WINNIPEG ON FRIDAY

Our morning was spent at the Winnipeg Art Gallery at 300 Memorial Blvd. www.wag.mb.ca
The building itself has architecturally distinct and houses the world's largest collection of contemporary Inuit art. There are several floors with much to see in the way of both painted art and sculptures; ten galleries. I also loved the roof garden even though it's under construction.

We are now off an area called The Forks, an expanse of riverside property in the downtown area. These 56-acres possesses a rich 6000-year old history. Early Aboriginal peoples traded at The Forks, followed by European fur traders, Métis buffalo hunters, Scottish settlers, riverboat workers, railway pioneers and tens of thousands of immigrants.

Now, it's a tourist attraction with restaurants, sidewalk entertainment, boutiques, markets, riverboat cruises, and Manitoba visitors center. Esther and Eunice were having fun checking out the venue as I was looking forward to the Inn at the Forks, the location of Riverstone Spa where I indulged in a body wrap with a mini-facial and felt "fabulous". http://riverstonespa.ca/

The Inn's complimentary car service brought me back to my hotel, where I then indulged in resting and hanging out in the Gold Lounge. A woman was dressed in her wedding gown and I asked if she was part of the wedding party that was booked at the hotel. She was not. In fact, she hadn't had a honeymoon when she did get married and decided to do so by staying on the Gold Floor. She and her husband were having a great time with the VIP treatment given to them. In fact, she couldn't say enough compliments to the Gold staff. I totally understood why.

After canape time, I took a Unicity tax to the St. Boniface Cathedral's cemetery for Theatre in the Cemetery. This guy didn't know where it was and even when we got there had to back up to find the address. Interesting how the meter was two dollars less going back to the hotel.

Anyway, these three costumed actors were telling the history via stories from French, Metis and Manitoban character gravesites. It was a great way to learn and would have been a much better experience if it weren't for the mosquitoes!!!