They arrived in the mail today, and in 21 days Carl and I will be cashing them in for The Game.

Our hostess is saying there will be free booze for everyone sitting from the last rows up to here. Actually all passengers got free booze on this flight.

Leaving Calgary.

Prairie Patch Work

Six minutes east of Calgary.

Upon landing in Toronto, we changed over to a WestJet Encore flight bound for Ottawa.

Descending into Ottawa.
Local time 6:15 pm

Before leaving the airport and heading over to our Bed and Breakfast, Sharon could not pass on the opportunity of offering up some sound advice to two Fathers of Confederation, John A Macdonald and George Cartier, but they appear to be pre-occupied.

Our home away from home for the following five nights.
I have previously stayed here twice before and Sharon once, and we highly recommend this place to bunk down in during your stay in Ottawa.

The B&B guests stay in this house, and our hosts live next door.

This map covers all of our travels while in Ottawa. Our place of stay (Auberge des Arts on Guigues Ave.) is at the top-right-of-centre in this screen shot.
Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica is on the corner of our street.
The Royal Canadian Mint--top-centre--, National Gallery of Canada, and the United States Embassy, are all less than a ten minute walk from our house.
These locations are all within the green space bordering the river.

The Parliament buildings (centre) are a half hour walk away from home. Further along the river is the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Library and Archives Canada buildings.
Across Alexandra Bridge (top) and into Quebec, the Canadian Museum of History is a very photographic half hour walk from Auberge Des Arts.

Time to step into this week of exploring.

Come join me, and together we'll see what there is to see.

The Peacekeeping Monument, with the spires of the Notre Dame Basilica in the background.

Parliament of Canada

The three buildings in a horseshoe shape are the Parliament Buildings--the Centre, East, and West Blocks.
Further to the left is the Supreme Court of Canada (the square building nearer to the river).
The Library and Archives Canada building with the circle on top is further along.
Gatineau Quebec is across the river.

The Canadian Museum of History is the multi-layered building immediately to the left of the bridge entering into Quebec.
Following straight back across the bridge into Ottawa, Notre Dame Basilica with its two spires is on the corner of our street, and our B&B is in the second rectangle east. Kitty-corner to the Basilica is the National Gallery of Canada and the Royal Mint.

Having a bite and a brew at D'Arcy McGee's.

Lord Stanley's Mug

In front of a scaled up replica of Lord Stanley's Cup.

Out for a twilight stroll.

The West Block of the Parliament Buildings undergoing a facelift.

4:21 PM

Trying to keep up with my strolling companions. They are the four on the right, with Sharon wearing the purple coat.

4:40 PM

War of 1812 monument.

Passing Starbucks on the way home.

After 5 PM

ByWard Market is in our neighbourhood, and we are searching out the beaver tails.

Last time in Ottawa we passed up the opportunity to purchase a BeaverTail. Well tonight Sharon is rectifying that blunder.

Our Bedtime Snack

My BeaverTail was a chocolate and almond, this is a cinnamon.

Friday Sharon and I are heading over to Quebec to explore the Canadian Museum of History, and you are invited to join us.
See you there.