Ottawa, Canada, Travel Audio PostCard
Welcome to this Ottawa, Canada Audio PostCard.
Remember when audio told a story? Like old time radio, natural sounds played to the theater of the mind and transported listeners to that place.
Click the link, then turn on the audio player to listen to the 7-minute, sound-rich, Ottawa Audio PostCard.
There’s no escaping it. Ottawa in the winter is cold.
But no one does ‘cold’ better then the people of Canada’s capitol.
When the temperature drop the Canadians bundle up, put on their skates…and head to the Rideau Canal, where they warm up with hot chocolate, indulge in a sticky, sweet dough Beaver tail or two and just have fun.
You could join them…
Or buy sweaters from a brave outdoor vendor…
or perhaps Maple syrup.
Still too chilly?
Then duck into Ottawa’s Byward Market. Probably ByWard Market is the city’s pulse and heartbeat.
It’s an authentic marketplace, reflecting the vitality of Ottawa’s ethnic groups and the bi-lingual essence of the city.
Morrocan restaurants, little more than stands actually, offer real mint tea, and the colorful vegetables steaming in glass cases suggest a delicious couscous waiting to be served.
A Turkish restaurant is across the street, a German knockwurst stand next door, and down the street a boulangerie and cheese shop.
Or view the parliament buildings, and Canada’s art, from inside the National Gallery.
The vaulting, all-glass atrium looks out at the Basilica of Notre Dame and Parliament Hill. The Prime Minister is known to have a coffee and croissant in the little café from time to time. It’s a casual, welcoming and un-self-conscious place.
The European Collection, ranging from the Renaissance and Baroque to the Impressionists and Moderns, is considered the best in the country.
One of Ottawa’s gems is the impressive, archeological memorable Museum of Civilization, a masterpiece of events, education, exhibits and outreach. For example, there’s a powerful presentation of Canada’s many First Nation peoples, honoring their contributions and now nearly vanished way of life.
But if you’re not quite tough enough for any of that, then come back to Ottawa in the Spring.
When the tulips are in bloom. Or listen to our spring-time Ottawa Audio PostCard
Follow Technorati