Ottawa as viewed from the Peace tower on Parliament HillWe decided to sample Canada's trains and see a bit of the countryside at the same time, so we caught the VIA Rail intercity train to the beautiful Canadian capital of Ottawa.
Ottawa lies just over the border from Quebec in the English-speaking province of Ontario. It's pretty clear that it's location was somewhat of a compromise for Queen Victoria in 1857 as it is basically a mid-way point between the Ontario (English) and Quebec (French) provinces. In fact the suburbs of Ottawa actually stretch across the Ottawa river into Gatineau which is in Quebec.
The markets in Ottawa
Candice poses under the giant metal spider at the National Gallery
Sweet metal steeples
Nat discovers that Big Macs in Canada taste the same but are more expensive than in both the US and Australia!
Ottawa lies on the banks of the Ottawa River
The statue of the English military engineer, Lieutenant-Colonel John By in Major's Hill Park. He was the founder of Ottawa (then known as 'Bytown')
Our hostel, the Ottawa Jail Hostel
The National War Memorial in Confederation Square
View of the river from the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill
Toronto
The impressive Toronto skyline
After a couple of days in Ottawa, we decided we had to explore more of Ontario. We hopped on a greyhound bus and spent 6 hours looking at the Canadian wilderness as we headed towards Canada's largest city, Toronto.
A far cry from French Canada, you wouldn't even know that you were in a country that had French as one of its official languages. Toronto is in every way a city which would fit in quite nicely with its counterparts across the border.
The Harbourfront on Lake Ontario
Now for some reason, despite the signs, throngs of Indian tourists would be bathing in every fountain.
I could be falling!
Lake Ontario is so vast it actually looks like the sea
For more pictures of Ottawa and Toronto, visit:-
As funny as it may seem, Ottawa actually reminds us of Canberra. It's full of monuments and national museums, the buildings are restricted to less than 30 storeys and it is well-planned. Because it is much older than Canberra, it is however a more beautiful city.
The markets in Ottawa
Candice poses under the giant metal spider at the National Gallery
Sweet metal steeples
Nat discovers that Big Macs in Canada taste the same but are more expensive than in both the US and Australia!
Ottawa lies on the banks of the Ottawa River
The statue of the English military engineer, Lieutenant-Colonel John By in Major's Hill Park. He was the founder of Ottawa (then known as 'Bytown')
Parliament Hill as viewed from behind
We pose as we take in the sights
We were fortunate enough to score beds in the Ottawa Jail Hostel. Used as a prison from the early 1800s right up until 1972, it is now a popular tourist attraction and historic and "ghost" tours are run daily. Although it has been used as a youth hostel since 1973, the original prison layout, cells and even the execution room have been kept intact.
Our hostel, the Ottawa Jail Hostel
We actually slept in the prison cells
Nat learns about prison life the hard way
Where the trapdoor for the gallows opens into the courtyard.
We spent most of our time in Ottawa just taking in the sights. Officially it is a bi-lingual city but in reality English is mostly spoken and we hardly heard French used at all except by tourists and their guides.
Every night in summer, there is a light-show about Canada on the Centre Block of Parliement
The National War Memorial in Confederation Square
Centre Block of Parliament Hill
Just like in London, the changing of the guard occurs every morning.
The inside of the Canadian Parliament
This stone lion bit my finger off!
View of the river from the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill
Toronto
The impressive Toronto skylineAfter a couple of days in Ottawa, we decided we had to explore more of Ontario. We hopped on a greyhound bus and spent 6 hours looking at the Canadian wilderness as we headed towards Canada's largest city, Toronto.
A far cry from French Canada, you wouldn't even know that you were in a country that had French as one of its official languages. Toronto is in every way a city which would fit in quite nicely with its counterparts across the border.
Knowing we were going to be coming back this way, we only spent a few days in Toronto, exploring the sights by foot.
Toronto actually has trams that go underground
The CN Tower is the tallest free standing structure in the world. However, next year the Burj Dubai is set to surpass it.
The Harbourfront on Lake Ontario
A cool latin-reggae band groovin on the Harbourfront
This was a billboard. Evidently someone has trouble expressing their feelings.
We pose on Centre Island, just off Toronto
The beach on Centre Island. You'd swear it was the sea until you realised the water is fresh
Now for some reason, despite the signs, throngs of Indian tourists would be bathing in every fountain.
Lake Ontario
It must be a common occurance
View of downtown Toronto from the CN Tower
We stand on glass 553.33 meters above ground
I could be falling!
On CN Tower
Dundas Square, Toronto's own version of Times Square
At the bus station waiting to go to Niagara Falls and Buffalo
For more pictures of Ottawa and Toronto, visit:-
1 comments:
According to wikipdia:
* September 12, 2007
At 555.3 m (1,822 ft), Burj Dubai becomes the world's tallest freestanding structure on land, surpassing CN Tower in Toronto.
Looks awesome fun guys - keep up the updates!
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