Well, I've lived on both sides of Canada, but I've spent most of my adult life smack-dab in the middle, here in Canada's Beautiful and Scenic Capital City, Ottawa. Contrary to popular belief, while it does get pretty darn chilly here in the winter, it is also a steambath in the summer. I have American friends who have a hard time believing this, but it is true, I swear. If you visit in July, please don't bring your skis. It will only cause the natives to point and laugh at you.
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My House in Ottawa -- Y'all come by and see me sometime, y'hear? (Sorry about the yellowing lawn, but it was a dry summer last year.) |
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Yes, we have our very own Changing of the Guard ceremony, just like the Queen's. Cool, huh? |
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And just in case turn-of-the-last-century neo-Gothic archways and flying buttresses weren't incongruous enough in a North American capital city, take a gander at our faux-French-Chateau style CN hotel. Ottawa really does have it all! This photo was shot from the Ottawa River, where it meets the locks of the Rideau Canal, not to be confused with the Rideau River. All these waterways make navigation fun, and confuse the heck out of the tourists. |
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Tulips upon tulips upon tulips....in May, we celebrate winter's demise with the Festival of Spring. Sixty zillion tulips courtesy of the Dutch Royal Family, who were sheltered here during the Second World War. In the background is the National Art Gallery, a froth of glass and metal designed by Moishe Safdie, architect extraordinaire. If you like this one, you should see what he did to our poor old City Hall! |
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Lest you think Ottawa is all tasteful elderly architecture and stunning natural beauty, here's one of our latest additions ‚ the spectacularly gaudy, yet consistently tasteless, Casino de Hull. As far as I know, Moishe Safdie had nothing to do with this one. |
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Gee, Hull seems to get all the good buildings, doesn't it? No, it's not part of the set for a cheezy sci-fi thriller, it's our very own Museum of Civilization. Uh, yeah. If this is civilization, what's the alternative? |
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In summer, these things hover like low-flying spacecraft over unsuspecting barbequers, hissing and whistling and causing dogs to run around in tight circles barking hysterically. Who says we never do anything exciting in Ottawa? |
