26 August 2013 - Montreal

Ottawa beckoned us this morning to investigate Parliament Hill, the seat of government for all of Canada.  We walked from our hotel and up the streets to this impressive location.  It is set on a rise overlooking the Ottawa River as it divides and joins around a series of islands.  It was here, in years past, that another set of rapids obstructed passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the interior, so another series of step-wise locks were built, becoming the focus for the founding of a town.  It has since grown to a metropolis.  The government buildings are made of sandstone and roofed with copper.  In about 1906 Parliament Building burned to the ground, leaving only the old library standing. When it was rebuilt, they made an impressive structure.  I am sure that in days past, before larger buildings were constructed, Parliament members loved to look out from the hill over the growing city.

 The tower is girded by 4 gargoyles, to divert rain water away from the high tower. We noted in places, however, that the water from the copper roofs have stained the sandstone green.  I felt that the gargoyles are to look in all four directions for any planes that might threaten the tower.  The clock chimes the same melody as our grandfather clock at home, and not much more in tune, either.  But it does have a greater volume.

In the large court in front of the building has been erected an eternal flame to commemorate the century anniversary since the confederation of all the provinces under independent, central government.

The grounds have a number of statues on them, cast in bronze to remember the first Prime Minister, the man who mapped the area, trappers, soldiers, war fallen and other events.  One statue is of Queen Victoria, standing in majesty and another of the current Queen Elizabeth, astride a horse and looking over the city.  We also found one grouping of suffragettes, meeting to plan their strategy to gain the vote.  Ronda felt that she could join in the effort.

I think she looks so pleased with the opportunity to vote.  If we could just have gotten the American women to be informed enough to have helped to choose a different President.  We had a truck pull up along side us on the freeway, after entering the Montreal area, and as traffic slowed, he rolled down his window and yelled that he liked our bumper sticker.  We have had nothing but good comments on our sentiment.  I am sure that one of the statues heard about the sticker and also expressed her feelings about it.

We noted an interesting part of the Parliament building, circular in shape with flying buttresses, stained glass, crenelated top and appearing to be a bit older that the rest of the building.  A plaque informed us that this was the old library, as I mentioned above, the only part left standing after the great fire.  It was designed by Thomas Fuller and I think is it magnificent.  It is still used today for government records.

  After our tour of Parliament Hill we headed east again.  We got lost leaving the city and found ourselves on a lovely parkway along the river, with rolling hills, manicured grass and interspersed with fields of yellow wild flowers, allowed to flourish among trees.  Here and there in the midst of the flowers, we noted brilliant purple blossoms. These flowers seem to be along the roadsides throughout the Province of Ontario.  This time of year they are most lovely.

Leaving Ottawa, we had a relaxed drive until we neared Montreal. If you think the "spaghetti bowl" in Salt Lake Valley is convoluted, the roads in Montreal constitute a Gordian Knot.  I am convinced that without the dulcet tones of the voice of our GPS system, we would surely have ended up in London, England.  Boy, it was a confusing mess.  I am glad that we found our hotel.  It looks across the St. Lawrence River at docks and large ships.  I think we will make a short visit here and then try to take a couple of days in Quebec to rejuvenate.  We do plan to try to attend a session in the Montreal Temple in the morning.