Landmarks, Visited or Not

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budgie_uk pointed out this out to me: that one may become apathetic enough from time to time, due to living and working in a given nation's capital, that they don't get around to appreciating the landmarks that others from across the planet may find themselves drawn to visit for whatever reasons. He also ran through a list of notable sites around London that he's either visited or not gotten around to yet.

So...a partial list of what I've visited so far.

Parliament Hill: I've visited the Centre Block twice in my life so far, both times - sad to say - for funereal rites.

The first was in 1979. My parents had brought my siblings and I on a "working vacation" of Dad's across the country from Saskatchewan to PEI and back home again through the States. That was the year John Diefenbaker died, and our first-ever visit to Ottawa coincided with his lying in state in the Centre Block. So: my first encounter with Parliament Hill, any Prime Minister and with a dead person all at the tail end of my pre-teen years.

The second visit inside the Centre Block was decades later, after we moved to Ottawa permanently. It was, of course, for Pierre Trudeau's memory. I stood in line for most of the day before paying my respects.

One of these years, I want to visit the Centre Block for something other than funereal rites. It would be good to be able to sit in the visitors' gallery while the House of Commons is in session at least the once.

The national museums: So far, I've visited the Museums of Nature, Science and Technology, Aviation(Thanks for the reminder re: that one, rintaran!) , War, and Civiiization. Trying to remember which ones I've yet to get around to.

National Mint: Haven't done the tour yet - is there one on offer? - but I've visited the gift shop.

Chateau Laurier: My first visit was for one of Creation's Trek shows. Same for my second. Which is how I got to see James Doohan and George Takei live in person. At least one subsequent visit introduced me to writer Gwynne Dyer, an author I respect.

National Gallery: Seen a few of the exhibits, and I enjoy looking at Maman in the front courtyard and visiting the bookstore when I can. The former may not be unique to Ottawa, but she does lend something to the city that I'd hate to lose. (Thanks for the memory refresher, ms_danson!)

Landmarks I've yet to see?

Diefenbunker: This particular Cold War relic - now repurposed as a museum of that conflict - tops my list.

There are others in both "visited" and "not yet" categories, and I'm going to have to revisit this entry as the years go by...