Day 28 - More Ottawa and RCMP Anyone

We had a slow start this morning, relaxing and enjoying visiting.

Today we have no set plans and Bernie suggests Rideau Hall.  We drive towards the site and park right beside the Consulate for France.  And then there is 24 Sussex the home of our Prime Minster Justin Trudeau.  But we can not visit so we wave and take a picture and move on.

This is as close as Bea could get

Rideau Hall (the Home of the Canadian Governor General -Julie Payette) is a block away and it is such a beautiful day it is lovely to just visit the grounds which are quite extensive.  

Do you not know what a Governor General is? Well I have many readers who are not probably aware.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy, where the duties of head of State and head of Government are distinct. Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts: the Queen, represented by the governor general; the Senate; and the House of Commons.  So the role of the Governor General is our representation of the Crown.  

Of course she does a lot!  Check out the website to learn more.

Visiting Rideau Hall is free and there are free guided tours as well.  Just show up and you will be assigned to a tour group.  They offer them in English and in French. Here are some highlights.

We meet with our guide Molly - who was celebrating a birthday today!  

Check out the Chandelier.  It was given to the Canadian People from Great Britain in gratitude for the assistance provided during the Second World War.  It hangs in the Ballroom at Rideau Hall, where the chandelier still hangs today. The chandelier is neo-classical in style and consists of 12,000 pieces of crystal and 80 bulbs; it weighs one tonne.

Here are examples of some of the medals that are handed out to very deserving Canadians.

This is what the Governor General wears, notice Bea likes it too.

The famous tent room.  Yes that is fabric on the ceiling and walls.  This room is used as a gathering spot for events. Very interesting!

I love the artwork throughout the Hall. All Canadian Artist, and in this room it shows how immigration formed this country.  The above pictures show the settlers that went to the Prairies. The harsh winters and then the summer harvest.

This image above of immigrates travelling across oceans and seeing the land they were going to.  

It is very hot out and the fountain in front is so cold!  

No sign of Prime Minster Trudea or the family - not even sure if they are in Ottawa right - probably not as the G7 gathering is happening in Quebec.

While on the tour two couples said they had just visited the RCMP Ride Center.  So we decide to visit it too.  Another free site for visitors.

A video I found on Youtube that shows the RCMP Musical Ride.  

Here you learn what it is like to be part of the RCMP Musical Ride.  Serving members of the RCMP apply and if selected they come here for training.  If they are the right fit they are chosen and serve for two years full time.  

This is where they train, especially in Winter.  Huge and mirrors on the walls so they can see how they are performing. The Ground is sand so it is very soft for the horses.

Each horse is black and may have a bit of white. They have to be a certain size to qualify.  Did you know each horse is considered to be a member of the RCMP!  Once they have finished their career performing they are retired to a beautiful farm.

They practice all winter long, they take care of their horses and in the Summer they tour.  This year the RCMP Musical Ride will be touring in Ontario and British Columbia.  Here is their schedule this summer. 

They had a really cute gift shop. Bea feels right at home.  In fact we find her siblings - her exact replicas (makes sense since we bought her close to the RCMP training in Regina).

We head to lunch and get a great table outside on this beautiful Sunday.  Cheers Meghan -- thanks for coming up to see us.

For dessert it only makes sense that we have a beaver tail - a quintessential dessert in Canada.  Of course Bea was a little concerned someone would munch down on her tail accidentally.  

We take Meghan to the airport and then we are sad!  Yes we miss you already Meghan.

Tonight we head out to join a Ghost Walk Tour.  It is only a 20 minute walk away and we meet up with a large group right near the Parliament Buildings.

We booked thru Viator but you can book directly here with The Haunted Walk.  

Our guide is an excellent story teller who keeps us on our toes with stories and tales of mysterious events! 

Day 27 - Day in Ottawa - Canal Cruise and Afternoon Tea

We had a lovely evening with Meghan and stayed up until 1;30 am.  But it was so lovely to see her again.

When we wake up we take our time getting ready.

