| One of the interesting features of Ottawa is its | | | | The historic East Block has not changed much since |
| architecture and Ottawa has many heritage sites. | | | | the days of Confederation. The offices of Canada's |
| Parliament Hill with its historical neo-Gothic buildings | | | | first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, have been |
| was an area I wanted to discover in more detail. | | | | restored and are available to visit on a public tour. |
| Friday night, just after we arrived in town I was able | | | | The West Block is not accessible to the public as it |
| to snap a few pictures, just before the sun went | | | | houses the offices of the members of parliament. |
| down. Saturday morning I got up and out by 7:30 am | | | | The Peace Tower is Ottawa's trademark and its |
| and it was a crisp morning, with perfect blue sky. It | | | | name is a commemoration of Canada's commitment |
| was definitely on the cold side, not a good idea to | | | | to peace. The Memorial Chamber is located on the |
| venture out without a hat or a thick scarf. So it was | | | | third floor of the Tower, and it honours Canadians |
| going to be a bad hair day again, but who cares.... | | | | who have died in armed conflicts since Confederation. |
| I started off with the area immediately in front of | | | | The Peace Tower also holds an observation area and |
| the Lord Elgin Hotel, which includes the National Arts | | | | the Carillon which contains 53 bells weighing anywhere |
| Center, the Government Conference Centre (the | | | | from less than 5 kg to more than 10 tons. |
| former Union Station, Ottawa's main railway terminal), | | | | The Centre Block was affected by a large fire in |
| the War Memorial and the Chateau Laurier. | | | | 1916. Canada began rebuilding it while still fighting in |
| Then I marched up to Parliament Hill from where you | | | | the First World War. The new structure, designed in |
| have an absolutely perfect view over to Hull and the | | | | the Modern Gothic Revival style by John Pearson and |
| Gatineau Hills. I admired the sculptures " Women are | | | | Jean Omer Marchand, was completed by 1922. The |
| Persons" (referring to women being recognized as | | | | Peace Tower was finished later in 1927. |
| their own human beings), and took a number of | | | | In the summer Parliament Hill offers up a unique |
| pictures and video clips of the Parliament Buildings. | | | | ceremony: every day at 10 am the Changing of the |
| Parliament Hill is the seat of Canada's Government | | | | Guard takes place, and this year the ceremony will |
| and consists of the Centre Block, the West Block | | | | be held every day from June 24 to August 26 of |
| and the East Block. The Senate and the House of | | | | 2006. |
| Commons are also located here. Free tours are | | | | Parliament Hill with its big open square lends itself |
| generally available every day, except my own | | | | naturally as a meeting and entertainment venue. The |
| discovery was a little bit too early to take the tour. | | | | Canada Day celebrations are held here and they |
| Incidentally Canada's Parliament Buildings have an | | | | include free concerts, spectacular fireworks, a flight |
| interesting history. Lower Canada (today's Quebec) | | | | demonstration by the Snowbirds (Canada's precision |
| and Upper Canada (today's Ontario) joined together | | | | aerobatic team), and you'll only have to put up with |
| to form the Province of Canada in 1841. The seat of | | | | short speeches by Canadian politicians. |
| government alternated for many years until Queen | | | | Another event coming up for 2006 is a free sound |
| Victoria was asked to select a permanent capital in | | | | and light show called "Canada: the Spirit of a |
| 1857. | | | | Country", which will be performed on a daily basis |
| To the surprise of many, the Queen selected the | | | | after dark between July 5 and September 10, 2006. |
| rough lumber town of Ottawa instead of the | | | | Images will be projected onto the Parliament Buildings. |
| established cities of Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City | | | | Obviously Parliament Hill is not just a boring place for |
| or Kingston. One of the reasons was that Ottawa | | | | politicians, it is an entertainment venue and meeting |
| was close to both provinces and located at a safe | | | | place for people from Ottawa, for folks from the |
| distance from the American border. | | | | rest of the country and for international tourists alike. |
| The Parliament Buildings were built between 1859 and | | | | After my discovery of the Parliament Buildings I |
| 1866 (not including the Library and the Tower). One | | | | walked further west to have a look at the Supreme |
| year after they were finished, Confederation | | | | Court of Canada and the other surrounding buildings. |
| occurred and the buildings were immediately selected | | | | What really fascinated me where the huge plumes of |
| to house the government for the newly created | | | | steam that come out of the smokestacks, I don't |
| Dominion of Canada. | | | | recall seeing the same types of formations in |
| The main building of the government buildings is called | | | | Toronto. One person explained to me that the air in |
| Centre Block and it is instantly recognizable with its | | | | Ottawa is calmer as compared to Toronto where we |
| trademark Peace Tower. Visitors can watch the | | | | always have wind blowing in from the lake which |
| House of Commons and the Senate from the visitor | | | | actually would disperse these clouds of smoke. An |
| galleries, and free tours are also available. A tour to | | | | interesting sight.... |
| the top of the Peace Tower rewards you with a | | | | This crisp morning walk was the perfect introduction |
| great view all over Ottawa. Canada's war dead are | | | | to Ottawa and a good way to burn off calories from |
| honoured inside the Memorial Chamber. | | | | last night's carlory-rich evening at Fat Tuesday's. |
| The Library of Parliament Building - the only part of | | | | After a rather hearty breakfast at the Lord Elgin |
| the original Centre Block that survived the desastrous | | | | Hotel, we set off to begin our day of skating on the |
| fire of 1916 - is currently undergoing restoration work | | | | Rideau Canal Skateway, the main reason we had |
| to bring it back to its former glory. | | | | come to Ottawa. |