Saturday, 12 June 2010
Winnipeg, Canada
Continue the weekend theme of all things World War 2 at the Western Canadian Air Museum. Small display tucked away in a corner dedicated to Coastal Command shows a Sunderland Flying boat and its dimensions. Its only now that I realise how big and bulky the Sunderland Flying boat is. Consequence of which is that U-boats could see them coming. And couldn’t fail to miss. Which made for an easy target. And a dangerous flight by those brave men.
Once inside the Legislative Building greeted by two enormous bison guarding the entrance. Bison being the official emblem of Manitoba. Manitoba being derived from the First Nation Assiniboine language of ‘Mini tobow’ meaning ‘Lake on the prairie’. Amazing acoustics under the main entrance dome designed to amplify your voice. Atop the dome outside stands the ‘Golden Boy’. A 17ft gilded bronze statue.
Golden and glinting in the late afternoon sun.
Bistro Dansk for dinner. Waitress just loves my English accent.
She tells me I’m like Hugh Grant.
I know. Can’t believe it myself.
Stop laughing.
Having run out of Jameson’s nip across to the ‘Liqor Store’ opposite the hotel to buy a bottle. It’s shut. So. Nip across to the local Safeway. To discover they’re not allowed to sell alcohol. Flipping nonsense.
Back to hotel bar. For a glass of Jameson’s.
All hell lets loose when I wander off. Glass in hand. Away from the bar.
No. Sir. You’re not allowed to do that.
Oh for God’s sake.
And so begins an introduction to Canada’s stupid alcohol laws.
Glass has to be covered.
With clingfilm.
So I can take it to my room.
Bloody nonsense.
