Two items before I get to the current day and the activities here. For those living in the Ottawa area, and wish to do so, VIA will soon have an open house at the Ottawa train station. When I passed through there last Wednesday, I saw this new train sitting on the first track. I noticed that groups were doing tours of the train, at least of one car. Upon questions to staff, I was informed that it was the latest in train technology,and would soon be open to all for tours very soon.
Second. A few words on airline technology. Turkish Airlines is the oldest continuous serving airline in the world. My flight here from Montreal was on their newest model of aircraft...the A350-900 model. It seats 300 , and for my flight, that model was configured mostly to economy class. I like to set the tv to route mode, and watch where we are going on the screen in front of me. There are three external cameras on this plane, one high on the tail looking forward, and two underneath, one looking down and one forward, both about midsection. One gets a view better than they would have with a window seat.
April 25 is known as ANZAC day, referring to Australia and New Zealand, and a part they played in World War one here in Turkey. Those armies were ordered here by Winston Churchill to fight the Turkish army (as it is known today...not then). Neither side wanted to fight, but the Brits wanted control of the waterway controlling the entrance to the Black Sea). The place is known as Gallipoli , and I visited there in 2012 on my first trip around the world. When I got to Australia, on April 25 that year there were parades and such in memory of the event and the Turks. Last evening at 11 P.M. we celebrated the ANZACS here. There was a parade, flags and loud band music everywhere......and 23 degrees. The above noted battles were the events that led to the establishment of modern Turkey by a man known as Ataturk, from where the name has its origin. So the party last evening was like Canada day back home, and again.....no alcohol. Way back at the times of the battles, the two sides shared food, visits and smokes, and generally enjoyed the time.....until the order came down to fight...then they would do some shooting, then back to the relaxed atmosphere. This is how it was explained to my tour group at the time of my visit. Each year, during normal times the ANZAC dignitaries come here for the celebrations. Turkey gave all of the various Unit battle flags to the War museum in Canberra, Australia. I saw them during my visit. Tonight, another party.
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