Ottawa!

Aug 22, 2019

We are up early, shower and jump into the truck because we want to be in downtown Ottawa, to catch see the changing of the Guards at the Parliament buildings and then to jump onto the Hop On Hop Off bus. That meant we had to find an open-air parking lot downtown to accommodate our over-height vehicle. That chore to find the parking lot with an open space became a quest that took longer than we expected and we missed that show.

We bought our tickets for the bus and then started our tour of the city. We jumped off at various stops including the National Art Gallery. We are meeting Dennis there. Dennis is the father in law to a friend of Myra, our daughter. Dennis is planning an extended stay on Vancouver Island for September/October and we have offered our home to him for that period. Our visit was to meet him, get to know him a little and make the necessary arrangements.

We had a brief lunch at the Gallery, hopped back on the bus to tour more of the city. The narrator pointed out the many landmarks of Ottawa, various foreign embassies and historic sites, including the Rideau hall, the Governor General’s residence and the temporary home of the Prime Minister. (24 Sussex drive is presently undergoing a major upgrade and renovation).

We stopped in at the ByMarket. This area of downtown Ottawa is a market that has many vendors, shops and eclectic things to see. As we were getting back on the bus we were stopped for a period of time as the cavalcade for the visiting US Secretary of State made its way down the streets from the US embassy.

After seeing the sights that are included in the bus tour, we jumped off and walked back to our truck to extend our parking meter to the late evening. We had decided to stay downtown to see the light show at the Parliament Buildings, at 9:30.

We walked up onto Sparks St and strolled with the crowds. There are many outdoor bistros on Sparks St. so we chose one and ordered a poutine and a beer. Not exactly a healthy supper but we enjoyed it. I’m sure my cardiologist has something to say about that! Ottawa is truly a great city with many parks, and green spaces. The Rideau canal certainly adds to the beauty of the city.

The Northern Lights show at the Parliament buildings is spectacular. The theme this year is the about the history of Canada featuring the many unique events that shaped the country and the culture of Canada. The entire show is projected onto the walls of the Centre block. By 9:30, the lawns in front of the building were covered with folks sitting down to watch the half-hour show. The show ended with the nation’s flag projected onto the Parliament building and the national anthem playing. The entire crowd spontaneously jumped to their feet to stand and sing along. It was truly a moving experience. We left, walking back to our vehicle feeling proud to be a Canadian.