Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa, Canada

For various reasons we have not been able to blog for almost a year, but we wanted to make sure and get a few more done before our mission is over. After having spent a year going to Ogdensburg on the weekends, we found out that the capital of Canada, Ottawa, is only an hour away from there.  One Sat. we drove across the bridge into Canada, which is right down the street from our house.  It crosses the St. Lawrence Seaway.  We look at Canada from our living room window every weekend.  It was fun to get to actually visit what we had so often looked at from across the seaway.

The bridge to Canada is a block from our house in Ogdensburg.  After crossing the bridge, it only took about an hour to arrive in Ottawa.  The first thing we did was go to the Rideau Hall, which is Canada's White House. 

This was a grand and stately building. It was much different than we expected. Mainly, there was next to no security. We were apparently there on a quiet day and got to have a private tour. The President of Canada was even in at the time and we were instructed how to greet him in case we should see him passing through a hall.

This is our private tour guide, Phillip.

Next we went to see the Canadian Notre Dame Basilica.

It was beautiful.  There were people inside praying, from time and to time, and so we felt we had to time our shots when no one would see.  We did not want to disturb anyone's prayer or worship.

It was beautifully and elaborate.

                                             The ceiling was my favorite part.

             There were also many stained glass windows.  This is only one of many.

                                                   This is Parliament. 
We did not have time to get out and take a careful shot...so this is a drive-by.

A street sign I thought was fun. 

 "I do say, sir, I live at the corner of MacKay and Queen Victoria, ole chap!"

More shots of some of the wonderful old buildings downtown.

If you look closely at the "Ride for Dad" ribbon is says in small print Prostrate Cancer.  I thought it was interesting that dad's cancer gets equal time here.

A big beautiful grand hotel right in the center of town.

We roamed through it and it was elegant!

More buildings

I guess every "big" city has to have it modern art. 

Ottawa gets a giant sized spider.

We found a market place with all sorts of European food markets two blocks north of the central part of town.  Phil found some sesame seed crackers he had had in Germany on his mission back in the 60's.  Very fun and yummy!

We took a picture of tourists taking a ride through the center of town.  It's kind of funny when you think about it, tourists (us) taking pictures of tourists.

We only had a couple of hours to spend in Ottawa, as we had to get back to Ogdensburg.  But they have a tulip festival in May we hope to get back for.  If we do we will blog Ottawa again.  It was quaint and delightful.

So long....