Ottawa Day 2

canal locks

Up early to catch the 7.05 Bus #14. We have read that the queue for the free Parliament Hill Tour  tickets starts before 8.00am. We got there just before 8 and we would have been 25 – 30 in the line. By the time the doors opened at 9.00  – the queue  was many hundreds and went around the corner and down nearly a whole block.

This building is the main Canadian Parliament building and  contains the Senate Chamber and the House of Commons. Very interesting tour – how so much has been copied from the British Parliament. We were told that we are among the last tours as it is being closed for Restoration work .

house of commons

Off to check out the Rideau Canal – or more correctly – the Ottawa locks. Then thru the Major’s Hill Park. Great views of the back of Parliament Hill and the round Library building.

The Alexandra Bridge crosses over to Gatineau – a city which is in the Quebec province not Ontario that Ottawa is in.

alexandra bridge

This is a good point to talk about French – Quebec Province is mostly French speaking – all signs are in French with very little English while Ontario is both French and English but most of the streets have english names.

After more walking – it was time to find the #14 bus and head home to a lovely simple meal before heading to bed.