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Post by mich64 on Apr 9, 2012 15:59:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2012 16:42:57 GMT
I've not made it to Ottawa yet, so I am really happy to see a real person's photos of the place rather than the typical postcard shots. I will really be looking forward to the rest, mich!
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Post by tod2 on Apr 9, 2012 16:57:37 GMT
That is terrific Mich! Did you snag one of the rooms at that beautiful hotel? What would be the normal rate? Looking forward to more photos.
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Post by bjd on Apr 9, 2012 17:33:28 GMT
Glad to see you had nice weather, Mich. I have been in Ottawa a couple of times in the past few years. Even bought some maple syrup at one of those stands at Byward Market.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 9, 2012 19:42:56 GMT
What a lovely trip, Mich. Did you all get the hot deal at the hotel?
Looks as though it wasn't terribly cold, but definitely crystal clear there.
I totally love the picture with the Spring hats.
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Post by mich64 on Apr 9, 2012 22:16:01 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Apr 9, 2012 23:54:37 GMT
Yes, it is the Château Laurier's 100th. It is right next to the Houses of Parliament - in the first picture you see the Parliament spires at the far left.
Byward is the largest public market in Ottawa, and just a bit east of Parliament, which once again you see in the background. It is also just north of University of Ottawa, onte of the two major universities - Carleton University is the other, and some distance south on the Rideau Canal, but an easy bicycle ride. There is also little St Paul's University, a Catholic College. There is an Université du Québec campus now, just across the Ottawa River, in Gatineau, Québec. University of Ottawa is bilingual, French and English, as is St Paul's. Carleton is English and of course the Université du Québec branch is French. Obviously there are students from all over the world.
You can see that there are many tourist-oriented stands in Byward, as it is smack in the city centre, though locals would buy the maple products as well. When the growing season starts, there are local farmers selling fresh produce. Those little old one-storey buildings (and some others that are higher on adjacent streets) are food shops, some very good indeed. And quite a few have become restaurants, bars, newstands/cardshops etc.
Usually our weather is pretty much the same as Ottawa's - it looks to be about the same temperature by what people are wearing - but we had a cloudy, misty Easter weekend and they seem to have had full sun. Mtl is practically due east of Ottawa.
The main railway station for Ottawa used to be right opposite the Château Laurier. MPs - and lobbyists - could take an underground tunnel straight to the hotel in foul winter weather, and be right next to Parliament. Unfortunately the station was moved outside the central city area in one of those "modernising" postwar moves - a pity!
Mich, what part of Ottawa do your friend and her mum live in?
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Post by fumobici on Apr 10, 2012 2:28:43 GMT
Lovely little photo report. I've managed to miss Ottawa going to and fro from Montreal from the Detroit-Windsor crossing and it looks like a very worthy destination. Glad you could manage a poutine shot too.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 9:52:13 GMT
Thanks for showing us an inside glimpse of Ottawa Mich. It appears to be a very charming and clean city. The hotel looks absolutely elegant.
I would be all over those hats,and, the pastries in the shot just below it.
I'm glad you had a good time and lovely weather!
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Post by mich64 on Apr 10, 2012 15:13:40 GMT
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 10, 2012 15:15:24 GMT
What a killer deal on the hotel! Such grand accommodations, and practically free.
Very nice photos of Ottawa. It looks like a good time.
The food looks delicious!
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Post by tod2 on Apr 10, 2012 16:30:23 GMT
I love The Auld Dubliner sign " The Pour House" - how appropriate!
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Post by imec on Apr 11, 2012 14:40:36 GMT
Very cool look at Ottawa mich! it's a city I like a lot and just don't get to as often as I'd like. A reasonable sized city with somewhat of a "village feel" too it. Thanks for this!
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Post by mich64 on Apr 11, 2012 15:29:38 GMT
Thanks Imec! When our friends had to move 23 years ago, I was glad it was to Ottawa. Because I knew I would be spending a lot of time to where ever they moved and I liked Ottawa immediately.
Nycgirl, our lunch at the diner was delicious and the atmosphere was excellent.
Cheers
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Post by lagatta on Apr 11, 2012 16:08:46 GMT
My favourite restaurant at the Market was Silk Roads and unfortunately it has closed. It featured vaguely Central Asian foods, and was delicious. There is a great quirky portuguese chicken place on Dalhousie just a bit east and south of the Market, Casa do Churrasco - it used to be a KFC! Still a chicken place, but a much better one, and not a lot more expensive.
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