Okay . . . . the last travel day

This is a testament to a very full week and 3 tired young men who had to get up at 2:30 a.m. and handled it extremely well ... see for yourselves!

THAT IS THE END OF 2018 AS HAYDEN HAD TO FLY INTO CRANBROOK BECAUSE OF THE MUDSLIDE ON THE SALMO/CRESTON HIGHWAY AND SO WE SAID GOODBYE IN CALGARY - boo hooooo . . . .

BRAVO BOYS - YOU WERE A DELIGHT!!!!

Our last day continued

Our tour of the Parliament Building continued . . . .

The ceilings are unreal!

This is the Hall of Honour

. . . . and the floors aren't too bad either

we were told by David that the waves on the tiled floor represent our country 'SEA to SEA'

. . . and then we were on to the masterpiece that is the LIBRARY - the only section of the building that survived the tragic fire of 1916

the boys all declared it is just like 'Harry Potter'

for those of you that remember 

- this is the 'ancient' way of keeping track of the library collection

just a few . . . of the wood carvings pointed out by David

Next stop - the Senate

The boys standing in the BAR - where lawyers were presented before the Senate and the
Number 2 use - discipline - if someone did or said something they shouldn't - this is where they stood - YIKES!!! - don't our boys look sooooooo intimidated!

the Senate ceiling

a view from the walkway to the Memorial Chapel

NOW we are in the Memorial Chapel dedicated to the Canadians who have lost their lives in conflict beginning in 1927. The focal point of the room is an altar containing the Book of Remembrance that holds the names of Canadians who died during the First World War.  Now there are six more altars remembering those who died in conflicts following.

titled 'The First Dawn"

MUCH THANKS TO DAVID  - we were awed by our tour and you were just so kind!

Just one more photo of the white and red tulips on Parliament Hill! (sorry - overkill I know!)

OUR LAST DAY IN OTTAWA

The projects came down in record time and we were off to our last lunch in this very impressive cafeteria where we ate really well every day!

Once the ice cream machine was used by the boys for floats and cones, we left on the city bus to meet our tour guide David who met us at the Centennial Flame.  David Loan is the Parliamentary Assistant to our local MP - Wayne Stetski.

Once David had explained the different sections of the Parliament buildings, he told us that we were lucky to have made it here this year as they will be shutting the main building in the above picture for renovations that will likely take 10 years!!!!!

Once through security - a multi-step process made much faster with David, the kids noticed how many security there were everywhere. 

Our first stop was the hall on the government side where we saw spectacular architecture including the stairs where the Prime Minister descends to address the scrum. This is where he will elaborate on questions asked in the house.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Exquisite hallways

We have left the Parliament building . . . .

We hit the streets and found - OTTAWA!

THE WAR MEMORIAL

This giant spider is a permanent installation outside the National Gallery - so why not try and climb it  (right Dylan?)

. . . then to the MINT

Then we tried to lift the gold bar 

                                                (which is actually locked down and highly guarded)

a walk around Bytown and of course a BEAVERTAIL
              (a fried dough pastry topped with WHATEVER you want and don't need!)