Ottawa and freezing rain: 3 days in a real Canadian family
I have been in Ottawa, Canada's capital for 3 days now and I think that calls for a post to be written. Quite a few things have happened, interesting, intriguing and culture shocking events, so you might want to read on.
Wednesday, December 20
I took the Greyhound bus at 9:30 and arrived in Ottawa-city five hours later, everything went well. I was picked up by Laura Grace and her father Paul. They live in Manotick, some 20 minutes away from down town Ottawa, in a very peaceful little village, with mostly American-style house. I was delighted to see one house after another I might want to live in one day! I met the rest of the family: Martin, Annamarie and her husband Brad, Laura Grace's twin sister Margaret Mary and Elizabeth Ann. They all use their double names and it is quite a challenge to get them right when I need them... I always think before I talk!
Thursday, December 21
On Thursday, Laura Grace and I took off to down town Ottawa. We visited the National Gallery of Canada, a nice museum, located in a very lovely building, overlooking Parliament hill and Ottawa river. We spent quite some time there, browsing through the different galleries. The group of seven, Canada's best known and probably most talented painters, and the European section probably were the ones to recommend. After that, we had lunch at the Rideau Center, another huge mall. We mingled with the hundreds of crazy Christmas shoppers and tried to find an empty table in the overcrowded shopping center. People looked preoccupied, stressed-out and quite distressed in their quest for the perfect Christmas gift. Quite amusing if you are not part of it and just look at it from the sideline! Laura Grace made me eat poutine, a local 'delicatesse' ... Basically, it is French fries (as the Americans call them), with gravy and cheddar cheese lumps. I am not sure how that would be welcomed in Belgium, but I thought of the good old Belgian fries with quite some nostalgia when eating it! Those Northern Americans, it really is not easy to make them understand and appreciate good cooking!
In the afternoon, we visited the Parliament, another nice building. We took the tour, which required us to go through several metal detectors and even officials searching us for explosives or other items that might cause damage to the nation of Canada! We went through the House of Commons, the Senate, the very nice library and were allowed to take pictures. The whole inside was beautifully (and tastefully, for once!) decorated for Christmas! We also went up to the peace tower and visited the Memorial room, where the people who died for the country are commemorated. John McCrae, the Canadian soldier who wrote the famous poem "On Flanders Fields" is probably one of the most direct links between Belgium and Canada and he is honoured there as well.
After that we strolled along Spark street, an open air mall, we took the bus home and had a nice dinner.
As all the Conlon girls are Jane Austen fans, we watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice and had a lot of fun, imagining to live in the 1800s!
Friday, December 22
Yesterday, Margaret Mary, Laura Grace and I went to the Museum of Science and Technology, my first science museum ever and it was worth it! We spend 6 hours there, and really, it was not boring at all! At one point, I even considered studying science and for those of you who know me a bit, that is a big step! The museum gave an overview of the development of scientific experiments and inventions with lots of interactive displays. The feature I liked most was 'Autopsy of a murder', a room where you had to be the chief inspector and solve a murder by finding clues. In the meantime, you learn about the different techniques that are used to solve crimes. It made me realise that investigative journalism is still alive in America and is a realistic option!
When we got out of the museum at 5pm, Ottawa's streets had turned into skating ranks... It's a Canadian phenomenon, called 'freezing rain' and as the name reveals, it is rain that freezes onto the ground. Everything is covered in a thin layer of ice. You see cars slipping, and gliding over the streets, it is very difficult to stay upright and extremely cold. You just wish to be indoors basically. I was shocked to see how dangerous it is to go out by car in these weather conditions. I don't think it is an easy country to live in during wintertime.
When we got home, safely, we had dinner and a very nice conversation about cheap clothing and holiday shopping!
We watched one episode of the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice and went to bed, exhausted from a very full, interesting and quite challenging day!
Today is Saturday. I am talking to my family, even pa has bothered to come down to our house to see me, on webcam that is. They are all getting ready for Christmas, and so is this family. Tomorrow will be dedicated to getting the Turkey stuffing ready and relax for a peaceful and joyful Christmas!
