Ottawa

Ottawa is a beautiful and vibrant city. Within the city limits, the four mile Rideau Canal is lined with a continuous park system which is well used by bicyclists, walkers, joggers, dogs and baby carriages. Dow’s Lake Marina where we have docked for the last few days sports a kayak, canoe and paddle boat rental business which adds to the sense that Ottawans are constantly moving. It is refreshing to see the diversity of cultures that populate the city and the restaurants and market stall offerings that reflect this richness.

The National Gallery is architecturally significant and houses Canada’s varied art collections. We enjoyed the special exhibit of Canadian Impressionists and also took in 2 miles worth of other collected works as well. Another highlight is the Canadian Museum of History and the Grand Hall in particular which houses the world’s largest collection of totem poles, spectacular cedar trees sculpted by the First Nations of the Northwest which illustrate ancestry, history or commemorate a special event. I believe I speak for both of us when I suggest that we have a much better understanding of Canadian history, and were surprised at how little we knew of it prior to this visit.

Always in search of good food, we strolled between the raindrops in the Byward Market finding cheese, salmon and freshly picked strawberries! At the suggestion of a boating family whom we met on multiple occassions on the canal system, we dined at Whalesbone restaurant. Wonderful PEI, New Bruswick and Newfoundland oysters, Thai coconut mussels, scallops with pork belly, and miso glazed sablefish. We are apparently craving fish!

Tomorrow is a foul weather day so we will move the boat, in the morning before the storms, to the “grey line” in the heart of Ottawa prior to descending the Flight of Eight locks to the Ottawa River on Friday. This move will eliminate the need for Ubers and provide us the opportunity to visit Parliament and have High Tea at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier!