A wet humid morning so we walked from the apartment (9) to spend a few hours in the History Museum (4).
Breakfast, including milk in glass bottles, recyclable at the supermarkets
We crossed the Alexandra Bridge and over to the city of Gatineau and into the province of Quebec.
The Canadian Museum of History designed by an indigenous architect, Douglas Cardinal.
First Peoples and Grand Hall
Totems
Behind the totem poles, there is an exhibition of house fronts and artefacts from the First Peoples of the Northwest Coast.
Exquisitely woven and sewn clothes and baskets, many created in the late 1700s with rudimentary tools. I was particularly impressed with a fur onesie for a small child made in the early 1800s.
The exhibitions continued on with the history of English and French contact, migration and the political developments until the present day. Beautifully curated.
Walking back over the bridge we had an excellent view of the locks leading up to the Rideau Canal. The locks and the 202 kms canal were built by Irish and Scottish tradesmen in three years and opened in 1832. The city of Bytown, renamed Ottawa, developed because of the waterway.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Lunch in a traditional diner
Dinner out with Keith, a friend of Piers and Richard. A Canadian with a love of Australian TV series.
On Parliament Hill there were fireworks for a summer festival
Following the fireworks, there was a sound and light show, depicting major historical events which have developed the Canadian character and nation.
Walking back to the apartment, the Fairmont Hotel in all its glory.
M&M
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