Ontario and Quebec 2017: Day 2 - Parliament Hill, Outlets and AG

[Melbatb]

My day started at 5am! Not bad really!

As J had slept upstairs in the spare bed in F's room, I used the opportunity to tidy up the packing - we gave cubes but last night was a bit of "let's get what we need! "

By 6.30am J and F were up! We got O up at 7.15an and by 7.45 we were leaving to walk to Cora's - a Canadian chain of restaurants that we have been to before.

It was quite off putting as they put the calories on every option - and as I have just lost 5kg I wasn't keen on the 1200 calorie options!

So J had a veggie omelette, I had the poached egg with fruit, O had French toast with fruit and F had her favourite of fried eggs, home fries and baked beans!

We all nicked off each others' plates as usual!

Cost was C$63 plus tip.

We then walked the short distance to Parliament Hill. We had toyed with doing a tour but the queue for tickets was very very long! We don't like queues so we decided just to walk around.

There are a lot of reminders that 2017 is the 150th birthday of Canada.

There were some lovely statues of the important people in Canada's history including some of their PMs and our own Queen.

We went all round the back and then down to the river. This is the view across from Ottawa into Quebec.

Ottawa was chosen as the capital because it bordered Ontario and Quebec (the two "founding" provinces of what is today Canada) and because it was considered to be far enough from the USA - a risk at that time!

We watched as some boats started the long trawl up the canal locks! At least there was a team of lock employees to do all the hard work!

We heard drums and rushed up too many steps to see the changing of the guard. What a privilege!

We went to the tourist office to get a map and as we came out the Guards marched past!

Then it was off to book a bike tour for tomorrow! This may well be the end of me

We walked to Byward Market to have a coffee and get some lunch! I live how beautifully the fruit and vegetables are presented.

J got a veggie burrito, O had a smoked salmon bagel and F and I had felafels and salad in a wrap. We took these back to eat!

We also got a chocolate covered apple which the kids shared for desert!

After a rest, we got in the car for the 25m drive to Tanger Outlets.

After (another) navigation failure by the TomTom we did get there.

Pickings were slim. O got some CK boxers, I got a microwaveable soup bowl and F got the bargain of the day from her favourite Canadian clothes store - a goat reduced from C$139 to C$40 and then when we got to the till it was further reduced to C$28

We had a short rest before nipping to the supermarket for breakfast things and to Dominos for a pizza for the kids. J finished off his burrito and I just had a toasted bagel.

Then it was back to American Girl! The two dolls dame with us too! F took lots of photos - how she loves this place!

We were going to watch the Light Show on Parliament but after 26,000 steps (16km) we were done in so came back! We can do the lights tomorrow!

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New Photo Added by Melbatb - 27 Jul 17 3:20 AM.

[Jake71]

A great day Mel. The Parliament building is very impressive and love the changing of the guard photos. That was a cracking bargain of a coat, it looks really cosy.

[mick]

A good day sightseeing and shopping the coat was a bargain

Joan

[Bianca]

Are you allowed on The Dibb if you don't like queues?

Things are really under way now. (Two trips to American Girl already.) And lovely photos of Ottawa ...and of food. You always take good pics of food; it looks so tempting.

P.S. I love that F bought a goat on sale! You'll chuckle about that when you read this back in the future.

[Melbatb]

Originally Posted by Jake71

A great day Mel. The Parliament building is very impressive and love the changing of the guard photos. That was a cracking bargain of a coat, it looks really cosy.

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The Parliament was impressive - as it should be I guess The coat was a steal at that price!

Originally Posted by mick

A good day sightseeing and shopping the coat was a bargain

Joan

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Thanks Joan - more sightseeing today!

Originally Posted by Bianca

Are you allowed on The Dibb if you don't like queues?

Things are really under way now. (Two trips to American Girl already.) And lovely photos of Ottawa ...and of food. You always take good pics of food; it looks so tempting.

P.S. I love that F bought a goat on sale! You'll chuckle about that when you read this back in the future.

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Oh dear - I may get kicked off after admitting our dislike of queues

Whoops - getting a goat back may be more challenging!

[JoS]

Great day for you all and nice to learn a little history of Canada...thank you. Great bargain with the coat. Hope you continue to enjoy it.

[Melbatb]

Originally Posted by JoS

Great day for you all and nice to learn a little history of Canada...thank you. Great bargain with the coat. Hope you continue to enjoy it.

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We are! Though I think my legs need a rest after yesterday

[OB1LukeLucas]

You seemed to pack a lot in today. Ottawa looks great. Good job that coat was a bargain-I did have a giggle thinking about coats, goats and lots of dolls and American Girls stuff bursting out your case on the way home!

[Melbatb]

Originally Posted by OB1LukeLucas

You seemed to pack a lot in today. Ottawa looks great. Good job that coat was a bargain-I did have a giggle thinking about coats, goats and lots of dolls and American Girls stuff bursting out your case on the way home!

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Typing on an iphone causes quite a lot of typos - some I pick up, others ...

My kids think my mission in life is to wear them out - honestly we do have downtime Just so much to see!