Day 58- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

   DAY 58  June 13
Ottawa Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Day


We did the hop on -hop off bus tour of Ottawa.  We only hopped off to catch the next bus back to the boat.  It was a very good tour with lots of those little details that only a good guide can provide.  The majority of the city is government buildings, as you might imagine, since Ottawa is the capital of Canada.  The rest of them are for folks that want something from the government, naturally.  But it is pretty and we saw a lot of the Embassies and ambassadorial homes, a couple of shacks now owned by King Charles and a horse.
It was a bit windy on the top deck, but the best view.

The pretty part of the Central Experimental Farm 

A chatty locktender said that the city needs to decide whether it is going to be a big city or a small town and they haven't decided.  Interesting observation.  There once was a height restriction that no building could be taller than the flag over Parliament, 133 feet.  As you can see that restriction went by the wayside when some all powerful person decided that the city could not expand out, only up.
The two tall ones are apartment buildings.

The Rideau Canal basically put this town on the map and remains a central feature.  This bridge is not quite halfway from where we were moored to the 8 consecutive flight locks down to the Ottawa River.  The bike path goes the whole way.

Our 'locking buddy'!  The orange weed eating machine thrashing it's way to work.

.
This place is very bicycle friendly, at least when it's not snowing.


This is part of Castle Skateland. When it is cold enough they drain the Rideau Canal down to a foot of water and let it freeze. It is a 5 mile long skater's delight.


Imagine all of this being a small part of the skating area. This past winter was the first time in history that it did not freeze all winter.

The Ottawa Convention Center, Shaw Center

As you can see, they haven't quite figured out how to coordinate the architectural styles.
The center building is the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel.

Tour guide's comment, "The most hated building in the country, home to Canadian version of the Internal Revenue Service."

I wonder if the State Department types get hazardous duty pay here, too.


More of the US Embassy


More of the US Embassy

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
We were told that there is a three year-long waiting list to get married in the Basilica.  
As they say, "Book the date, then find a mate."


If you get married in the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, come out the front door, this is your first sight. The giant spider is part of National Gallery of Canada, the building behind the spider.

This is where they make the money, the Royal Canadian Mint.


Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The only building in Ottawa with no beer.


Lester B. Pearson Building, home of Global Affairs


National Research Council of Canada


Entrance to the old City Hall


Old City Hall

You too can take a aerial tour of the city in this open cockpit biplane.


The River House

H.M. The Queen.  There is no timeline, yet, on when the 
currency will all be adorned with King Charlie.


Canadian Museum of History

The stack is all that remains of what once was the world's largest match factory.  
After the fifth time it burned down, they gave up.

This dam is the end of navigation on the Ottawa River.  The tour actually took us across a bridge into Kweebeck for short while. The city there was known as Hull for a century, now it is Gatineau. Our bus driver, a Francophone, told us he was born in Hull.  Go figure.


These smelled lovely.


They are Japanese Tree Lilacs.


The flags of the 10 Provinces and 3 Territories of Canada.

I think this guy is pointing to the match Factory.  Again.

Prime Minister's office, second floor, right corner.  In case you're interested.

The next 8 pictures are of Parliament Hill and it's buildings.











They keep enticing us, but we haven't have a beaver tail, yet.


Natural History Museum. 


This guy visited us but didn't stay long.

Back from harvesting!

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Paul comments in this font
Cheryl comments in this font


Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 16, 2024 at 7:56 AM

    Ok - I'll bite. The horse comment?? I don't know if I'd want a beaver tail either. Seems like they'd be tough! Beautiful buildings. I alway like how older generations build and the newer ones can't compare to the detail and grandeur of the old ones. Great pictures you guys. Looks like you are having fun.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Snow GooseJune 16, 2024 at 3:21 PM

    When we went by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Stables we saw ONE horse. Yes, the buildings are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

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