When the Apollo 11 astronauts landed in Ottawa in 1969

Having been to the moon, the Apollo 11 astronauts wouldn't be easyguests to impress by the time they landed in Ottawa.

But they were all smiles during their visit to theCanadian capitalon a frosty December day about four and a half months after their historic lunar landing.

• CBC Archives |What was it like to go to the moon in 1969? We asked Buzz Aldrin

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau introduced Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to a crowd of what newspaper reports estimated was about 1,000admirers on Parliament Hill on Dec. 2, 1969.

"They know and we know who these men are," the prime minister said. "We've had them in our minds, we've even had them in our living rooms and we want to tell them that they are very, very welcome in this country."

None of the astronauts was wearing a hat, despite sub-zero temperatures that day, though theweather conditions didsetup Collins well fora joke about the cold.

"I'm told it's 20 degrees [Fahrenheit], but I can't really believe it your welcome makes me feel at least up in the 60s," said Collins, cracking a smile as he made his remarks, following a brief introduction from Armstrong.

The Canadian connection

Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong visit Ottawa in 1969

55 years ago

Duration 2:39

Four months after landing on the moon, the trio speaks outside Parliament.

Aldrin spoke next, telling the crowd about the impact Canada had on the lunar mission.

"When the Eagle landed at Tranquility Base, it landed on Canadian legs," he said.

"They may not have been as shapely as some of the legs here on Earth, but when Neil and I stepped out on the lunar surface, they were indeed beautiful legs to us."

His joke perhaps revealed that although he was an astronaut and pioneer of space, he was also a man of his time.

The Toronto Star reported that the Apollo 11 astronauts were due to be feted at a reception and dinner that evening, before travelling to Montreal the next day.