After visiting the Montreal old town we then set off on our journey to OttawaWe drove 180 km of the Trans-Canada Highways, which drags on for a while. The only thing missing was a lane-keeping assistant, and we could have used the almost entirely straight stretch for sleeping. However, we did notice the following interesting combination.
Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Ottawa
Arriving in Ottawa, we immediately noticed that it is much smaller than Montreal and therefore much more manageable. Parking was easy and quick, behind the Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Ottawa (There's also a Notre Dam here). This is the oldest church in Ottawa and, unlike Notre Dam in Montreal, is free to enter. The interior is absolutely beautiful and highly recommended.
National Gallery in Ottawa
From the cathedral we crossed the street to the National GalleryWe didn't go inside, but the somewhat different art outside was worth seeing. For example, there's a giant spider right in front of the main entrance... creepy. But there are also various sculptures behind the building, on the river side.
Rideau Canal through Ottawa
The way to our next destination, the Rideau Canal, was not far. The 202 km long canal, named after the Rideau River, was opened in 1832 and is the oldest continuously used artificial waterway in North AmericaToday, the Rideau Canal is used exclusively for tourism. Tours of the canal are offered in Ottawa. The historic locks are absolutely fantastic. We believe, however, that they are no longer in use.
House of Parliament
We climbed the steps to the House of Parliament. The neo-Gothic building looks very impressive and bears some resemblance to the one in London. From there, we strolled a bit through the city to the ByWard Market and the bar district. Some of the people here are really alternative, a bit crazy. ;-)
In general, this city is so "small" and manageable that you wouldn't think it's the capital of Canada. So we drove a bit along the St. Lawrence River and stopped at a few viewpoints.
Our current home was the Chimo Hotel, quite old and with terrible Wi-Fi. But absolutely OK for one night.
