cultural day in canada

day three in canada was cultural day - museum, french restaurent, art gallery and ice hockey - all topped off by meeting a fellow biker who let me sit on his bike......uuuummmmm that felt good!!!!!!!!

there are pics coming of the remainder of the trip. ray was determined that none of you missed out on seeing what i was seeing, but they will probably not be posted for a couple more days.

ray took me first to the museum of civilization (i think that was the name) to see the first nations display - i can remember as a kid pretending to be the 'indian' and here was the real stuff - totem poles, art works, clothing, weapons (ray's favourite bit i think). so much to see. the artwork on the drums was marvellous and the museum building itself is awesome - i loved the curved architecture.

it was also amazing looking across the river to the parliament building - sitting there high on its rocky outcrop across the frozen expanse. and no, i didn't take ray's hint to 'move just a little bit more to the right kerrie - right about where that crack on the ice is' (nice try boyo!).

after that, we went for a quick stroll (given ray's height, you can read 'jog' in my case - and in high heels too!!!!) between buildings to the french quarter restaurent where i met up with elizabeth - another colleague who i have been in email contact with for a few years. i have to say that it has been a real buzz meeting these people who have become friends through the internet and being able to hear their voices not just read them. oh yeah and i ate boar - interesting gamey taste (sorry to those of you who are vegetarians but i had to give it a go).

following dinner, back to the car and across the river to the art gallery. a very modern glass-surrounded building with this enormous spider sculpture outside. again with the photos courtesy of ray. then inside to see the art work from a famous canadian indigenous artist. depictions of whales and ravens mostly - predominantely in black, white and red colourings. quite different to things i had seen before whereas the artifacts in the museum shared some similarities with those from new guinea and the aboriginal groups i have worked with in the past. unfortunately no photos from inside this time - neither ray nor i felt like being thrown out.

and then home for a rest before the real highlight - the ice hockey game......

oops brekky ready - back later for the game highlights