100 days

[turtlemichael]

The Plains of Abraham. Like battlefields on the Western Front in Europe it is tiny but Wolfe's Victory here changed the history of North America.


The Citadel


Chateau Frontenac dominates the city.


A Salvador Dali thingy

 

[Pushka]

I love the look of those murals in Quebec. I could look at them for hours finding new things all the time. Maybe that's why I loved 'Where's Wally'

 

[turtlemichael]

In the morning the next phase of this trip begins.

 

[turtlemichael]

I love the look of those murals in Quebec. I could look at them for hours finding new things all the time. Maybe that's why I loved 'Where's Wally'

I saw today that the one here is 420 square metres in area and contains just about everybody who was anybody in the history of Quebec and lower Canada.

 

[turtlemichael]

We are off the ship and it has sailed away back down the St. Lawrence. We loved the cruise and can't wait the 485 days until we will be on board again! Now it is on to Ottawa, for the first time, for a few days.

We got the train from Montreal and it took 2 hours to get here. We had a slight fracas with the taxi driver who took us to the station over the tip (I'd given him $12.00 on an $9.40 fare.) He said - "more tip" so I said, "give me the $2.00", which he did, and got out of the taxi! The other half had got the bags out of the boot which was probably fortunate, as there were lots of "merdes" as he drove off!

The train was very comfortable, compared with European and Australian ones, apart from lots of vibration. There was plenty of leg room and excellent service and the lunch and wine were passably decent.

We are at the Westin just up from the Parliamentary quarter. The hotel is dated but we had an excellent check-in and lots of little extras -wine, chocolate etc We are in a corner room and that is what we booked. I'm an SPG Gold thanks to Amex and this the first time in living memory I've stayed in an SPG hotel.

We have a dramatic view and are looking forward to the next couple of days with fine weather, for the first time in Canada, forecast.

This is my first post under the new system so let's see what happen!

 

[Pushka]

I can only wonder what he expected for a tip! Lucky he drove off....

The post worked fine TM. And I think you can load 10 photos now.

 

[OZDUCK]

Still really enjoying this TR - keep the photos coming. (Even though I think you have stolen some of mine from Quebec City - obviously our feet wander the same way. I expect to see some of my photos of the Changing of the Guard and the Parliament House Light Show shortly) Taxi Driver - 20% tip and still not happy. !

 

[turtlemichael]

We've settled in to Ottawa and have had a big day wandering in perfect weather. It's been about 20C today and set to be warmer tomorrow. It was about 12C when we headed out this morning but Canadians are like Kiwis and wear shorts even when it is frigid. They are a hardy lot which i guess they need to be.

We had hoped to see the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill at 10.00am this morning but found out by asking, when we noticed not a lot appeared to be happening, that it only goes from mid July to late August. I was reminded of the time many years ago when we went to see the Pope appear at his window. We appeared to be the only ones scanning the windows so we asked a policeman what time the Pope came? he responded, with a pained look, "yesterday".

Still we clambered around the Hill, saw a mini-Changing of the Guard at their splendid War Memorial, toured the National Gallery, visited the Cathedral and had a snack in lively Byward Market.

Last night we had one of the best meals of the trip at a restaurant called Sur-Lie, modern French, in Murray Street Byward Market.

It's hard not to enjoy the place in this great weather.


Beet salad


Carrot cake


Guards at the War Memorial


Changing of the Guard


Memorial for the Guard killed prior to the attack on Parliament

 

[turtlemichael]

Camel art in the National Gallery.


Art Gallery Courtyard


Art Gallery


Catholic Cathedral


The inside is reminiscent of Montreal.




Outside the National Gallery

 

[turtlemichael]

Byward market




Tiny brussel sprouts


Strawberries and Ground Cherries, whatever they are.

 

[Pushka]

Looks like a wonderful day and market place.

 

[turtlemichael]

On a super sunny Sunday morning in Ottawa we are heading across the river to Gatineau to see Mosaic Canada. http://www.gatineau2017.ca/mosaicanada-150gatineau-2017/

 

[turtlemichael]

As part of Canada's150th birthday celebrations an organisation which specialises in mosaiculture, (apparently means the design of garden beds), has put on this display. It's in Gatineau which is the twin city of Ottawa across the river and it already has attracted over 1 million visitors. Not hard to see why! It is horticulture on steroi_s. A truly memorable day in beautiful weather.It is on until mid-October.

 

[drron]

What a fantastic display with great photos.

 

[tgh]

wot he sed.. wonderful display thanks for sharing.

mild panic is trumps at chateau tgh with 2 sleeps to departure
eg..this morning I am repairing swmbo's monster suitcase as the smaller replacement failed to accept the wardrobe

 

[turtlemichael]

Thanks drron and tgh. Apparently the organisation that planned and implemented this has done a few others in recent years. I have to say it was amazing.

 

[turtlemichael]

After Mosaicanada we did a boat trip on the Ottawa River. it was a bit average because there is not a lot to see on the river. It is not like going down the Thames or the Seine, or even the Yarra!! But great weather made it a good day. Now bed, and then early tomorrow it is on to Tronno.

The founder of New France, Champlain. Apparently the statue has him holding the astrolabe the wrong way up!




We all need someone prepared to row us through life.

 

[OZDUCK]

The weather does look to be very good for you in Ottawa. Great photos, especially of the mosaiculture! ( And yes, you have stolen my photos of the Rideau Canal Locks. I expect to see some good ones of Tronno from The Islands next.)

 

[turtlemichael]

The time in Ottawa was all too brief and now it is Toronto. The VIA train from Ottawa to Toronto took 4.5 hours and is a good way to travel. Breakfast was decent as was the seat and the friendly service from Marine and Lorraine - thanks ladies.

We had very mixed feelings about the Westin Ottawa. It started well and went downhill. The room servicing was awful which we complained about twice and eventually got fixed, Now I find we have been overcharged a couple of hundred dollars and have to waste time sorting that out. Grrr. Oh well.


Decent breakfast.


If this is a plane, at this point we are in trouble! Oh, it's a train


Very comfortable.


It happens on trains too.

 

[OZDUCK]

Our ViaRail trips in economy were fine but the Business Class looks very nice.