I could go on and on about Manitoba's legislature building. The artistic masonry, the marble floors, the beautiful sculptures and artwork, and the limestone walls dotted with fossils. But for now, I'll just talk about the legislature.
They were not in session, but I was able to hear brief talk about the legislative process in the session room. There is a throne (I guess to represent the crown or head of state) sitting prominently at the head of the room. The center of the room has a table with 4 chairs. On the left and right sides of the room is a semi-circle of chairs and tables, like a smaller version of the UN. In the balconies above are viewing areas for the public.
Listening to the talk, it seems that the center table has people who checks and verifies rules. The person sitting at the foot of the table has a gold mace with a crown on top, serving as the head of security.
The left side of the semi-circle is for the rule-makers. The right side is for the opposition. If they don't like what the rule-makers are doing, they oppose them.
The public sitting in the balconies above can only listen and not participate.
Sounds a little odd? Okay, I admit it, the talk was for a group of 10 year-olds, but it made things easier for me to understand. After all, it is based on the British way of doing things. I saw some of this on TV before, and it was all so confusing! However, I loved the pageantry and Old World tradition of it all.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wellington Crescent
Went for a nice drive through Wellington Crescent. The houses there are old, stately, and so very different from what you see in Hawaii. Many are like mansions, and a few are covered in ivy.
There is a sign warning drivers that the road is closed on Sundays and Holidays to thru traffic because the road becomes a large bike path. I have never seen such a thing until I came here! Imagine, closing off a road just for bikes.
I was also fascinated by the architecture of the houses. I could almost imagine what it was like to live here at the turn of the century! These are homes made of brick worn down with age. The road's median is a walking path that is maintained like a garden. My father-in-law tells me that cable cars run through here.
The road eventually leads into Assiniboine Park and it's many attractions. I am struck by its size and beauty. Most stunning of all is the Pavilion Gallery which sits like a castle in the center of it all. There are several lanes and parking areas throughout the park. All the parks I've been to back home have a perfunctory lane leading to a small parking lot where you'd be lucky to find an empty stall.
There is a sign warning drivers that the road is closed on Sundays and Holidays to thru traffic because the road becomes a large bike path. I have never seen such a thing until I came here! Imagine, closing off a road just for bikes.
I was also fascinated by the architecture of the houses. I could almost imagine what it was like to live here at the turn of the century! These are homes made of brick worn down with age. The road's median is a walking path that is maintained like a garden. My father-in-law tells me that cable cars run through here.
The road eventually leads into Assiniboine Park and it's many attractions. I am struck by its size and beauty. Most stunning of all is the Pavilion Gallery which sits like a castle in the center of it all. There are several lanes and parking areas throughout the park. All the parks I've been to back home have a perfunctory lane leading to a small parking lot where you'd be lucky to find an empty stall.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hello World!
Whenever I go someplace that requires ID, I show my passport and/or Hawaii Driver's License. The response is always the same: "What is a girl from Hawaii doing here in Manitoba?"
I merely smile and point to my new husband. He is my paradise.
People would tell me they dream about going to Hawaii, and here I am leaving paradise to come here: a land of extremes. There are no mountains, no coral reefs, and no rain forests.. but every day is a new and beautiful experience for me. To me, this is like a vacation, an adventure.
There are no seasons in Hawaii, so seeing the seasons change is like an affirmation of life. So it is my hope that my experiences here will help you to see your anew world through my eyes.
I merely smile and point to my new husband. He is my paradise.
People would tell me they dream about going to Hawaii, and here I am leaving paradise to come here: a land of extremes. There are no mountains, no coral reefs, and no rain forests.. but every day is a new and beautiful experience for me. To me, this is like a vacation, an adventure.
There are no seasons in Hawaii, so seeing the seasons change is like an affirmation of life. So it is my hope that my experiences here will help you to see your anew world through my eyes.
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