Travel // Ottawa, Thanksgiving & other Stories...

"Do you Need help?

Monday, October 2nd

When we had lunch with H.'s aunt that one day, we offered, that we could come by one day and help her in the garden or around the house, if she needed it.

That Monday, we went to her house and were able to develop our skills in gardening again. H. mowed the lawn (again), I ranked the red pine needles that spread over the grass like a plague (again) and then we cut some plants and also removed some roots. The sun was shining like there was no tomorrow and H. and I felt really happy to do something and work outside. For our hard work we became a delicious lunch and (even though we did try to protest) some money.

Tuesday, October 3rd

O T T A W A

H.'s one uncle, with whom we were staying at that Point is working near Ottawa and told us, that we could go see the City while he was off to work.

We happily got up at around 5:30am.

Okay, not so happily.

But we were able to get up and on the road at around 7am. The drive took us about two hours and soon enough we were planted on a Bus directed towards Downtown Ottawa. And the Buses are weird. The Driver doesn't really talk to you and as soon as everyone is on, he starts driving, whether you have a ticket or not. But we managed. And while we saw Ottawa passing by through the Windows of the Bus, we took out our map, like the good tourists that we are, and brooded about where we needed to get off. So listen, Germany is a very nice Country and the People are nice, but wow, we look mean next to Canada. We had two People asking us if we needed help while we were on the Bus. They just asked. We didn't approach them. They just noticed we looked lost. That is kindness....unusual kindness.

So after we figured out where to go, we got off and I got myself a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Tim Hortons because I can and because I felt I needed to. It's still autumn!

Off to the Parliament Hill we went. We sadly weren't able to get in, because there weren't any tours in English left (it was 10am) and there was a big cue to get one of the remaining french ones. So we just strolled around it.

Afterwards, we went running around the City. It is very nice that you can just walk from every attraction to the next. It was a day that felt like spring and Downtown Toronto was filled with Greens, Parks, Art and People enjoying the day everywhere. 

We also saw the Library, the Art Gallery, the Mint and the Mall "Rideau Centre". But what H. and I liked the most were the "Byward Market" and the "MOSAÏCANADA 150/Gatineau 2017". The Byward Market is a free street market where market stalls where filled with fruit, vegetables, Sweets and everything else, that you coul ever wish for. We also tried the famous Canadian specialty "Beavertails", which you can find on the market. They are pastries with different toppings and absolutely delicious! We tried the "Killaloe Sunrise" with cinnamon, sugar and Lemon and the "Cheesecake" with...cheese.

A must for everone coming to Ottawa!

The "MOSAÏCANADA 150/Gatineau 2017" was a Special Exhibition in the Jaques-Cartier Park, which was made for the 150th anniversary of Canada. The sculpture were build based on Canada and the provinces and territories. The art was beautiful and it was free Admission, so everyone could come and see it. That was really the best activity of the day.

(http://www.gatineau2017.ca/mosaicanada-150gatineau-2017/#) That is the beautiful Website.

Other then that, we spent some time in a park, just Relaxing and we went for lunch in a cute Little vegan shop. 

Oh, we were also asked again if we needed help, as we were looking into our map at some Point. We really need to stop doing that. 

We spent about six hours Downtown and it really is a beautiful City and the People are very Kind and helpful. But we were knackered and happy, the we would meet H.'s uncle and his cousins for dinner in their Apartment. We meet the newborn son of one of H.'s Cousins and had pizza from Dominos, which by the way tastes better over here than back Home. 

The drive back for two hours was really exhausting, but we were even happier as we arrived and could go to bed.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (October 4th, 5th, 6th)

These days were spent back at H.'s other uncle. We relaxed, read, watched some more Hockey and also played some Games, which was really great.

On Friday, it was H.'s and my turn to cook and we made a great veggie "Potpie". It is basically a whole lot of vegetables baked with a topping of sweet mashed potato and flour, but it was really good.

Saturday, October 7th

Did I tell you that the leaves finally started turning? Somewhere along the week, the leaves, which were still very green, began to turn into the reds and oranges that everyone was missing. So now we had some more beautiful sights to look at.

We had an early Thanksgiving kind of Dinner, because one of H.'s cousins was coming home that day and had to leave the next, Thanksgiving is usually on the Monday after it. The day was spent playing games and enjoying the food. We didn't have a Turkey, but there was ham and vegetables and everything you could ask for. The dessert was Pumpkin Pie. I wasn't mad about that, at all. With some Hockey and a cosy mood, the evening passed quickly and pleasantly.

That is a wrap about that as far as I can tell.

I try to let you be a part of our journey as best as I can and I hope, you enjoy the Blog. For some reason, the comment part isn't working, which is too bad, But I'm trying to tell you about our days as entertaining as possible and I could go on and on about if no one stops me, but H. luckily does. To find the right amount of words or details is sometimes difficult for me, but I hope, it is okay for you.

With best regards,

Alice