Ottawa- the nations capital

House of Commons and Senate
see all photos »

Ottawa, the nations capital, is like a high brow theme park that has museums and galleries instead of rides. You may also be wondering how i went from Churchill to Ottawa, well once i got back to Winnipeg i stayed there a day and more or less done a couple of days of solid driving to Ottawa as i had gone through this part of the country already and the weather wasn't making it any more inviting. Got into Ottawa at about 10 at night so didn't get to do much the first night. The HI hostel i was staying in used to be a old jail, and was converted. It still has some of the cells , which you can stay in. There are tours run through the place as well and i think if you are staying for a few nights you get a free tour, but that may just have being a Halloween special.

A gaint baby head- national gallery
see all photos »

The city centre is well maintained, well i suppose all the politicians can't be going around in a drab town. In fact quite a lot a money was spent on the city as for generations it's only purpose was the country's capital, with a workaday sister city Gatineau across the river in Quebec.

There are plenty of museums to keep you busy for a couple of days (some of which you can discounted tickets at the hostel). Also most of the national museums are open late on Thursdays and are free after 6. Even i didn't get a change to go to them all. What i did fit in was the following.

The national Gallery
see all photos »

The national mint has a tour for a $5 that brings you around above the shop floor where you see the whole process of making coins, although they only make the special edition coins here. The main mint is in Winnipeg for regular circulation coins. In the gift shop/free display section you can have the pleasure of holding a bar of gold worth about $300,000 when i was there. Don't get any ideas of doing a runner as it's quite heavy and i sure the armed guards would have something to say about it.

All i know is this is on the $20
see all photos »

The civilization museum, across the river in Gatineau, tracks the history of Canada and its different cultures for as far back as you can go. I think i spent about 5 or 6 hours in the place and even then i felt i rushed it a bit. I was lucky that there was a touring exhibit on the “lost” city of Petra in Jordan. You may remember it from the end of the last IndianaJones movie. It was where the holy grail was hanging out.

Next up was the national war museum. It has moved into a new building, whose lobby reminded me of the war room from Dr. Strangelove. The museum itself is very well done and traces soldiery and warfare in Canada and Canadian forces in other conflicts. There are also lots of hands on exhibits that can keep you busy as well.

Exhibit at the War Museum
see all photos »

For those of you that like the arts the national gallery is a must with its many galleries containing works by canadian and world artists in most major styles.

If you can get a chance, and make sure to arrive early, get yourself down to the parliament building for prime minister question time. There is limited seating in the visitors gallery which is one a first come first serve basis. For your time you will get to see the bigwigs in the house of commons try everything in the book to outmaneuver each other and they definability put on a show. There is also a free tour of the place that is worth doing as well.

As for a nightlife there are a few good spots down in bytown market(a touristy area) but what the hell i am touring. Plus it was Halloween so lots of people were out for the weekend all dressed up. can't say what it would be like on a regular night out.

and this was my last stop before heading back to montreal where a few months before i had started out from.