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Hello From Ottawa Four Days Of Exploring During The Tulip Festival
anada’s capital has become a chance to do a little
one of my favourite photography of my own around
getaways. At 4.5 hours of Ottawa’s War Memorial and the
driving it’s pretty close to historic Fairmont Chateau
Toronto, it’s easy to get to and Laurier.
there is always a lot going on.
For years I have been wanting to My late afternoon was dedicated
go to Ottawa during it’s world to learning about antiquity at
famous Tulip Festival, but 2006 the Canadian Museum of
was the year I finally made it. Civilization, Canada’s most
popular museum. I visited the
I arrived mid-afternoonish this “Petra – Lost City of Stone”
past Thursday and started my exhibit which taught me about the
explorations right away. My first fascinating desert city of Petra
day was totally dedicated to and the ancient culture of the
cultural discoveries. From the Nabateans. Then I took in an IMAX
beautiful neighbourhood of Sandy presentation of “Greece – Secrets
Hill I walked downtown to attend of the Past” where I learned
two interesting photo exhibits at about the astounding achievements
the Canadian Museum of of ancient Greek culture and the
Contemporary Photography: “The cataclysmic volcanic explosion of
Street”, exploring the interplay the island of Santorini. For
of the public and private domain dinner I had a chance to sample
as it unfolds on our streets, as something truly unique:
well as “The Painted Photograph”, aboriginal cuisine at Sweetgrass
huge photographs by three Bistro. I sat down with one of
different photographers that have the co-owners, Phoebe Sutherland,
been enhanced with painting who filled me in on how she came
techniques to create almost up with the idea and how she
surrealistic effects. Then I had turned her dream of owning a
restaurant into a reality. It’s a favourite spot for hikers,
mountain bikers, downhill and
After a good night’s sleep and a cross-country skiers, snow
tasty breakfast at the historic shoers, campers and anyone who
McGee’s Inn I interviewed two of wants to get away from the city
its owners, Judy Armstrong and to explore nature.
Sarah, her son's wife. Two
generations of Armstrongs - In the early evening I started to
father, mother, son and explore Major’s Hill, one of
daughter-in-law, got into the bed Ottawa’s prime public spaces and
and breakfast business together one of the official Tulip
and 3 years ago they purchased Festival locations, featuring the
one of the largest and most International Tulip Friendship
historic bed and breakfasts in Village, the Artisans
Ottawa. Their story of Marketplace, strolling
determination and entertainers, the Family Zone and
inter-generational collaboration the Get Out! Ottawa Citizen
is inspiring. Concert Series. But my relaxing
discoveries had come to an end
Friday was allocated to an and butterflies started to set
exploration of nature. I started in: I was going to be interviewed
early with an excursion to the live on air for the 6 o’clock
Canadian Museum of Nature to evening news by Max Keeping, one
explore a special traveling of Ottawa’s most illustrious
exhibition: "Fatal Attraction" - personalities. In addition to
the art of animal seduction. Then being Ottawa's most popular news
I was off to Ottawa’s nature anchor, Max is a real champion of
playground: Gatineau Park, a huge the community and attends about
nature area just 15 minutes away 200 charity and community events
from the Parliament Buildings. a year. Over the years he has
helped to raise more than $100 with coaches from the 1940s,
million for worthy causes and takes its passengers through the
received many distinguished scenic landscapes of the Gatineau
awards, including the Order of River Valley. I sat back in the
Canada. luxurious comfort of the Club
Riviera coach and enjoyed the
Well, I think the interview went leisurely train ride to the
okay after all; Max and his team historic village of Wakefield in
were a pleasure to deal with. Quebec. And during our two-hour
After all this excitement I went lunch break I explored one of the
for a much needed dinner at most historic buildings in all of
Bistro 115, one of Ottawa’s Wakefield: the Wakefield Mill Inn
favourite French-Canadian and Spa, a former gristmill from
restaurants. I sat down with the the 1830s, turned into an upscale
owner Suzanne Lafrance who shared hospitality establishment.
with me stories from her 20 years Finally I explored the Casino du
of experience in the hospitality Lac-Leamy, one of the official
industry and how even a locations for Ottawa’s Tulip
devastating fire could not hinder Festival.
her and her husband’s
entrepreneurial aspirations. Sunday I started off with a visit
to see the Flotilla on Dow’s
On Saturday I went on an unusual Lake, a parade of uniquely
excursion: the decorated boats along the Rideau
Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Canal, one of the signature
Train, brainchild of a local events of Ottawa’s Tulip
entrepreneur in Gatineau, just on Festival. Then I looked for one
the other side of the Ottawa of the organizers and I found
River. An authentic steam engine, Benoît Hubert, the Executive
built in Sweden in 1907, complete Director of Ottawa’s Tulip
Festival, who was able to give me farming so much easier during the
more background on this unique last hundred years.
event, incidentally the largest
festival in Ottawa and the Throughout my 3.5 days in Ottawa
largest event of this kind in the I met a lot of people and talked
world. with a variety of hospitality
entrepreneurs, representatives
After a lovely stroll along Dow’s from different attractions and
Lake I reached my next event organizers. It’s the
destination: the Canadian collection of these people who
Agriculture Museum which is also all contribute their expertise
an experimental farm. I watched and effort in creating an
the Sheep Shearing Competition appealing travel destination.
and in a meeting with a number of Ottawa has become one of my
women who knit, spin and weave, I favourites since there are always
learned a lot about wool and how so many things going on and every
it is processed. I even met a season offers new activities.
lady who takes dog hair and turns
it into various garments. Then I At the end of my explorations I
got a tour through the Canadian capped the day off with Ottawa’s
Agriculture Museum which included special pastry delight: a
the cattle barn, the small animal Beavertail, in Commissioner’s
barn as well as a collection of Park, another official Tulip
historic tractors and farm Festival location. A fitting
implements that illustrate the ending to a packed spring weekend
innovations that have made in Canada’s capital.
About the Author:
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Find unconventional travel information, cross-cultural experiences, interviews with travellers and other inspiring people. Submit your own travel stories & win an exciting Amazon River cruise! "Life is a Journey - Explore New Horizons”
Read more articles by: Susanne Pacher
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