When we set out to explore Ottawa this morning it was overcast but dry. We walked to the Parliament grounds then booked a Guided tour and continued to explore. We were fortunate enough to see the changing of the guard at the war memorial. At 10:50 we were escorted into the centre block and the security inspection As a result, my small multi-tool was taken into custody to be retrieved upon exit.
Centre Block
The tour was well done by our multi-lingual guide. At the end of the guided portion we took the elevator up the clock tower passing by the carillon bells as they were being played for the noon concert.
Ottawa from Clock Tower
The view from the tower is quite spectacular but by the time we again reached street level some light rain had begun.
Parliamentary Library
During lunch we discovered that the Air & Space Museum would be closed Tuesday when we had planned to visit. We hurriedly changed our reservations for the Ottawa River tour to Tuesday morning and returned to the hotel to get the car. We visited the Air & Space Museum for the remainder of the afternoon and saw an intact DC-3 we believe was one piloted by Gail’s father.
Group of older RCAF Jets
Air & Space Museum Panorama
By the time we finished at the museum it was raining quite hard so we returned to the hotel, sat and chatted with some other travellers while we had a glass of wine. The final excursion of the day was a walk in the rain to find dinner.
Tomorrow we will try to take in the river tour then start for home.