Well I feel like I should update this since I have gone on a little trip. I am currently sitting in the Ottawa airport waiting to board my flight back home. I've only been here for 3 nights, but they were memorable. This trip came up quickly compared to my other ones that I had booked and planned for a long time.
I've wanted to come to Ottawa for the rememberance day service for a few years now. Whether I've ever actually said that out loud or not is a different story. But after the events in October, the 2 Canadian solders killed on home soil that kind of decided it for me. I had to be here.
I wasn't sure where I should stay, I didn't really want to stay in a hostel but hotels are expensive. After deciding on a hotel, my wicked awesome family gave me my birthday present which was to pay for my hotel stay. I can truthfully say it is definitely the thought that counts and not the fact that they just gave me money.
I got here on Sunday afternoon and after staying in the airport for a bit (I've said before, landing is starting to not agree with me, which sucks) I took a taxi to my hotel. I didn't do to much that night, although I did plan out my next day.
Monday I woke up and was out of my room by 9:30 am and headed to Parliament Hill. Went through security there and went on the free tour that they have. That was actually really awesome. I then walked to the Canadian War Museum and spent probably 2 hours there. That was also super interesting.
On the way back I stopped at the National War Memorial. Even then, a day before rememberance day, it was still powerful to be there.
On November 11th I was up at 7:15 am and at the War Memorial by 8:15 am.i know, it's a shocker that I am up that early willingly. Is a good thing I was there at that time though as it filled up fast. It was warm-ish though which is good news. I'm not sure what security usually, but the cops, RCMP and military were all over the place. I saw some snipers on the roof-tops around, police dogs and the like.
When the service actually started, I was right across the street from where the PM, Governor General, the Silver Cross Mother and Princess Anne got out. The moment of silence was powerful and the speech by the Governor General was particularly memorable.
I could go on for longer, but this is not as great to type out on my phone, so I'll just finish it up soon.
When they cleared the War Memorial and let us go up and place our poppies on the tomb of the unknown soldier is something I'll not soon forget. Out of the 50,000 people that were there, I'm thinking 95% of them stayed to put there poppies on the tomb. It was incredible.
I went to the War Memorial the next day to see if anything was there still. The poppies are still lying there, along with the wreaths, letters, flowers and notes of rememberance. One letter in particular caught my made me tear up.
