A Capital Day

Originally founded as Bytown in 1826, Ottawa grew in importance with the construction of the Rideau Canal which connected Montreal to Kingston.  The city's name was changed to Ottawa in 1855 and it was selected by Queen Victoria as the capital in 1857.  At that time, it was a small town and part of the reason for it being selected was that it was far enough from the US border that they thought it would be safe from an American attack.


Today with a population of nearly 1 million, its the fourth largest city in Canada.

Today we do a walking tour of Ottawa's major sites, some of which we saw yesterday.   Stops include Parliament Hill, the National War Memorial, Sparks Street, Major's Hill Park, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, the Bank of Canada, The Rideau Canal, the Prime Minister's Offices and the ByWard Market

Ottawa’s National War Memorial is a tall memorial arch commemorating all Canadian soldiers who have died in the service of war, past and future. Unveiled for the first time in 1939 after a nation-wide competition for its design, the memorial’s initial intention was to commemorate the Canadian casualties of World War I. However, this intention was subsequently altered to accommodate those who died in World War II, the Korean War and the war in Afghanistan.

Major's Hill Park

The Fairnont Chateau Laurier is a 400 room luxury hotel constructed in 1912 near the Rideau Canal.  Its adjacent to Major's Hill Park.

The Rideau Canal, also known unofficially as the Rideau Waterway, connects Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario  to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario. It is 202 kilometers in length. The name Rideau, French for "curtain", is derived from the curtain-like appearance of the Rideau River's twin waterfalls where they join the Ottawa River. The canal system uses sections of two rivers, the Rideau and the Cataraqui, as well as several lakes.  In the winter, the canal becomes  a huge ice skating rink.

After seeing some of Ottawa, we head two hours east to Montreal where we will spend the next three nights.  Our hotel is an Embassy Suites in the financial district within walking distance of Old Montreal where most of the tourist attractions are.

Sizzling in Ottawa

Our hotel in New York was just 30 miles south of the border so it was a quick drive into Canada.  Getting through customs was very easy; one look at Ida and the guy knew she could not tell a lie.

Thousand Islands Bridge

Canadian Border

It was a nice drive into Ottawa.   We saw the Rideau Canal and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel before having some lunch at Nate's on Sparks Street near Parliament Hill.

This is the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, a 400 room luxury hotel build between 1909 and 1912 and renovated in recent years.  It was built at the end of a train line so that's where most of its business came from in its early years.  

Canal Locks

The Rideau Canal connects Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario  to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario. It is 202 kilometres in length. The name Rideau, French for "curtain", is derived from the curtain-like appearance of the Rideau River's twin waterfalls where they join the Ottawa River.  In the winter, the canal becomes  a huge ice skating rink.

The temperature today was a balmy 96 degrees, but we did a brief tour of the exterior of the Parliament building.   They were taking down the stage from yesterday's Canada Day celebrations.

Dave at the Library of Parliament

Dave at the East Block

Ida with the Parliament Building

Queen Elizabeth II

Ottawa River

Centennial Flame

The National War Memorial is a tall, granite memorial arch with bronze sculptures in Ottawa, Ontario, designed by Vernon March and first dedicated by King George VI in 1939. Originally built to commemorate the Canadians who died in the First World War, it was in 1982 rededicated to also include those killed in the Second World War and Korean War and again in 2014 to add the dead from the Second Boer War and War in Afghanistan, as well as all Canadians killed in all conflicts past and future.  In 2000 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in front of the memorial and symbolizes the sacrifices made by all Canadians who have died or may yet die for their country.

We were able to witness the changing of the guard. 


Our next stop was the beautiful cathedral basilica of Notre Dame.  The interior was stunningly decorated.  Ida lit a candle for the sisters at McAuley convent.

Lighting a candle

Main Altar

Side Altar

Side Altar

We then checked into our hotel near the Bywood Market where we took a stroll before having dinner at Victoria Trattoria.   After dinner, we shared a beaver tail for dessert.  Its very much like funnel cake.

View from our hotel of Parliament

Pub in the Market Area

Vegetables for Sale

By Wood Market

Delicious Antipasta

Dessert

Onward to Ottawa

We plan to enter Canada via the Thousand Islands Bridge, but they say that during busy times there can be a two hour wait, so we have a back up plan to take a bridge father north in Ogdensburg if we find the wait times are long.  Fortunately there is a website with the wait times for border crossings.



Arriving in Ottawa, we'll visit Parliament Hill along the Ottawa River.  Its the seat of government for the country.  This is the focal point for Canada Day celebrations which will occur on July 1, the day before we arrive.
In the summer, they have a Changing of the Guard ceremony on the lawn outside of Parliament.

During our visit to Canada, we will be visiting a number of beautiful churches starting with the Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame in Ottawa.  The exterior is reserved, but the interior is as far more ornate, designed by Georges Buillon. The church is brightly painted and decorated with carved features, exquisite stained glass windows and hundreds of statues of various religious figures.  At the end of the choir, the Holy Family is completed with saints John the Baptist and Patrick  the patron saints of French and Irish Catholics.

Andaz lobby

After our sightseeing, we will check in at the Andaz Ottawa Byward Market Hotel for a one night's stay.  Its a modern boutique hotel that's part of the Hyatt brand.

The hotel is across the street from the Byward market area which has a diverse group of shops and restaurants.  The market area opened in 1826.  We plan to have dinner at Vittoria Trattoria, but we'll play it by ear.

Byward Market

 

South of the Border

The Canadian Border that is.

We had a nice drive today and we're enjoying the audio book, The President is Missing which we listened to for most of the way.

Strange sign to see on the way to Canada

That's Ida next to the heart

After checking in we drove a short while to Westcott Beach State Park along the shore of Lake Ontario.  Across the lake is Canada.    Trivia question:  Which New York city along this lake was Ida born in?

Lake Ontario

This photo is for Diana.  We just watched the classic Hitchcock movie, The Birds, together.   I think some of the seagulls here were in the movie since they liked to swoop down on unsuspecting picnickers.

Ida Magee rock climbing!

Beautiful natural water lillies

Here we go. Day 1, July 1st!

Today is the first day of our trip and most appropriately, its also Canada Day.

We were originally going to drive straight to Canada on Monday, July 2, but since Ida now has off on July 1, we are going to break the 450 mile trek North to Ottawa up by driving five hours on Sunday.   Surprisingly we're only going to be on two highways til we get to the border --- I-476 in PA and I-81 in New York.

On last year's vacation we took I-81 south to Tennessee. This highway follows the Great Appalachian Valley which stretches from Quebec to Alabama running for about 1,200 miles.  Before the interstate was there, Indians used the route then known as the Great Indian Warpath.  In colonial days, the Great Wagon Road led settlers from Philadelphia to York and then South.  During the civil war, the valley was a major route for armies in the Shenandoah and then leading north to Gettysburg.

We purchased the audio book version of "The President is Missing" by Bill Clinton and James Patterson to listen to on the way there.  As the novel opens, a threat looms. Enemies are planning an attack of unprecedented scale on America. Uncertainty and fear grip Washington. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the cabinet. The President himself becomes a suspect, and then goes missing...  Audio books make the time go by much faster on the drive.

After about a five hour drive, we'll stop for the night in Watertown, New York which is about 40 minutes away from the Thousand Islands Bridge entrance to Canada and Ottawa is about 2 hours away from there.  So, if there is not a long line at the border, we should have an easy drive tomorrow.

We are staying overnight at a Holiday Inn Express.