The day began with the morning rituals.....and, of course, a couple of steaming cups of French Roast coffee....my way of jump-starting each day. It was a nice easy morning as we prepared to make the trip to Ottawa with Charlie and Katherine.....
The arrived, as they said the would, right at 9:30...and in a few minutes we were off and on our way for the approximately 60 miles up to Ottawa, the capital of Canada! We were there in a bit more than an hour......and driving right into the city center, we parked in a parking garage only a few minutes walk from the Parliament Building......their capital building.
WHAT a great, beautiful building it is!!!! We scheduled a tour through the building for after a lunch....and since it was about eating time, we walked down the pedestrian mall in the city center.....about two blocks.....and found a nice sidewalk cafe/pub for lunch. THANKFULLY, we arrived there before the 12 noon lunch hour.....as soon after we ordered our beer, the well-dressed people began to emerge onto the sidewalks....and our little sidewalk cafe seats were completely taken! We had a very good lunch, with some great beer, and then it was time to return for the tour.
And....after going through security, we began the tour which took us through the hallways, to the two parliament rooms....similar to our House and Senate in Washington. The architecture inside this magnificent building was just super!!!! Very gothic in style with lots of fan-shaped details leading up from the columns to spread out across the ceilings. From the two main and large rooms where the bills are discussed/argued.....we then went to the Library. WOW!!!!! Incredible detailed wood carvings throughout the circular room.........just gorgeous!!!
After this wonderful tour......we then walked around the city.....looking at the canal and the many locks that pleasure boats use to travel throughout the Province.....from one river to another. We also visited the open markets in the center of town......and enjoyed the great looking fruits and veggies, as well a great flowers and plants that were for spring plantings/landscaping.
We found a little ice cream shop.......made our purchases and then sat outside and discussed the woes of the world....and compared health care systems in our two countries, as well as discussing the culture and the ever-increasing ethnic populations in both of our countries. The four of us have such similar viewpoints on sooooo many issues......!
From there, we did some driving around and looked at the main canal through the city, visiting a lock and then seeing the waterfalls that do exist within the city. Really a beautiful setting......Ottawa is sooooo much nicer than I had ever visualized. We both really loved it!!
After that....it was getting on towards 6pm.....and we headed out to watch the Royal Canadian Mounted Police event which occurs each year. We found a place to put our chairs....and before long we were entertained by music from a great band, police dog training exhibitions, sky divers who swooped down with their Canadian flag parachutes.....and then the final event was the RCMP and their horses riding and drilling on the parade ground to music. WHAT a spectacle....and even though we were about on their eye level, it was really great to see such beautiful horses and their "red-coated" mounties drilling for the next 40 minutes!!!!! Something we might never have taken the time to see, even if we had known about it.....!!! A GREAT big THANK YOU to Charlie and Katherine for knowing about this event and taking us to see it!!!
Well.....after that, it was 9Pm and back into the city we headed for dinner. OMG....what a place Clarence Street is.....right in the center of town. Full of young adults and soooooo many cafes on the sidewalk and clubs and people and........WOW....just a great fun-loving place. We ate at the Blue Cactus.......and another huge WOW for the food!!! We were seated by an open wall/window that was next to the sidewalk.....and so the people watching was beyond belief! The food???? The Shrimp and Goat Cheese pasta which I had was one of the very best pastas that I can remember eating.....ever!!! BE SURE and MARK this as a place to dine!!!!!!!!
Then, it was back to Cornwall, arriving at TheHowserHouse about 1:15AM!!!! Yep.....tired and exhausted, we fell into bed.......
WOW....LIFE IS SOOOOOOO GREAT!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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