 1976. Just think about all the important discussions and decisions made in that room and around that table! It was amazing to look inside the offices of the men who helped form our country.
The War museum was our next stop, and believe me if you don’t know about Canada’s history in the time of war, this is the place. It begins with the first wars, with the first nations peoples and the French back in the early days of 1605 to the present and even has a place where you could play out a simulation of what WW 3 might look like in the future. I realized how much I did not know, and how much Lucas and Phil do know. This was a highlight for them both. This is where both of them were wide eyed and talking fast!! The one exhibit that moved me the most was WW 2, and the whole Hitler thing. They actually have a car that Hitler used in parades. The Americans took the car after the defeat, and then later gave it to Canada. It was quite disturbing looking at it realizing that
Hitler had sat there. It was a real heavy moment. You could almost feel the hate and the horror that came from that seat! They also have an exhibit of tanks, cannons, and all vehicles of war from little war jeeps to the big transport trucks. We spent hours at this museum – time well spent. To finish off our day we took a drive to 24 Sussex drive to see the Prime Ministers house, and Rideau Hall, to see where the governor general lives. Beautiful area. Beautiful buildings. We also saw the embassy of Saudi Arabia, and US. These were unexpected, but cool to see. Ottawa has been Lucas’ favourite spot so far.
Cool Facts we learned:
1) A portrait of a fairly young Queen Victoria has hung in the centre block of the parliament buildings since 1858. (The Queen chose Ottawa as the capital of the colony of Canada around that time. The Queen hated the picture and suggested it be burned. Parliament refused. Ironically the picture has survived 4 fires, one of which burned virtually all of the original parliament building.
2) In World War 2 the Japanese made over 6,000 balloon bombs which were released from Japan with the hope that they would float to North America and cause panic or forest fires. Three hundred are know to have landed/detonated in North America, including several around Vancouver and a few within maybe 100 miles of Kelowna.
3) Even kids helped with the war effort of WWII doing bake sales and recycling drives.
4) Vimy Ridge was the key area that needed to be taken from the Germans before the Allies could invade Germany. Over many months the French had tried twice to take it and Britain tried once. They then turned it over completely to the Canadians to plan and execute and assault. The Canadians took it 3 days.
Lucas statement: Did you know… at the battle of Ypres the French and Canadians were jointly holding the important and strategic area when the Germans first used chorine gas. The French ran away but the Canadians single handedly held the position until reinforcements could be sent.
Cool Facts we learned:
1) A portrait of a fairly young Queen Victoria has hung in the centre block of the parliament buildings since 1858. (The Queen chose Ottawa as the capital of the colony of Canada around that time. The Queen hated the picture and suggested it be burned. Parliament refused. Ironically the picture has survived 4 fires, one of which burned virtually all of the original parliament building.
2) In World War 2 the Japanese made over 6,000 balloon bombs which were released from Japan with the hope that they would float to North America and cause panic or forest fires. Three hundred are know to have landed/detonated in North America, including several around Vancouver and a few within maybe 100 miles of Kelowna.
3) Even kids helped with the war effort of WWII doing bake sales and recycling drives.
4) Vimy Ridge was the key area that needed to be taken from the Germans before the Allies could invade Germany. Over many months the French had tried twice to take it and Britain tried once. They then turned it over completely to the Canadians to plan and execute and assault. The Canadians took it 3 days.
Lucas statement: Did you know… at the battle of Ypres the French and Canadians were jointly holding the important and strategic area when the Germans first used chorine gas. The French ran away but the Canadians single handedly held the position until reinforcements could be sent.
1 comment:
Wow! The war museam must be really cool! Have fun!
Joshua Penner
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