The Travels of Flat Stanley

[NJFlatStanley]

Hi everybody!
Barb unpacked me here in Ottawa, Canada's capital and I rested a few days while we planned our visits.
Today we explored her neighbourhood (Yes, that's how they spell "neighborhood" here in Canada.).

First, I climbed the tamarack tree in Barb's back yard. It looks like an evergreen, with needles, but the needles turn bright yellow and drop off in the fall.

[NJFlatStanley]

Then I had a look at the pumpkin on the front porch. It will be Hallowe'en in a few days, and Barb is going to carve a Jack o'lantern pretty soon. I'll show you how it turns out when it's done. Doesn't my shirt look good with that pumpkin's orange coat?

[NJFlatStanley]

Next, we walked down the street to the store where Barb's youngest daughter works. It is an amazing place for a traveller* like me!

(*Canadian spelling again)

[NJFlatStanley]

I was so excited: they have globes and maps and guidebooks and flags.....
I even found a tourist guidebook about my home state, New Jersey!

[NJFlatStanley]

Of course, if you're a tourist in Ottawa, you need to check out the local maps and guidebooks.

[NJFlatStanley]

I helped Laura (Barb's daughter) pack a big globe into a big box.
Laura's a pilot, and maybe she'll take me flying!

[NJFlatStanley]

Then we dropped in at the office of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, where Barb's husband (Neil) works. His job is to tell people how yucky and dangerous tobacco-smoking is and to help people get better laws to protect everyone's health. He looks very serious in this picture!
(Ottawa's a pretty big city, with around a million people, but both Neil and Laura work 2 blocks from home.)

[NJFlatStanley]

Barb has to have her nap pretty soon, because she works nights. She says I can go to work with her this evening, but thinks I might get bored. Take Your Kids to Work Day is next week, so we're getting an early start.

[Snowparrot]

Watch for more pictures tomorrow: Flat Stanley and I are going to visit my granddaughter and grandson at school, to check out their Hallowe'en festivities!!

[NJFlatStanley]

Barb took me to work the other night: she and her team translate the debates by the politicians in Canada's Parliament. Because Canada's official languages are English and French, the Members of Parliament and Senators can use either language, and there are several teams of translators and interpreters to make sure everyone understands. The printed Debates from one day have to be on the Members' desks by 10 the next morning, so that's why she works at night.

She doesn't work in the fancy buildings--just an ordinary office.

[NJFlatStanley]

I want to post some more pictures of my visit to school on October 30, the day before Hallowe'en.
It was very colourful.
But the computer is not doing what I want.

[SMLCHNG]

Love the travels!!!!!

[NJFlatStanley]

Here I am at the classroom door. I love school!

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[NJFlatStanley]

Here is some cool art! Both the Grade 1 and Grade 4 classes had used this frame idea to make seasonal windows.

And here is the library's "stained glass" window.

[NJFlatStanley]

I have some more pictures of the kids in their costumes, but I'll send those privately to my home class.

Tomorrow, we're going to Montreal... (or Montréal) It's a big city in the province of Quebec (in French, that's Québec), next door.

[NJFlatStanley]

Happy Hallowe'en!

[NJFlatStanley]

On Sunday, November 1 and Monday November 2, Barb and I toured around in Montreal. Montreal is a 2-hour drive from Ottawa and quite a different city.

First, we had brunch in the revolving restaurant on top of the Delta Hotel. It’s on the 30th floor! The visibility was great, and so was the food (they say).

[NJFlatStanley]

From up there we could see trains, trees, churches, and other neat stuff.

[NJFlatStanley]

The restaurant made a complete circle in about an hour and 20 minutes.

[NJFlatStanley]

Neil & Barb rented two of these nifty bikes, called Bixi (for BI-cycle + ta-XI) and went on a tour around the Old Port and the Harbour*. They said it was too windy for me, so I waited in the car.

Barb didn't take enough pictures of the St. Lawrence River, where huge ships come and go up the Seaway...