By the By

02/12/2022 Seamus Comments 0 Comment

Parliament Hill to ByWard Market, Ottawa

I was quite pleased to hear that we wouldn’t be flying to our next destination. No, we were going to be taking the train to Ottawa. That’s where I fully concur with the Oldies – slow travel rules! And from what I’d heard, rail travel in Canada is definitely of the slow variety. What I hadn’t banked on was the slow officialdom before we could even get going.

There certainly was no shortage of staff, checking and double-checking tickets and what have you. What really flummoxed me, though, were the luggage checks. We were waiting at the gate to the platform, when an official rolled large weighing scales up to His Lordship and asked him to lift his case onto it. The official solemnly attached a label marked ‘ATTENTION, Heavy, Bend Knees’ to the suitcase, then asked Himself to lift it off the scales again.

Seamus the Seagull standing on top of blue suitcase, illegible red label under handle, yellow label attached to handle reads 'ATTENTION, Heavy/Lourd, Bend knees, Plier les genoux, VIA' , torso of man in blue jacket with white zipper in background.

Now, I’m pretty sure that, as His Lordship had packed and carried the bag that far, he was already well aware that it was heavy. The process was repeated for all passengers. They each then carried their own cases past the cheerful ‘Weigh bags then hop aboard!’ sign. And hopped aboard with their heavy bags. Presumably bending their knees in the process.

Once we got going, the journey was relaxing and highly interesting. I finally got to see a bit of the Canadian countryside! And, oh boy, there’s a fair bit of countryside to be seen, in spite of the fact that this is the most densely populated part of the country. Huge farmsteads surrounded by miles and miles of agricultural land, forests, vineyards, swampland… Fascinating!

The distance between the two cities being a mere 180 km, it was over all too soon. In ultra-modern surroundings, the Dynamic Duo then hopped aboard the ultra-modern O-train and we were whisked into downtown Ottawa to within walking distance of our ultra-modern accommodation. The surroundings were far from ultra-modern though… No matter. There was plenty of grandeur around Parliament Hill.

View of large old building with several roofs and turrets on tree-covered hill above lake with series of locks on canal to right, modern skyscrapers in background, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

The Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel is seriously posh. I think I’d have to polish up my paintwork before being allowed to set a webbed foot inside that door! In any event, the Wingless Wonders were far more interested in the amazing series of locks on the Rideau Canal next to the hotel. We were lucky enough to witness two boats being guided up these watery steps of stairs. What an incredible feat of engineering! I wasn’t surprised to learn that the canal has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Seamus the Seagull standing on part of metal monument among three cups and saucers on table, two female figures in background, also part of monument, large multi-storey building with towers in background, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

I knew I’d never get a chance to partake of afternoon tea in the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, but I did stop off for a nice cuppa with these lovely ladies just across the road. This turned out to be the ‘Women are Persons’ monument. Yes, it sounds ridiculous in this day and age, but in 1928, five women from Alberta actually had to bring a case before the Supreme Court simply to be recognised as persons (and therefore eligible to be appointed to the Senate). And they initially lost, would you believe, only winning their case a year later.

View of large, elegant gothic style municipal building in park with towers of another building on right, partly hidden by hoarding with black and white photos of buildings in front, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

In spite of the major renovation works of the Canadian Parliament Buildings that were underway which meant that they were partly hidden behind hoarding, they still managed to impress. Gosh, it is all terribly grand. It’s what I’d imagine a smaller version of Houses of Parliament in London to be.

View from below of large clocktower with crane on either side, hoarding with black and white photo of same clocktower in foreground, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

Is this Little Ben, so?

I was amused to see a few local lads playing a lunchtime game of soccer on the lawn directly in front of the main parliament buildings. For all the pomp and splendour, it appears that things are quite relaxed on this side of the Atlantic!

Street scene with row of redbrick buildings on left, pedestrianised area in front of them with large colourful plaster tulips and wooden chairs in primary colour dotted around street, tall modern buildings in background, ByWard Market, Ottawa

The Oldies later took a stroll around ByWard Market. This was originally established by John By in 1826 for the workers who were building the Rideau Canal he had designed. The market is still going strong to this day and appears to be the ‘in’ place to be, with dozens of popular shops and eateries. It certainly is colourful and chic. Well, shabby chic.

Large red kiosk with red roof and large sign on roof reading BEAVER TAILS Pastry, sides of kiosk open and two people standing in front of opening, signage and street furniture in foreground, blue hut behind, ByWard Market, Ottawa, Canada

I was horrified when I saw this kiosk selling Beaver Tails! On closer inspection, I discovered that that the tails in question are simply a type of pastry with a variety of toppings – a Canadian classic by all accounts. But for heaven’s sake, what next? Seagull Wings? Down with this sort of thing!

View into bakery with door wide open and woman standing at counter, goods in display case and on shelves, large sign in front and to the left of door with photo of Barack Obama in shop, reads BARACK OBAMA, illegible, "I LOVE THIS COUNTRY" circle with red maple leaf with CANADA written on it, text around circle reads OBAMA COOKIES SOLD HERE, ByWard Market, Ottawa, Canada

Also at the market, I spotted a bakery selling Obama Cookies. Apparently the former US President called in there to buy a cookie when on an official visit and they renamed the cookies after him. This reminded me of the bakery the Oldies used to frequent when we were staying near Fushë-Krujë in Albania. George W. Bush had popped in there when on a state visit and they renamed the whole bakery after him.

What is it with US Presidents and baked goods? They really take the biscuit!