Having returned from the Ice Hotel and with a warm lunch I now planned on exploring the old town museums on Monday afternoon. First one the Fortifications Museum was closed. Nearby the Morrin Centre and Musee des Ursalines were also closed.

As the winds were picking up in -10 weather today I went inside the Town Hall to warm for a bit. There wasnt anything allowed to see inside except for the main corridor.

Further into Old Town I descended to to Quartier Petit Champlain. I found another museum, Musee to la Place Royale but this was also closed. Finally the Musee de la Civilisation was also closed. As they open both days weekends and this was low season, all were closed, though they could have made more accommodation during carnival season.

Down in Quartier Petit Champlain it was very Christmassy decorated. The other place I planned to visit today was the Citadel but I didnt want the long trek there only to find it was closed today also, Mentally I had to rearrange my schedule for the next two days as I now had to cram all the museums Tuesday on my last day.

Tuesday I had planned on visiting the Parliament but switched and went there instead today as the winds were getting quite gusting at times.

You have to go thru a security check first and I waited for the tour to begin at 4pm (tours are guided only). Being older than the Ontario Parliament I expected more but the corridors were more bare then in Ontario.

First we passed a stained glass walkway to a dining hall where members of the public can have breakfast along with Parliamentarians. The architecture reflects all the founding races, French, Native, and British which was divided into English, Scot, and Irish. The motto was to remember where they came from.

Finally we viewed the main chamber from the top gallery. It was painted blue in the 60s for the advent of television. There was a vast ceiling mural and a large wall mural at the front end.

Opposite is the red senate chamber, but as the senate has been abolished it is closed to visitors and only used in ceremonial functions. Then there was some contemporary art.

With regards to women they didnt get the vote till 1940 and the first wasnt elected until 1961. She was a lawyer and women were still considered 'minors' the equivalent of children and needed husbands consent for decisions so she fought to overturn that rule.

The Ontario legislature was more interesting. They had 'class photos' of all the legislatures from the 1860s, portraits of all Premiers, Governor Generals, women legislatures, Governer Generals office, and other art (see entry http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/28/1435777771/tpod.htm)

I then went back thru the carnival grounds which was ghost town partially due to the strong winds and dipping temperature, and none of the weekend crowds. Finally home after a long and chilly day.