Thursday 5th July - Birthday

Today was the day to celebrate my birthday, I was not allowed to go to Gill's until she had everything in place for me and this meant waiting until 10.30.
She had assembled a flower arrangement, purchased a birthday cake and wrapped presents. How lucky I was.
I had asked to visit The Forks, which is an historic site and green space in downtown Winnipeg, which is located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1974.
The Forks market began as two adjoining stables for competing rail companies, the horse stalls were joined together by a courtyard and bridges and is now The Forks market. There are numerous restaurants and eateries and work of Canadian artisans. My kind of place!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forks,_Winnipeg#The_Forks_Market
After lunch there we looked around the crafts, particularly the Prairiescape pottery.

Hotel Fort Garry

 

 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

 Manitoba Legislative Building

The day turned out to be very hot, 28deg with 30% humidity. We took a  boat trip and our guide was very knowledgeable and had a rather wicked sense of humour - after the season he was going to Cambridge University to study as an actuary. The trip was a refreshing way to travel throughout downtown Winnipeg and the lovely neighbourhoods along the river: Exchange District, St. Boniface and the Museum for Human Rights, which will be the first national museum outside of Ottawa once it is completed in around 2014/15.
The day just seemed to get more hot and the car was parked quite some distance from the entrance to The Forks. A small fleet of drivers with golf carts were happy to oblige and return you to your parked cars. Once back at base we got ready to go out for a meal at Bistro Dansk, West End with Gill and Bette. The food was good and homemade and the portions were extremely generous to say the least.
The celebrations is not end there as once we returned home a neighbour came over and we cut the birthday cake.
Thank you Gill for a memorable day.