A Little More Ottawa.

To commemorate our second day of experiencing da Ottawonian lyf: as always words are boring, pictures are not. This is the motto of this blog, I have just decided.

First rule of Ottawonian club is do not speak of HOW NOBODY LIVES HERE.

Seriously, the place is like a miniature Melbourne, pretty streets, lots of cafés, big tall business buildings, parliament is apparently a happening thing, BUT NO ONE IS THERE. 10pm on a Saturday/Friday night looks like Melbourne at like...never. Maybe Monday night at 3am. 

This is obviously not going to stop us ADVENTURING, so onward-ho...

A little Internet birdy told us that Parliament runs free (free! free! free!) tours during the day, so we thought we'd trek up there (two tiny blocks) first thing in the morning, and spend the rest of Ottawa's party time hours at one or more of the number of museums we wanted to see: namely National Gallery of Canada, Civilisation Museum (in Québec!) and the Nature Museum (with dinosaur bones!). 

Another random birdy apparently told Elisa that there exists a Canadian changing of the guard, which has to be one of the silliest things I've heard - but apparently she was right, because I found a picture:

heheheheheehehe.

So, hehehehehe, they have funny hats and everything, and obviously it only runs in the Summer months, like everything in Canada ever, but the most important thing to get out of this image is how perpetually shocked the building's tower looks:

ERRMAHGERRD.

I didn't notice it until I saw this image from the internet, and now cannot unsee. 

SO now that every photo I have of Canada's beautiful parliament is officially inadvertently hilarious, let us continue.

Hahahahahahahaha. Okay no really, let's go. 

This is called the Peace Tower.

Look! Construction! This is my shocked face. It looks just like the building.

Ironically, beneath the Peace Tower: anti-abortion and anti-gay protest signs. There was no one with them and they were gone by the end of the day. I like to think they were kicked out. Building is, quite rightly, outraged. 

Seems like an eternal flame. Smelled strongly of gas. 

Visitors to parliament met underneath the tower; we were told the next tour wasn't until 12.50 which was pretty high on the annoying scale, so we went for a long walk.

Walking in action.

I was a bit taken aback by this - where in Australia is a statue of her? As you'll see, her and her great great grandmother are big around here, for obvious reasons, but I don't remember them being so in Australia? Possibly in Canberra, I suppose. I dunno.

This set of statues are a celebration of women in Canada - there's a bit of into about when they were allowed to vote, the first female senators etc; This group - I don't know who they are or what exactly they did, but I remember they're on one of Canada's bank notes.

Women: f**k yeah. 

Walking: some surrounding streets.

Gasp!!

Shock!!

Horror!!! D8 

World Wars Memorial.

Why thank you, Mr Owl!

Ottawa sits where 3 rivers meet; they're at different heights, so there's a system of locks to get boats from here to there.

That's the province of Québec on the other side of the river, the bridge connecting Québec and Ontario.

The Castle again.

An excellent map told us that there was both a Basilica and the National Gallery down this way.

The US Embassy. Fancy.

That's the Basilica - it's absolutely stunning. I an't even tell what it's made of - silver? Steel?

The National Gallery, plus a giant spider. Sure, why  not. Evidently they don't want kids in here. Or sane adults. 

What even is happening, Ottawa.

It looks a bit like...plated steel or something...

Good thing about Churches: hospitality is kind of their thing, so you can always go in and have  look.

Meh. Just meh.

There was exactly one soul in here. See, no one lives here, just like I said.

We had enough time to scratch the surface of the gallery; I know we'd hardly see any of it in about 2 hours, but we only had a limited about of time in the city, so...

But why.

Fearless child.

Jeepers.

In Canada, Museums hold your coats for you! Hurrah! 

It's seriously one of the most beautiful galleries I've ever been in; up there with the Louvre. 

Guards were sparse. 

I took this photo because, y'know, nice set up, but...

IT'S FREAKING MARCEL DUCHAMP. NEVER HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN SO EXCITED OVER A URINAL. BUT SERIOUSLY. I STUDIED THIS THING. I WROTE AN ESSAY ON IT. 

This one I didn't study, but it's still Duchamp and SO AWESOME.

The Bizarre-How-The-Hell-Is-This-Art room was right next to the European Masterpieces. 

I lied: there were guards and he bizarrely let me keep the photos I already took but made me delete the one where you could see his leg. Elisa thought he was an undercover agent or something.

Last one, I promise.

Back to Parliament. So this photo is right next to the creepo spider, and that's the Castle thing there, and parliament is just across the bridge from that and OTTAWA IS TINY. 

See: tiny.

So the Canadian parliament runs free tours of the House of Commons, National Library and the Senate, which is very excellent. It's all in that long, big building. Not the surprised ones, the one in the middle with the Peace Tower. Ready? Allons-y.

Waiting room.

WHY DOESN'T MINE LOOK LIKE THIS!?

So all of this is fossilised limestone (so shiny) and was rebuilt in the 20s because it was all beautiful mid 19th century wood but FIRE.

Because Canadian politicians are silly, they wouldn't let us into the House of Commons at that time - even though there was question time that morning and there's a public viewing area whose purpose is that the public come and view what's happening at any time. The guide said they didn't like it when she talked in there or something. Why she couldn't shut up for two seconds while we all went inside quickly and quietly is a mystery, and one I shall leave you, Sherlock.

So our 'tour' of the House of Commons was our guide getting two volunteers to hold up like...a picture poster of the damn room and explain it. It was so lame, I'm not even going to put the photo of that photo I did take up here.

Next: library. The oldest part of parliament! The original architecture! The most beautiful! But you're not allowed to take photos! Suckers!

Because the staff don't like being in tourists' photos or something. Which is...okay, but bugger the staff. Go work someplace less pretty and interesting.

Arseholes.

Also, bugger the rules:

That's getting into Beauty and the Beast shit right there. Unf.

Fun fact: THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON IN THERE. AND THEY WERE ON THE COMPUTER AT THE CIRCULATION DESK COMPLETELY IGNORING US. I REITERATE: BUGGER THE STAFF. 

Anyway.

The corridor of Speakers.

Atrium of the Senate. Portraits of all the Monarchs surround.

SENAAAATE.

Collection of paintings representing scenes from the First World War.

Seat for the Monarch (or their representative, the Governor General) and their spouse.

These murals all represent one of the founding countries of Canada; here: Wales. 

Knock knock knockin' on Senate's door.

Next, UP THE PEACE TOWER!

Random art deco ceiling, I don't know why...

Oh hai, Oddawa. That's the ceiling of the library right there. Plus Queébec.

CLOCK!

THERE'S THAT DAMN SPIDER AGAIN.

If I were Canadian, I'd have a tear in me eye. 

Hail, eternal flame. 

It's been a while, classic feet shot.

PHEW. That was a long day. Let's do it all again tomorrow!