June 29, 2013 Ottawa

Ottawa offers a distinct European charm and flair.  The city borders the province of Quebec which both French and English cultures are deeply rooted.  We started our day by watching the Changing of the Guard.  Larry has never seen this event and I was anxious to view it again.

We took the tour bus and our first stop was the Canadian Museum of Civilization which had many fascinating exhibits.

Our next stop was ByWard Market, named after Colonel By.  It is the oldest open-air market in Canada that has been in operation since 1840s.  Today it is a bustling commercial district packed with shops and restaurants and farmers with fresh vegetables and fruit.  We loaded up with fresh strawberries and vegetables.  I even bought some beets for Ken.

Our water is low in the boat, so it was time to give up our spot on the wall.  We headed to Dows Lake marina just 3 miles away.   Petoria Bridge opened on command and we were fascinated that both ends of the bridge rose straight up!

We tied up and there was a wedding party celebrating the special event at a nice club which was located just off the stern of our boat.  The party went on into the wee hours of the night, and we thought we were going to have a quiet stay!