Monday, July 17 (Day 13)

Checking out the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the area around the legislature this morning. Will go to the RCMP Heritage Building after lunch. There’s a medieval “castle” we’re going to have a tour of tonight, after getting food at the restaurant at Hotel Saskatchewan.

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Started at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens in front of the Saskatchewan Legislative. After a quick walk around the block back to the car (I forgot to put Google Maps on walking), found the actual garden. We weren’t sure if we’d do the free 30 minute tour of the building, but when we saw it was one of the best in Canada, decided to check it out. Arrived right in time for the metal detector and tour. The building uses many different types of marble from all over the world. It was built in the early 1900s after Saskatchewan became it’s own province and not part of the Northwest Territories in 1805. The Queen came 6 times I believe, the last time in 2005 for the centennial.

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum was just around the corner. It has a replica of the largest T-Rex in the world (found in Saskatchewan – the real one is on display at a museum a bit more south). The museum was by donation only, but had a good display on First Nations People’s and the different types of geology of Saskatchewan. The last exhibit had a bunch of displays with life-sized animals to look at. Would just need a full day to read every bit of info. they had in display.

After lunch, we went to the RCMP Heritage Centre in the outskirts of town. A fairly straightforward museum on the history of the force. Think they still do basic training for any Mountie right nearby.

Just got back from Circa 27 in the Saskatchewan Hotel. It’s their cocktail lounge and they serve dinner. It was all booked up so good I reserved ahead of time. Just found out earlier today that at 5 pm they do a complimentary whiskey toast. They toot a train horn since they’re an old railway hotel, then make a toast to our neighbours to the south who are still in prohibition. We could have stayed at the hotel with Nala for a reasonable price, but I may have booked ours because it has a pool with a slide (that we probably won’t try lol. The hot pool at the Temple Garden spoiled us!!) The Queen and other Royals have stayed there, along with other celebrities.