Come back in 10 YEARS, we should be open
Goal today was to get up close and personal with #Parliament Hill, head over the river to claim #Quebec as a visited province and to finally circle back through #Chinatown to finish the day.
We had been eyeing off the corner #Dublin Pub for breakfast since we had first arrived in #Ottawa and reported for eating duty this morning. It was very quiet. Hadn't realised it was only a weekend thing so missed it by just one day. Staff member directed us over the road to "Zak's" - who coincidentally offered a "seniors" option.
Think potatoes are cheap here - served in large quantities with every meal. We just leave them ...
Suitably fuelled we were out and up the hill. I had tried booking some tours online, but we could only get a #Senate tour and that was for the late afternoon. Did go and check in at the #Visitor Centre hoping we could take the spot of a no-show or cancellation. They definitely were not open to that suggestion.
Contented ourselves with phat laps around the building - taking in the history presented on the interpretive signs and shared through the statues and monuments, all with the constant background of the #Ottawa River and the cranes and drapes of the reconstruction site of #Parliament Hill.
This is an incredible rehabilitation project that is estimated to cost $4.5 billion and run from 2018 till 2031. Apparently, it is on target both time and money wise. The entire insides of the building have been removed (and preserved as needed), asbestos stripped away, excavation completed to make the building bigger and deeper and the roof raised by 4.5 metres. Stonework and masonry, stained glass panels - are all being restored and retained. Of course, the technology and security of the new "innards" will be state of the art.
We'd definitely want to visit on completion - that's just before the #Olympics at home and we will be aged 77 and 75. We can do this. Might book now - and stay a block closer #uptown, #downtown 🤣😜
Felt a compelling need to cross the #Ottawa River to claim we had been into #Quebec. Chose the #Pont du Portage, because it seemed to be the narrowest point-to-point on the river and it allowed access to #Victoria Island. Well, that's the theory. Once past the #National Library (there was a great #Secret of Knowledge bench here for a pic) we started to get the "detour" and "warning" signs. The #Ottawa Trail (a special 1 km track that is part of the east coast to west coast trail) was closed as was all access to #Victoria Island.
Pressed onwards - and @Mac straddled the border on the bridge (according to his Google Maps notification) and this is truly hard to believe but as soon as we were on the #Quebec side - the very next signage was in #French only. The second sign was an information board - and it had both languages - but now, the FIRST descriptor in the left-hand panel was in #French as the predominant language. All this mid bridge!
We walked for nearly 2 kms on the #Quebec side in #Gatineau (we looked at staying on this side of the river - glad we didn't) and saw very few people and even fewer store/building/shop frontages. Everything seemed abandoned or locked down. All we wanted was a coffee.
On Pont du Portage - straddling the border between provinces - same country, a different world
Quebec a little baffling
It was a hot one for walking today especially that slog up the gentle climb of the bridge back to #Parliament Hill. Probably would have caught a bus back if we could have worked out where the stops were or even asked someone for help. Anyway, we abandoned it as a lost cause and definitely hop for a better experience when we start our extended stay in #Quebec.
Once over the bridge, we took a detour through #Sparks Mall (with lots of people) and rewarded ourselves with a brain freezing #Slush Puppie and an ice cream cone. Had a good 30 minutes to kill before our tour so pulled up a rocking chair in the #Mall and showcased our individual talents - @Mac saving the world - me taking a power nap! Even found a good old rocking chair as my resting place. I figure I'll never see these people again so snooze away.
Building a reputation - photos with statues, ice cream and park benches or in this case a rocking chair
Reported with 18 others for our tour of the #Senate with guide @Gary. The security to enter the building was probably the most stringent we have encountered so far on this trip. Was laughing at the contrast - I had my phone, glasses, hat and knee all checked and scanned as was through, but @Mac was still filling the tray with his gear - it was endless: backpack, hat, glasses, belt, coins, silver card case, notes, maps, random bits of paper/napkins, tickets, a hanky, hotel keys .... and even his knee brace was ringing! Had a queue of 16 people behind him waiting to get in. And then we had to reverse the process to reload it. He's a walking #MaryPoppins bag.
The #Senate's "permanent, temporary" location while the refurbishment is taking place is in the old Central Railway Station of #Ottawa. Dramatic high cathedral like ceilings, pillars, marble floors - all filled with light. It was a beautiful setting. @Gary took us through the halls and rooms, into the chamber and also the committee rooms while explaining the bicameral Westminster system of the Canadian government. Lots of similarities with Australia - and of course many differences. Got to read more about the appointment of senators (rather than election) and their "for life" (determined by an upper age limit) tenure.
Next sitting day is September 18 and we are very keen to tune in to a live broadcast of the sitting - just to see how the whole bilingual exchange of debate works.
Visited the halls, the Senate Chamber and a Committee Room
Been interesting to note that in this bi-lingual province you are usually greeted with "Hello, bonjour." Said as a single phrase. The language of your response determines the language that will be used to communicate with you. When we respond "hello" or "good morning" - the conversation continues in English. If we respond "bonjour" then French is used. Been funny a few times because you fall into the trap of "playing" #French - you sort of want to "try" the language. Very quickly back peddle - and get that #English going again. Our Year 10 #French is a little rusty.
Confessing that we just didn't have the legs to get to #Chinatown. Our #MapMyRun data was showing that we had walked 12 kms - and after our advice from our wait staff at #Zak's this morning - a 6 pm venture with fading light - into that area of town just didn't seem like a good idea. There is no way we could have made "a run for it" at the start of the day - let alone at the end of the day.
This is what we missed - just have to look at pictures of it on the net
Made that last trek down the hill to "home" #downtown via #Farm Boy with our dinner in hand. Packed up our #Cooper Street home, set the alarms, ready for an exit tomorrow that will take us on the train again to the next stop on our westward journey.
PS Seeing a lot of programming from the US channels for the 22 nd commemoration of 9/11 but nothing mentioned here in #Canada.
Meanwhile in Europe 🇪🇺 with @M&I
Apparently, when in Europe do like the Europeans. They went on a catamaran today of #Santorini and someone forgot their togs. Lucky, topless in your hiking pants is totally acceptable.
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