On The Road Again: Ottawa!
By: John Kumiski
Susan asked, "Why are we going to Ottawa?" "It's the country's capital," I said. "There ought to be something worth seeing there." As it turned out, I nailed it.
Ottawa boasts several world-class museums (and quite a number of smaller ones!), two of which we got to visit. Truly a city with a small-town feel, Canada's House of Parliament, a UNESCO world heritage site, a sprawling, lively market, boating and white-water rafting on the Ottawa River, many other outdoor activities, and a series of festivals and celebrations make Ottawa a very fun place to visit.
Our visit started with a trip to the fantastically designed National Gallery of Canada. The museum displays work by Van Gogh, Picasso, Dali, and other European masters, as well as hundreds of works by Canada's own Group of Seven, featuring Canadian master Tom Thompson. Additionally, nearly an entire floor is dedicated to aboriginal art by Canada's first residents. We spent most of a day ogling and being amazed.
The giant spider statue in front of the National Gallery.
Eventually our growling stomachs demanded sustenance other than painting and sculpture. We asked a woman at the information booth where we could find some food. She told us a five-minute walk past the giant spider would bring us to Byward Market. After thanking her, and having no idea what it was, we headed out.
Byward Market.
Along the way, we passed the US Embassy, stopping long enough to get a picture. Then we reached the market.
It was an embarrassment of riches. Chinese food, Lebanese food, Moroccan food, Thai food, Indian food, sushi, an Irish pub, an Italian restaurant, bakeries, sandwich shops, and more- where should we start?
We spent the rest of the day here, sampling this food and that one, buying a few gifts, and enjoying the sights, sounds, and odors. Many different languages were being spoken- there were people from all over the planet here! Afterwards we strolled through and took pictures at Major's Hill Park, then walked along a short section of the Rideau Canal (the world heritage site). I spoke to a woman there who, along with dozens of other participants, had just paddled a kayak to Ottawa from Kingston, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research. The 120-mile trip took them a week. They paddled through the Rideau Canal the entire way!
On our way back to the parking garage, we stopped into the Notre Dame Basilica, the city's most ornate church. A parishioner told me photography was OK, so I took some pictures inside this magnificent monument to the glory of God.
The twin spires of the Notre Dame Basilica, from Major's Hill Park.
The following day we saw the world's largest indoor collection of totems, at the Canadian Museum of History. The entire first floor of this building is dedicated the Canada's first peoples- it is fantastically well done. We spent hours here, learning about the tribes of the northwest, the Haida, Tlingit, and others, as well as the Haudenosaunee, Algonquins, and other eastern tribes. The totems inspire awe, truly amazing pieces.
Totems inside the National History Museum.
The second-floor features exhibit on the effects of the European contact on the First Nation peoples, and the development of colonial Canada. The third-floor features exhibit about modern Canada, but we reached saturation well before finishing the second floor. It's a fantastic museum with an incredible wealth of well-presented information, but you'd better have some stamina if you want to see all of it, in any kind of meaningful way.
Another visit to the market followed. We needed victuals for lunch! After which we enjoyed a delightful picnic under a large maple tree in Major's Hill Park. We then walked down by the river so I could get a photo of the Parliament building. It's currently in the middle of a ten-year renovation project, so we were unable to get a tour. I understand it's extremely interesting, and was sorry we missed it.
The under-renovation House of Parliament.
Museums we did not get to see include the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and, well, you get the idea.
The two days we spent exploring the city barely scratched the surface of what's available here.
Ottawa. The too-short time we were here was very well spent!
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