Versailles

Looking back at my blog I never posted any pictures of our visit to Versailles.  I didn't take my laptop to Paris and we never had a lot of spare time.  It's a little late but here are some of my pictures!

Entrance.  Note the line at the right.  We had Skip the Line tickets and walked right in!  Best way to see Versailles!

Beautiful coloured flowers

The Gardens were magnificent

Versailles Chapel

Louis XVI Bedroom

Hall of Mirrors

Great visit with Ryann, Shayla, Leo & Larson

Today Jean's granddaughter and family came for lunch.  Jean cooked a beautiful lunch.  The children Leo age 2 1/2 and Larson is 9 months old.  Both children have a birthday on the same day, December 16th!   The kids were so good.  It was great to meet them!  Thanks for a wonderful afternoon and we hope you come to Canada for a visit!

A tour of Canada House

For my non-Canadian friends Canada House is the home of the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom.  It hosts consular facilities for Canadians to renew passports or apply for emergency assistance, visa and immigration processing services, a military liaison office, trade officers, political officers and a public affairs section.  Canada House is used for special events, hosting conferences, receptions, lectures and lunches.  The Canada House Gallery stages exhibitions of historical and contemporary art and artefacts. It is located at Trafalgar Square.

The building was built in 1820 and the former home of the Union Club.  In 1922 Prime Minister William Lyon McKenzie-King wanted a suitable home for our countries diplomatic mission.  In 1964 Canada acquired a lease of the next door former offices of the Royal College of Physicians.   They renovated the building so it's hard to see where the walls were. On February 19, 2015 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip officially reopened Canada House.

Upstairs there are many rooms, one for each province and territory.  I've posted pictures below.  The British Columbia room was very west coast with native art work and wood tables made from BC wood.  The Saskatchewan room was a little smaller but had a board room table surrounded by chairs that were the green colour of the Saskatchewan Roughriders!  There was also a Mounties wide flat brim stetson type hat that is worn with the red serge.  It was given to Canada House by former High Commissioner Gordon Campbell from British Columbia.  Apparently his grandfather was in the RCMP and it was his hat.

On the third floor there is a wonderful balcony.  The view is amazing.  The Canadian Pacific building is across the street. On July 1st, to celebrate our 150 years in Confederation Canada House had a huge party in Trafalgar Square. I saw pictures my UK friends posted on Facebook.  They brought in a truck that sold Tim Hortons goodies and the line was right around Trafalgar Square.  The wait was three hours.  One person who was there early bought a lot of boxes of 6 Timbits.  He then went to the end of the line and sold a six pack of Tim Bits for £20.00.  Lexi said "now that's a great entrepreneur!"

Lexi really enjoyed the tour.  She learned a lot and really enjoyed everything the tour guide said.  She said "I feel like I'm at home".  Great learning experience and I'm really glad I was able to get tickets so late.  We could only get three tickets so Jean wasn't able to come with us.  There are two tours a month.  They are free but you need to get tickets and take your passport.  Tickets can be ordered online on the Canadian High Commission website.  Canada is the only Embassy in London that offers tours.

We were greeted by two pipers outside Canada House.  

William Lyon McKenzie King room - at the divide it's the Robert Borden room.  Both Prime Ministers in WWII.

British Columbia room.  Complete with native art, wood tables and gorgeous artwork from other BC artists

Every room has carpet that was first a painting, then sent to a rug manufacturer in Ontario who made rugs from the art!

Our tour guide from Edmonton in the former office of Lester B Pearson who served as second in command in the High Commission from 1939-1942.  There was a bombing in Trafalgar Square and the windows blew in and he was thrown to the floor.  In 1957 for his role in resolving the Suez Canal crisis he won the Nobel Peace Prize and was elected Prime Minister in 1963

The Sir John A McDonald room features a chandelier from the 1820's.  It was the dining room of the Union Club

Emily Carr painting on loan from the Vancouver Art Gallery

Sir Wilfred Laurier room.  It's on the third floor and has a door to the outdoor balcony with the great view 

Statues of Montcalm and Wolfe

Balcony on the third floor

View from the balcony

Lexi signing the guest book, I signed it after her.  She signed it "Lexi was here" Vancouver, BC!

More wonderful pictures of Monet's home

His walls are covered with pictures

His home was full of wonderful paintings

Cozy living room

I thought this was a gorgeous colour kitchen

This is the other side of the kitchen.  The tiles are gorgeous

I have so many pictures from Giverny I decided to post more today.  It's a gorgeous day in Romford. We are off to Trafalgar Square after a pub lunch.  I was able to get tickets for a tour of Canada House at 1530.  They only hold tours every second Friday.  I was only able to get three tickets so Jean won't be able to come.

His home was so colourful, just like his paintings

Versailles and Giverny

Today we had a nine hour private tour.  Dario our guide picked us up at our hotel.  We had skip the line tickets for Versailles.  Great way to tour.  We return to London tomorrow on the Eurostar.  I left my laptop in the UK.  Posting to my blog from my phone is not easy so I'll wait until tomorrow to post my pictures.  If there have been any spelling errors in the last couple of days I apologize.  Time to get my eyes checked!  We've loved our short trip to Paris.  It was booked on short notice and I'm really glad we did it.  Lexi is great but asked we skipped any more museums because they are too much like school and she is on vacation.  I hope she got a lot out of the visit to Versailles.  It was very crowded and like me she doesn't like crowds.  The Hermitage in St. Petersburg was far more crowded.

A wonderful day in Paris!

We had a 1030 Viator guided tour to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  Great way to see it.  When we got to the top it drizzled.  The wind was quite cool.  When we finished our tour we found a hop on hop off bus tour that did a great tour.  After our bus tour we found a restaurant that served Hawaiian pizza!  Not an easy find in France.  While we were having our lunch we had a huge downpour and now the sun is shining!  We had an awesome day!

We made it to Paris!

Last night we watched Diana in her own words. I'm sure the Royal Family is not happy it was aired.  The tapes were made after the divorce and it was quite revealing.  I hope they show it in Canada!

Mark picked us up at 1230.  We drove through Hackney and Bethnal Green where some of my grandparents were born in the 1880's!

The Eurostar was awesome!  I'm glad we upgraded because the legroom was good and so was dinner!  We have checked into our hotel recommended by Paula and it's great.  Lexi loves the "beam me up Scotty" elevator.