I hope your Christmas will be merry and filled with gifts of happiness and good cheer!
Happy holidays everyone!
Wednesday, December 20
I took the Greyhound bus at 9:30 and arrived in Ottawa-city five hours later, everything went well. I was picked up by Laura Grace and her father Paul. They live in Manotick, some 20 minutes away from down town Ottawa, in a very peaceful little village, with mostly American-style house. I was delighted to see one house after another I might want to live in one day! I met the rest of the family: Martin, Annamarie and her husband Brad, Laura Grace's twin sister Margaret Mary and Elizabeth Ann. They all use their double names and it is quite a challenge to get them right when I need them... I always think before I talk!
Thursday, December 21
On Thursday, Laura Grace and I took off to down town Ottawa. We visited the National Gallery of Canada, a nice museum, located in a very lovely building, overlooking Parliament hill and Ottawa river. We spent quite some time there, browsing through the different galleries. The group of seven, Canada's best known and probably most talented painters, and the European section probably were the ones to recommend. After that, we had lunch at the Rideau Center, another huge mall. We mingled with the hundreds of crazy Christmas shoppers and tried to find an empty table in the overcrowded shopping center. People looked preoccupied, stressed-out and quite distressed in their quest for the perfect Christmas gift. Quite amusing if you are not part of it and just look at it from the sideline! Laura Grace made me eat poutine, a local 'delicatesse' ... Basically, it is French fries (as the Americans call them), with gravy and cheddar cheese lumps. I am not sure how that would be welcomed in Belgium, but I thought of the good old Belgian fries with quite some nostalgia when eating it! Those Northern Americans, it really is not easy to make them understand and appreciate good cooking!
In the afternoon, we visited the Parliament, another nice building. We took the tour, which required us to go through several metal detectors and even officials searching us for explosives or other items that might cause damage to the nation of Canada! We went through the House of Commons, the Senate, the very nice library and were allowed to take pictures. The whole inside was beautifully (and tastefully, for once!) decorated for Christmas! We also went up to the peace tower and visited the Memorial room, where the people who died for the country are commemorated. John McCrae, the Canadian soldier who wrote the famous poem "On Flanders Fields" is probably one of the most direct links between Belgium and Canada and he is honoured there as well.
After that we strolled along Spark street, an open air mall, we took the bus home and had a nice dinner.
As all the Conlon girls are Jane Austen fans, we watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice and had a lot of fun, imagining to live in the 1800s!
Friday, December 22
Yesterday, Margaret Mary, Laura Grace and I went to the Museum of Science and Technology, my first science museum ever and it was worth it! We spend 6 hours there, and really, it was not boring at all! At one point, I even considered studying science and for those of you who know me a bit, that is a big step! The museum gave an overview of the development of scientific experiments and inventions with lots of interactive displays. The feature I liked most was 'Autopsy of a murder', a room where you had to be the chief inspector and solve a murder by finding clues. In the meantime, you learn about the different techniques that are used to solve crimes. It made me realise that investigative journalism is still alive in America and is a realistic option!
When we got out of the museum at 5pm, Ottawa's streets had turned into skating ranks... It's a Canadian phenomenon, called 'freezing rain' and as the name reveals, it is rain that freezes onto the ground. Everything is covered in a thin layer of ice. You see cars slipping, and gliding over the streets, it is very difficult to stay upright and extremely cold. You just wish to be indoors basically. I was shocked to see how dangerous it is to go out by car in these weather conditions. I don't think it is an easy country to live in during wintertime.
When we got home, safely, we had dinner and a very nice conversation about cheap clothing and holiday shopping!
We watched one episode of the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice and went to bed, exhausted from a very full, interesting and quite challenging day!
Today is Saturday. I am talking to my family, even pa has bothered to come down to our house to see me, on webcam that is. They are all getting ready for Christmas, and so is this family. Tomorrow will be dedicated to getting the Turkey stuffing ready and relax for a peaceful and joyful Christmas!
I hope your Christmas will be merry and filled with gifts of happiness and good cheer!
Happy holidays everyone!
posted by Anouk | 1:52 PM
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