Kings adventures: First venture into Ottawa.

Jim decided that he would chance driving into Ottawa as Dave and Lorna said it wasn't too scary. We got there (Rideau Centre) after a bit of getting lost but we got there! Ottawa is buzzing with life - there is a jazz festival on so that is obviously attracting a crowd. Or was it the Rib Fest?

Jim enjoyed this one - the ad I mean!

We could smell the cooking even before we set foot in Sparks Street and it was before 10am. They were expecting hordes from the number of seats set out on the pavements.

The first nice building we saw was the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. It's only 259 CAD a night for the cheapest B&B. Joe Dogs was cheaper so Jim needn't set his sights on Chateau Laurier!

And then we saw the Parliament Buildings. This requires further attention as it is one of the highlights of Ottawa.

I know you will be surprised that we did not do any hopping on and off on our first day in the city, in fact it was confusing for us too!

This is the Lady Dive, the amphibus we were considering hopping on but didn't. In fact we won't! We'll maybe consider the ordinary hop on hop off bus another day - or maybe not!

We got distracted from our planned hopping by a young lady in a ? uniform. Now when I came to Ontario first, I could not understand why town maps had a number of question marks on them. I thought that there were some attractions that the mappers didn't know the names of. However, by now, I realise that ? means i if you know what I mean. Now, when I saw this young woman with a ? at the Ottawa War Memorial, I was a little worried for her until I realised that in Ottawa they have ? people all over the place to give tourists information. And she gave us the information that there would be a Commemoration Service at the War Memorial for the Order of St. John ( St John's Ambulance) volunteers who served in time of war and in particular for those who lost their lives. Now that explained the great numbers of people in uniforms (army, police, St. John's Ambulancers and scouts, Brian!). So we had to put the hopping on the long finger!

Our young ? woman!

Some rather elderly scouts seeking shelter behind the bear, Brian!

Later on we discovered that the ? young women and ? young men are very helpful. It looks like 2 weeks will not be enough time to see all that Ottawa and its environs has to offer!

At the east end of Sparks Street, Canada's oldest pedestrian street, an unhappy mother bear stands glaring at passers-by. This bronze statue of a larger-than-life grizzly bear about to devour a fish is a favourite tourist attraction.It was created by Canadian artist and sculptor Bruce Garner and is called "Territorial Prerogative". It was designed to focus attention on the cruelty inflicted on bears by human population growth.Two bronze bear cubs once played in fountains at her feet, but now they're nowhere to be seen!

Joy - aptly named sculpture, I think. Copper sculpture by Bruce Garner.

Terry Fox - again!

Having spent some time admiring BBQ rib ads and sculptures, it was time to attend the Commemoration Service - there were 2 seats for us among the dignitaries of course! The priest was very friendly and said the whole thing was organised for visiting Irish people!

The Police Choir who sang beautifully.

At ease!

The Last Post.

The Final Lament - very suited to bagpipes!

Darcy McGee's Irish Pub.

As you all know, Jim refuses to go into Irish pubs but has a strange addiction to taking photos of them. However, it was here we had coffee with the dignitaries! And, wonder of wonders, we returned for lunch!! And a very good lunch it was - Jim might even go back again!!!

After lunch we needed to walk so we made our way to the Rideau Canal which was very nice.