Ottawa Trip

Lynda and I planned this trip since we were in Washington D.C. a few years back and we thought that we should visit our nations capital.  It is about 30 years since I was last here.  We are staying at the Business Inn a great hotel located very central to everything.  
Yesterday we took a tour of the Royal Canadian Mint.  They do not make coins for circulation here but only investment coins.  It was a very interesting tour.  We had a small group of about 7 people so it was easy to ask questions and to follow along with the guide.  From there we took the bus to the Governor Generals home at Rideau Hall.  We were lucky to get a tour there of the inside of this wonderful place.  We toured the Great Hall and the Hall where all the service medals were given out.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside either of these buildings.  We did take pictures of the grounds.

Rideau Hall

Then of course we had to go to a quilt shop in Orleans which is a suburb of Ottawa, called Quilty Pleasures.  We bought fabric for a quilt for Lynda's newest granddaughter.

Today we were heading for the Supreme Court of Canada and as we were walking past the Parliament buildings we decided to try our luck for a tour.  There were loads of school children but we managed to get a tour with about 10 other people.  We could take all the pictures we wanted so I have lots.  After the tour we went to the Peace Tower and had a view of the entire city.

The Senate Chamber

When we were finished we went to the gallery in the House of Commons and heard a debate on the new Election Act.  Questions Period wasn't until 2:30 pm so we couldn't wait around because we had had no lunch.  After lunch we went to the Bayward Market and then took the Tulip Shuttle to Dow Lake to see the tulips.  There are over 300,000 tulips with over 60 varieties.  That is not a typo.  They are given to Canada from the Netherlands to show their appreciation for the Canadian soldiers who liberated the Netherlands during the Second World War.

There were tulips as far as the eye could see.

There are 2 varieties here, one a pale pink and one a darker colour.  The pale ones were taller than the darker ones.

On to the Supreme Court tomorrow.

Peggy.