Regina

By the time we arrived in Regina for our first night of two, it was too late to go anywhere or do anything other than play in the pool and use the scariest slide known to man. I was certain the kids were going to have nightmares after that slide - but no, just me. It was unnerving because most of the slide was completely enclosed and therefore pitch black inside. You had no sense of where you were and almost no warning of when you were about to erupt from the end into the pool.

Ash at Maclean Art Gallery.

Megan at Maclean Art Gallery.

Paige at Maclean Art Gallery.

The next day we were determined to see the "free" parts of Regina (being mindful of money already spent and needing to BE spent). So, I plotted a course for three different places that were free. The first was the Maclean Art Gallery - we enjoyed the shop there more than the art, which may say something for our sense of art or why it is a free gallery. We found the gallery quite easily with the GPS, but then spent quite some time looking for parking as everything within a kilometre was private parking and tow-away zones - quite disconcerting. I was starting to think that the gallery was only free to those lucky working hordes who were able to park there - government health workers. Jill sorted the issue for us after a confusing conversation that seemed to arise from the fact that the receptionist couldn't grasp the idea that we were VISITORS and not there for some work purpose (more fuel for my suspicions).

Who is this lady??

After a "well it was free, so what do you expect" start to the day we drove a short distance to the Saskatchewan Museum. This is excellent value even if you DID have to pay - which you don't. There were many well presented displays on a wide range of topics such as geology, early Indian and European history of the area and environmental themes. There were plenty of interesting things to view and touch in this museum which made it good for kiddly-pinks.

Interesting display at  Museum of Saskatchewan.

Kids pose with Bison skeleton.

Static Indian display.

I still find it hard to believe that porcupines climb trees!

With a face like this I had to photograph it.

The girls loved the toy dinosaur.

The last location of the day was a bit of a dad indulgence - the legislative building of Saskatchewan (what we would call parliament house in South Australia). This is a really impressive building and is made of a huge range of marble brought in from all around the world and Canada. It took years to make and is absolutely beautiful. We were lucky to get our own tour guide for most of the 30 minute tour and he was equally fantastic. If you go to see the place ask for Arnold to guide you.

Saskatchewan legislative building

This wasn't very exciting for small children - looking around a big echoing building in which you weren't allowed to be loud enough to make echoes, still they were well behaved and didn't complain (much). Dad of course loved it all and was in his element - making mental comparisons with the Adelaide parliament - which actually looks like a poor cousin in comparison.

Ash the MP?

Paige the MP?

Inside stairs from lobby area - all marble of course.

Recent mural by local artist.

Looking down on the 'well' from first floor balcony.

Yep! we were there.



You betcha I was happy!


After the tour we headed back to our hotel for more terrifying slide rides. There are no pictures to show the horror - let's just say that dad was NOT smiling quite so much.