Wednesday September 6, 2017

Walking With Ghandi

This morning at our hotel, we have a nice breakfast which includes eggs. Today’s agenda is nothing more than exploring the city of Winnipeg. The Humphrey Inn and Suites is on Main Street and within walking distance of the Red River and several attractions in the city. We walk towards the Red River and pass the architecturally interesting Museum of Human Rights. Carol walks the path with Ghandi or at least a bronze statue of him. It is a beautiful day and we walk into the plaza, a city park, and then along the esplanade walking path which crosses the Red River without the street traffic of the nearby highway 57 bridge. The esplanade bridge reminds us of a sailboat and affords us views looking back at Winnipeg. Le Monkey Bar is closed as we cross the river into the French suburb of St. Boniface.

Carol at St Boniface

We head towards the Saint Boniface Cathedral, where a Roman Catholic Basilica was built in 1972 behind the façade of an earlier church. It makes for great pictures as we explore the old façade hiding the newer church. After the cathedral, we decide to stroll around aimlessly in the French neighborhood. We pass by La Belle Baguette, a French bakery, where we have to stop and get a pastry and some fresh baked soft pretzels. We are close to lunch time so we resist eating them now and take a to go bag to have them later. Maybe we had a bite or two or three of one pretzel!

Great Indian Food

The day is going well so far and we cross back over the river and head to Ivory, the Indian restaurant we had tried to go to last night. They have a lunch buffet, which will be our main meal for today. As we walk in the aroma, tells us that we have made a good choice.  The food is very good and we enjoy chatting with the owner’s son who manages the place. They still have family in India and travel there when they can. Everything we try on the buffet is excellent and we definitely get our money’s worth.

Gate of Upper Fort Garry

Leaving the restaurant, we stop at our room which is only a block away to leave our French pastry dessert for later. Then we head back out for more exploring. A short walk up Main Street leads us to Upper Fort Garry. Yesterday we visited Lower Fort Garry outside of town. The upper fort started as a trading post in 1822. By the mid 1860’s, 12,000 people lived within 50 miles of the fort and under the leadership of Louis Riel, they decided to join the Canadian Confederation. The gate is the only part of the original fort still standing but the site is now a provincial park amid the enveloping city.

Manitoba Legislative Building

From the fort, we walk along a path that follows the banks of the Assiniboine River until we veer off toward the Manitoba Legislative Building. We take a self-guided tour of the building entering by the Grand staircase anchored by two life size bronze bison statues. Other than that, it appears as a typical government building built to show off power and wealth. As we exit back into the outside world, we pass a park that has numerous polar bear statues in various poses and locations. We wind our way through the streets of Winnipeg back to our hotel. It has been a very nice day in Winnipeg but now it is time to relax and have a nightcap.