Monday, December 8, 2008

In the Steps of John Lennon

John Lennon died on this day in 1980. I realized this weekend that last month I stayed at the Montreal Hilton, the same hotel where John Lennon had his famous "Bed-in" in 1969 and recorded Give Peace a Chance.

I've also been to the University of Ottawa building where John Lennon spoke during a visit in 1969 and was given a tour of the city by a 21 year-old student named Alan Rock (a former politician and UN ambassador, he is now the University's president!).

This past February when I was in New York City I walked past the Dakota apartment building where John Lennon lived for several years until he was shot just outside. I also visited the nearby Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park.

I remember seeing John Lennon's psychedelic painted Rolls-Royce car when it was on display at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa .

So without leaving North America, I've made a little John Lennon pilgrimage.