The apartment is so nice and close to everything.  We walk into town getting coffees along the way.

Look here is the Ottawa Hop on Hop Off Bus!

We walk to the red chairs and have a seat and relax.  The sun is shining.  It is a beautiful day.

Today we have booked a Canal Cruise with Rideau Canal Cruise.  

It is a lovely boat that is run by electricity and we get a table right at the back - and hey there is always time for wine! 

Check out this Muster Drill.

Chateau Laurier in the background

Can not get anymore Canadian!

The Canadian National Defense
Our version of the US Pentagon

After a great tour up the Rideau Canal which was an hour and a half.  We walk up to the market.

I had booked afternoon tea at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier to surprise Meghan.  You see on board the Royal Princess we often did afternoon tea together - especially up at the Sanctuary. So it is a nice option to have tea on land.

our wonderful server really took a shine to Bea

Tea was WONDERFUL - and we are full.  We even take most of the sweets back to the apartment.

We had a wonderful day and we are back at the apartment and we rest for a bit.

The evening was a quiet one.  We ended up ordering Thai food and watched Grace and Frankie on Netflix.  Oh and wine and champagne played a role.

Here is our scavenger hunt list today:

• Moose
• Deer
• Hitchhiker
• Eagle/Hawk
• Licence plates from every Province in Canada - but you can not count the province you are in.  So if we see an Alberta plate in BC then it counts, but not if we are in Alberta. British Columbia  Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon, and North West Territory
• Skunk - saw a dead one
• Sheep
• Beaver
• Goslings
• Buffalo
• Goat
• Owl
• Bear
• Loon
• Crane
• Prairie Dog
• Fisherman fishing
• Canoe
• Hummingbird
• Antique car on the road
• Old VW Bug
• Car broken down on the side of the road
• Helicopter on the ground
• Airplane on the ground
• Speeding ticket- hopefully not our own
• Ambulance with sirens on
• Dump truck
• Line painting crew at work
• Mail delivery person walking their route
• Cruise Ship 
• Coyote 
• RCMP officer
• Hop on Hop off Bus
• Sea Glass
• Lobster

If you have any items you think we should add to our scavenger hunt list, let us know.

Antigua

We meet up with Meghan and head ashore together.  As is common in the Caribbean a rain shower has passed and now that it has stopped it is incredibly muggy.

We head to Exotic Antigua store to check out the Tommy Bahamas shirts.  However, when we get there it is very busy. Bernie picks out two shirts he tries them on and decides to buy them.  I took at two blouses to try on, a black one and a white one.  The staff said you can try on the black one but not the white one.  Fine then I don’t want to even think of buying without trying.  They said it was because they did not want to get it dirty. 

So Bernie tried to pay for them, and while standing at the cashier Bernie finally gave up as so many people were in the line and then he kept getting pushed back when others went ahead.  So not a great experience and I probably would not go back into Exotic Antigua.

We grabbed a bite to eat and a cold drink and enjoyed the scenery.

Dylan and Ben along with Laverne were heading to C & C’s winebar and we were told to join them so we went to meet them.  We ordered another bottle of wine to enjoy.

We got the bill and I as shocked to see that it said $100 for the wine.  OMG, Meghan offered to charge it and then when we commented how high it was, Ben said “it is in Eastern Caribbean dollar” oh phew!  Ended up it was only $36 ish American.  Okay I can accept that.

Ben wanted ice cream and we decided to indulge too.  Yummy! 

I returned to the ship and Bernie stayed with Meghan for another drink. 

Even though my foot is healing it does swell up if I walk a lot.  So I thought it would be smart to return and ice my ankle. 

Celebrity Reflection is right next to us.  I see a group of people heading to the bow of the ship for some event. 

They are checking people in there and giving them a drink.  Since I have never been on Celebrity I am not sure what it is about but hopefully one of you can help me answer this question.

Later we are in the International Café and run into Paula and Min and Meghan is there too so we all sit and chat and wow an hour has passed!