Ottawa (Because Vacation, That's Why! - Part III)

We had arrived in Montréal by plane, taken a bus to our hotel, walked forever, and survived more than one death cab. Our last view of the city might as well cover another mode of transportation.
We sat back and relaxed for the two-hour trip from Montréal to Ottawa on a train.

Okay... she sat back and relaxed. I took pictures out the window!

      

That's right: train window pictures. Like a boss.

We had almost exactly 24 hours total to spend in Ottawa.  We had splurged a little for a fancier hotel right downtown so we were able to get out and about right away.

Georgina consults Google maps to get us going in the right direction.

and we're off to Parliament Hill!
On the way, random piano music which, it turns out, was coming from this guy. Fun stuff!

Our first discovery as we made our way toward the parliament buildings was a site that we didn't know would soon become all too familiar to Canadians, and much of the world, just a few months later. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands stoically just moments away from Canada's federal buildings and holds the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier killed in France in World War 1. It is ceremoniously guarded by two Canadian Forces sentries in full dress uniform from 9-5 every day.

 

After getting a few shots and paying our respects, we moved on to parliament.

 The view from the hill:

And then we were down into the streets again, where we counted Canadian flags (there are six in the photo below on the left) and briefly hit up the ByWard Market.

Parliament Hill from the other side of the Ottawa River.



And this imposing structure, standing tall outside the National Art Gallery.

By about this time, it was threatening to rain so we made our way back to the hotel to freshen up and find drier clothes. Once refreshed, we headed back out for an evening stroll along the Rideau Canal.

On our way back: magic!

    

 The next morning, thanks again to Google maps, we found this place:

So much food! So yummy breakfast!
And on the short walk back to the hotel at a little bakery down the road: Heisenberg cookies!

Do you know why? Because Ottawa, that's why!
More walking...

...and back to ByWard Market for a substantially more extended visit.

At about 2:00 we headed back to the hotel. You can see it behind me with the green roof. Swanky!

and with one last shot of the canal with the Parliament buildings and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier before hopping a cab to pick up our next mode of transportation.

The rental car.