Canada Day downtown Ottawa...
A diverse nation indeed...
Our 17 hour day.
Rain - soaked to the skin, top to bottom. Wet socks. Mucky sloshy Parliament Hill. Shloop, shloop, shloop.
We were finally so soaked and squishy that we played the tourist and purchased nice warm dry tops from a souvenir store once the rain stopped. We thought umbrellas were one of the many things not allowed through security, but it was SUN umbrellas that were not allowed.
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| Early morning. Most people had not yet arrived. Wave that paper flag! |
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| Parliament Hill. Listening to the Peace Tower bells chiming O Canada, God save the Queen, and a variety of other songs |
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| Wet jeans, dry tops, waiting for Snowbirds from Major's Hill Park. Crowds are starting. |
National Arts Centre (NAC) - Grand Opening, ribbon cutting, Monica's dance for the prince, more security, back stage, choirs and orchestras, Aboriginal drums and bells, full regalia....
This was the main reason we actually braved the day that was expecting 500,000 people. Monica was one of 15 people dancing for the Grand Opening of the newly renovated NAC in the presence of Prince Charles and 149 other dignitaries. We arrived at 8:13 a.m. and left her there for the next 9 1/2 hours. She indeed did dance apparently within 4 feet of said Prince.
Once the Prince left, the NAC was taken off lock-down and opened to the public. Dave, Anna-Lee and her friend Sophie watched the NAC orchestra perform with conductor Alexander Shelley, Aboriginal drummers, a 100 person choir and their conductor, and a host of other amazing talent - all free.
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| NAC orchestra and 100 member choir |
Security - Walking the streets, on the rooves, assault rifles, open your bags, alarms, barricades, walkie talkies, police, RCMP...
Security on Parliament Hill
Of course we were expecting high levels of security. We were warned ahead of time it would be like an airport. Because we got there so early, our experience with the security to Parliament Hill was long but efficient and only took about 40 minutes. Big signs of what could and could not be taken in were at the beginning of the queue along with police checking bags. Enter the "chute." Zig zagging queue, police, RCMP, snipers on the rooves, assault rifles in plain view, and ... rain. Finally the tent. Loud speaker, "take coats off, open your bags. Take coats off, open your bags. Take coats off, open your bags." Get to the security. Bags down, go get the wand - turn around, the wand again. Claim bag, get out. Outside tent, RCMP, police, a long line of yellow ponchoed security with guns.
Security at the NAC
If you want in, your bags got checked but not the intensity of Parliament Hill.
Backstage was another matter. Monica and I got the fascinating experience of watching security in action as we waited for Para Transpo. We discovered levels of alarms. ding ding ding was a drunk at the back door trying to find her friend. An all out screech was a full evacuation of the building. We experienced two ding dings, and one full out screech. Yes, the building got evacuated. It was a false alarm.The interesting part was being able to watch first hand the problem solving by security. First the rushing of men, the chatter of walkie talkies and chatter of them watching the video of the building to determine who did it, then the full out search for the little girl who got mad at a locked door and pulled an alarm that set it all in motion.
Out and About - Buskers, acapella hymns, Royal motorcade, 21 gun salute, Governor General Foot guards, red and white, fireworks, crowds, fighter jets, music and screens, free admission...
Lots of walking today, dodging puddles, and trying to decide what to do next. Although we had a general schedule, not much adhered to the timings. Snowbirds were to be flying between noon and 1:00, but after waiting over an hour, we gave up as even the info ladies did not know what was happening with them. Rain, thunder, clearing..... They finally did a small fly over around 4:30.
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| Beautiful acapella hymns being sung by Church choir |
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| Early morning. Miles of streets blocked off for pedestrians only. |
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| Governor General Foot guards, piping band, Royal motorcade and CROWDS. Security thick with guards and helicopter flying over airspace continually. This takes place at the Peacekeeping Monument you can see on left. |
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| Walking a dinosaur around Major's Hill Park |
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| No mere juggler - three knives, while balancing on a board, on a pipe, on a table... |
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| And the spectacular 20 minute and 17 second brilliant fireworks |
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