23-27 Julio 2006
I'm guessing you can probably relate...everybody was feeling pretty mellow the next day.
Love Del's shirt. 6
Here's Bud with his chopped-and-channeled '86 Isuzu pick-up. The thing's got a 5-litre small-block 302.
Ah, Brent...acting like an imbecile...
At one point most of the crowd ventured to the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec for a viewing of...
...on the IMAX Dome (finally!). This is an amazing documentary which chronicles the journey of five climbers as they ascend to the summit of Africa's highest peak. It was wild to see the climate extremes one goes through on the way to the top of the volcano. A great film.
www.imax.com
And here's everybody on an observation deck at the museum after the movie, with a beautiful view of the Parliament buildings from across the river...
We made it back out to Oxford Station later on for some further west and wee-waxation... But as Aqua-Boy is pointing out below, it was getting pretty late. :)
And everybody was well-rested again for the following day! Bud squared up some dinner reservations for 6pm that evening with his neighbor Gary, who manages the Elephant & Castle on Rideau Street. (Remember Gary? The guy preps a mean pig.) Right away a few folks jumped on board to roll up the Huge Hotel Change-Jug of Mystery. There were varying estmates, but with everybody throwing in whatever they had tucked away in their purses and underwear, the total amount ended up at around $200. Straight to the dinner and bar-tab fund for later! (Along with a few E&C gift certificates generously provided by Gary, it would be a reasonably-priced evening in town for the entire clan). Excellenté.
Most of the crowd headed downtown to wander the Byward Market that afternoon, but Rick and Kristyn were into visiting the National Gallery instead. I decided to check it out, too.
Rick n' Kris in a cab to the Gallery on Elgin Street...a rare sight...Kristyn certainly thinks so...
Me n' Rick in The Great Hall...
Rick beside Barnett Newman's 1967 work, Voice of Fire (below). The painting caused a storm of controversy in Ottawa in 1990 when the Gallery purchased it for $1.8 million -- said controversy stemming from the fact that it's three 15-foot tall strips of friggin' paint. (Since 1990, however, its value has appreciated sharply.) I admit freely that I don't get it.
But this I get. Cool room. Like everything at the Gallery, it has to be seen first-hand to really be appreciated.
Wanderin' thru... 6 The art gallery is an incredible place; unfortunately, we arrived late and were only able to spend about an hour before it closed for the day.
Below is Rick and Kristyn under Maman, a 9.27 metre (30') bronze sculpture on display in the Gallery’s Plaza. The gargantuan spider, by Louise Bourgeois, weighs 8165 kg (18000 lbs) and carries a sac of 20 pure white marble eggs under her belly.
After the Gallery closed, we strolled over to the Market and hooked up with Laurie, Mike and Peter...
...and the rest of the crew at the Hard Rock.
From there, it was off to...
...on Rideau. Great pub! If you ever find yourself in downtown Ottawa, I highly recommend it. The food and service is excellent.
What a crowd! 6
Various wanderings through the Market: Nothing's cooler than matching tattoos. :)
We also caught an act by this wild fire-breather dude. (What's in the bottle, anyway?)
~
Later we headed up the hill to Parliament for the Sound & Light show...
...then back out to Bud & Laurie's for a few cold ones. Incidentally, the two photos below are the only existing evidence that this stage of the trip ever occurred (that I know of!):
1) Bill n' Mom.
2) Polly the dog wishing Brent would give up a clam or two. :)
But as they say, what goes up must come down. From here it was take down the tents and pack up the vehicles; hugs and goodbyes all around. It certainly looks like Roxy was comfortable where she was...
And there you are. It was great seeing everybody! Thanks again to Bud and Laurie for all the hospitality.
Véale en el río! (See ya on the river.)
P
Later,
Brian
posted by Brian at 7/28/2006 02:50:00 p.m.
6 Comments:
I've said it before, I'll say it again, that pic of Brent is priceless! The parliament light show is awesome too, I saw it on my first trip to Ottawa.
What a great vacation/ get together. Nice to see. You did a good job documenting the whole thing. good pictures.
That fire breather was cool, you just never know what you'll end up seeing downtown eh.
So was the movie everything I thought it would be? I wish I had of seen it! Damn!
Light-years better than "Greece," Liss. :)
-B.
Yeah that John Travolta wasn't so great was he? I liked him much better in "Pulp Fiction"...LOL. We really should have waited the extra freakin' hour!
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