Back from Ottawa!

Hey, I'm back from Ottawa!! Had a great trip, saw lots of things. Bullet-point style:

-walked - A LOT - D lives really close to EVERYTHING
-Byward Market - great pastries, fresh fruit, cool knick-knacks
-Museum of Nature - not even close to comparison to the ROM - pretty much a kid's museum with fake stuffed animals. Some interesting parts but definitely not worth paying for. FREE before noon on Saturdays!
-Parliament Hill - did the FREE tour - brushed up on our Canadian history - went up the Peace Tower (thanks to some really nice guards who let us go up after closing time) - saw great views of the city
-Fat Tuesdays - cool catfish encrusted in sweet potatoe - yummmmm - watched Canada cream Russia 3-1
-Gatineau Park - awesome awesome awesome - really huge place, must drive there, NOT bikeable or walkable with hilly terrain and just massive size. Saw Pink Lake, which was turquoise, and the William Lyon MacKenzie King estate, which was pathetic for a prime minister's residence, and awesome views of the Canadian Shield. Also saw Meech Lake - no idea where they signed the accord, but it was really beautiful. Missed the sunset, AGAIN - and word of warning to Ontario water swimmers, BEWARE SWIMMERS' ITCH!!!
-Saw cheesy Sound and Light show at Parliament Hill on Sat night. IN FRENCH. I tried to translate for the Iron Chef....but it was too boring...
-National Art Gallery - cool paintings by the Group of Seven (new appreciation for Canadian art) and some good European ones too, including Pissaro, Degas, Monet, Renoir. FREE (until October).
-FREE street parking on weekends and holidays. They kill on regular weekday rates though.
-FREE admittance to Rideau Hall - where Adrienne Clarkson lives - beautiful estate, too bad we had no time to view it! (Sorry from the latecomers...)

So - Ottawa is a BARGAIN to visit - including Gatineau Park - everyone should go! Had great weather, beautiful city. Great people. I was so proud to be a Canadian!!!

Pictures to come....

Thanks D for letting us use your place!

(PS - In truly Canadian fashion - they closed the 401 part of the way westbound, so it took us 7 hours to get home, including stopping for food, and waiting 15 minutes for non-existent KFC chicken. I almost ditched Min & Iron Chef by the roadside as they walked along the 401 and the cars all started moving...hee hee...)