Winnipeg, Manitoba - September 13-15

Our drive from Brandon to Winnipeg was uneventful until we got onto the perimeter road to avoid driving through the city.  Of course, I was driving and we encountered road construction – which is a given when I’m driving.  This time we both got to giggling that I wasn’t sure I could continue to drive.  The road was so bumpy that I told Bernie that I was glad that the “girls” were secure in a new bra.   You have to have been there to really appreciate the moment.   We have had quite a few of these moments. 

Our first stop in Winnipeg was The Forks – it’s where the Red and the Assinboine rivers meet and has been a gathering place for people for many years.  It’s located in a beautiful park like setting.  There are also some old building that have been converted into a central market with shops, restaurants and food courts.  None of which tickled either of us.  We much more enjoyed walking around the park and visiting the “walking bridge” and seeing the “Cool Gardens”.  This is a place where people could donate money to have a picture of themselves placed on a flag that is in the garden – showing the diversity of the culture of the city.  Very interesting.   We also saw that beautiful Canadian Museum for Human Rights.  Unfortunately there was not enough time to go inside – next time. 

One of the "Cool Gardens" in Winnipeg

 Walking bridge over the Assinboine River

 Waling bridge.  Not too many people walking today as rain in on the way.

 

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights 

The next day we visited the Canadian Mint.  This is where all of the coin is produced for Canada in addition to 70 other countries.  They have flags from all of the different countries and we were surprised to see the US flag flying knowing that American currency cannot be made out of the US.  We were told that all Canada does is furnish the blanks to the US.  Glad to hear that.  Our guided tour took us through the whole process from the steel coming in in rolls to the finished product being packaged up ready for shipment.   The plant in Ottawa does all of the minting of the special collector coins – which is huge thing in Canada and Great Britain.  They make a special coin for everything.  The big seller right now is the one commentating that Queen Elizabeth  has surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest sitting monarch.  

The flags of the countries that Canada mints coins for

 The Canadian Mint

 The one dollar coin in Canada is called a "loonie" and I said there is one "loonie" next to a loon

 The building is stunning inside as well as out.  Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures inside.