Canada Day in Ottawa.

It would have been crazy to be so near Ottawa and not go in to join in the Canada Day festivities. It was equally crazy to go in given my dislike of events that involve lots of crowds of people, lots of over-drinking, lots of shouting and noise and lots of pushing and shoving. At any rate, we arrived in the city just before noon. This involved going to the park and ride and getting on a 98 OCTranspo bus with hundreds of others. The bus driver, very kindly, gave us some advice about our return journey following the fireworks, which we are pleased to say worked.. Strap-hanging on a moving bus does not appeal to me - remember, I am quite unbalanced! The very nice bus driver must have thought that he was going to have a heart attack victim on his hands because he announced to all on the bus, "I need a seat here please". I was embarrassed (so, closer to the heart attack) and he asked loudly once more. I gratefully accepted the seat that was offered to me simply to relieve the bus driver's anxiety! I'm sure he was wondering why a woman of my age and in my obviously fragile state of health was going into Ottawa on Canada Day. I was wondering about that too!

Some of the Irish pubs we saw in Ottawa over the course of 10 and a half hours in the city on Canada Day.

"Mother" with Notre Dame behind it.

We made our way in the crowds to Byward Market and eventually found a place that had a table where we could have lunch and from here we heard the 21 Gun Salute which was taking place on Parliament Hill. Then we saw a flypast by CF-18s and Canada's Snowbirds. That was good! By the time we finished lunch there was just over 8 hours left to spend in the city. We were close to the National Gallery which was free for Canada Day so we, along with thousands of others, took advantage of that. We got up close to "Mother", the giant spider that is outside the Art Gallery.

Below are three photos that Jim should not have taken!

This was at the entrance to the early Aboriginal Art. It looks like a sculpture but is actually a tool.

The Garden Court which is very beautiful and very peaceful.

The Water Court where the Gallery attendant very gently told Jim that photos were not allowed.

Joe Fafard's Running Horses outside the National Gallery.

We went into The Rideau Street Chapel which is one of the installations in the Gallery. This is the Chapel of the Rideau Street Convent, a girls' school administered by the Sisters of Charity. It was almost destroyed some years ago and  the completed interior of the Chapel with the original altars and ornate altar screen is installed in the heart of the Gallery. While we were there the sacred music was Janet Cardiff's "Forty-Part Motet" (2001), which features the melody "Spem in alium" by Thomas Tallis. Each of the forty speakers set around the Chapel plays the sound of a single voice of the forty- part choir, allowing for a highly-enhanced appreciation of the musical piece. In the Garden Court, the choir could be heard as a full choir and added to the serenity of the place.

There were paintings of Emily Carr and of the group of Seven. I liked the fact that in one area the exhibits were presented in chronological order so it was easy to see how there were different styles as time passed. We enjoyed it but it is huge and all the seats were taken by, mainly Japanese, people.

When we left the Gallery, we made our way along the bank of the Ottawa River to Victoria Island. This is an island located between Ottawa and Gatineau on the Ottawa River. It has been used by First Nations people for centuries. It is called Asinabku (Place of Glare Rock). According to archaeological evidence, this site was the centre of convergence for trade and spiritual and cultural exchange. There we arrived in time to see a demonstration of hoop dancing by a member of a tribe that I can't either pronounce or spell.

Victoria Island from the banks of the Ottawa River.

Stone sculptures from banks of Ottawa River. Are they inukshuks?

Symbols on the Tipi.

View of Parliament Hill from Victoria Island.

We took the street past Parliament Hill on our return journey and on the way saw the Anglican Church where the Queen worships when she's in Ottawa.

And then Jim really really blotted his copybook! He was in need of a beer, and I was in need of liquid refreshment, probably water as I don't like beer. He suggested Parliament Pub. I had already rejected that pub on the first day we were in Ottawa as being grotty - sorry Parliament. As we passed, Jim said how about here. I said NO but at that stage this happened:

Some kind of fun-run for something.

and they stopped near grotty. Jim said we should go in to the patio in grotty so I followed. We were ushered into a penned area set out in trestle tables with dirty plastic cloths. I asked for water but had to make do with beer. Meanwhile a local woman, seated at the end of the table , insisted on engaging us in conversation about Canada Day, Obama and the Irish who have settled in this part of Canada. I could neither hear (being deaf seemingly) nor understand (being stupid seemingly) her. By the time Jim had finished his pint I was struggling with the first half and with local woman. Then we went in search of washrooms (loos) and they were equally grotty. Needless to say, Jim will not bring me to a similar pub!

We wandered about rather aimlessly for another while watching street performers of all kinds, musical, artistic and multi-cultural.

Bronze sculpture of Oscar Peterson (jazz musician) outside National Arts Centre.

Impromptu dancing on the sidewalk.

This will give you some idea of the crowds.








We then went in search of food and were seated in the patio of some restaurant. This became the highlight of the day. At the table next to us were two guys obviously in a real Canada Day mood.

On the right Rob Wilkinson and left Lee (didn't get his surname but he's French-Canadian).

From the moment we sat down, Rob engaged us in conversation. Lee, it seems, fancied the waitress and there was quite a bit of banter going on between them - they had been in the restaurant drinking beer for some time having moved tables at least three times to eventually getting one beside the street.
The customers were packed in very tightly so if anyone needed to go to the restrooms it meant others having to get up to let them out. Lee, according to Rob, had a bladder infection so Jim had to let him out several times. On one occasion, while Lee was away, Rob decided to give the waitress another reason for coming to their table, thus giving Lee another opportunity to engage her in conversation. He confided in her that Lee had a bladder infection and wondered if there was anything she could get him that might help. They decided on cranberry juice. When Lee returned, back came the waitress with a glass of cranberry juice. Lee proceeded to inquire of her where she would be later and she was forthcoming enough with information. Finally, just before we left, Lee got her cell number! In addition to all of this, Rob and Lee, both, were getting acquainted with people passing on the street, offering to take photos of them, taking photos and being photographed. It was hilarious!

Finally, it was time for the fireworks and we positioned ourselves near the War Memorial, not necessarily the best place for viewing but a good compromise given our bus driver's advice - "Don't wait for the last firework but get to the bus unless you want to be here till 4 a.m." We did exactly that, got the first bus and, strap-hanging all the way, got back to the park and ride by 10.40 p.m. Not bad going!

I survived Canada Day in Ottawa!