A Rest from the Road - 4 Days in Ottawa

Sunday, June 27, 2010
Ottawa is a great place to visit. This is my 5th time here. The joke was I would come out to visit my brother every 5 years, whether I needed to or not. As the years go by, I realize that we don't have the luxury of time anymore. So I am happy to have the opportunity to see him and Diane, if only for 4 days.
We started the day on Sunday by sleeping in. What a treat not to have to hurry up and be on our way. Ed and I went to Mass at St. Patrick's Basilica. They didn't have a choir but they did have a pipe organ. At the end of the mass, the priest said that it wasn't usual for them to do this, but since it is Canada Day on Thursday, they would sing O Canada. What a fitting way to start our visit in the nation's capital. We met Randall and Diane and had lunch at Lapointe's in the Byward Market. It is the oldest fish shop in the city. When we were driving through Northern Ontario we saw a lot of fish and chip stands offering Pickerel. That seems to a regional specialty, so pickerel and chips lunch for Ed and I had maple glazed salmon and market greens.
After lunch we strolled around the Parliament Buildings. In the evening we took a picnic and went to the RCMP Musical Ride Sunset Ceremonies at the Rockcliffe Stables. At the end of the ceremonies, as the honour guard lowered the flag, we sang O Canada. A perfect way to close the day.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Today we were on our own in Ottawa. While Ed explored the exhibits at the Canadian War Museum I went to the National Art Gallery. Natalie and I had visited the Canadian War Museum when we here 5 years ago and I was interested in seeing the POP exhibit at the art gallery. I was also interested in seeing the works by the Group of 7 - having just driven through the countryside that they had painted. Ed took most of the day to visit the museum and that gave me time to return to the Byward Market then stroll along Sparks Street Mall. I was happy to come across the CBC boutique where I bought my first souvenir of the holiday - a Coronation Street Rovers Return t-shirt. Not too Canadian, buy just my style.
The temperature today is 31.5C. This is a big change from what they have been having and after a drive through the Ottawa rush hour, it was good to be back at brother's.
We enjoyed a glass of wine and a delicious stir-fry for dinner.
It has been good to be here now with my brother and Diane. And not just because of the comfortable bed and the chance to do some laundry. My brother and I have lived in different cities for over 30 years. It has been good to see him, even if just for a few brief days. But I know that even though we are miles apart he is with me.

Tuesday we are on our way to the Pinery Provincial Park, near Sarnia, on the shores of Lake Huron in Southern Ontario. This will be another wilderness experience. No WIFI, no mod cons. Let's hope there is also no rain.