Ottawa |
| Friday, 09 May 2008 00:00 |
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In the eastern part of the province of Ontario, situated both on the river Ottawa and directly on the border to French-speaking Quebec lies Canada’s capital city, Ottawa and its 800,00 inhabitants. Those expecting the lack of charm banality of a city dedicated solely to running a country will be pleasantly surprised. Ottawa is actually impressively diverse, offering a plethora of cultural and tourist possibilities. Whether in summer or winter, during the daylight hours or after sundown, the city is never less than lively and exciting. Being a young city it is of course renown for its atmospheric night life.Founded in 1827 it was appointed capital of the Canadian Territories by Queen Victoria on 31st December 1857. Imposing reminders of this history can be found in the architecture on Parliament Hill where the style is reminiscent of public buildings in London. The parliament building itself, a striking neo-gothic construction, perhaps resembles a fairytale castle rather than a seat of government. Tours of the building provide entrance to the impressive rooms and the awe-inspiring corridors and halls. A secret tip is the sound and light shows which take place in front of the building during the summer months. Definitely worth seeing is the Basilica "Notre-Dame d'Ottawa", built in 1839 the oldest church in the city and seat of the Archbishopric. From the Peace Tower, erected in memory of the fallen in the First World War, one has, from a height of 300 ft, a spectacular view over the capital and the surrounding countryside. Ottawa is found on the southerly bank of the Ottawa River, and at the confluence of the Rideau-canal, Rideau River and Rivière Gatineau. The lower town is found between the Rideau-canal and Rideau River and is the oldest part of the city. In winter the Rideau Canal becomes the longest ice rink in the world. On the opposite bank of the canal is the city center, both the financial and commercial district. Shopaholics should seek out Rideau Street, the main shopping street in the city, and the nearby Byward Market, a common meeting place on long summer evenings. This area is packed with restaurants, cafes, pubs and discos, fronted by numerous street artists, most comfortably watched from one of the many pubs, accompanied by a pitcher of frosty beer. Ottawa is undoubtedly the city of museums, the pick of the bunch being the National Gallery of Canada. The collection comprises of over 40,000 works of art, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, films, and videos. Regular exhibitions of both Canadian and international artists take place here. The best place to catch up on the interesting history of this land is in the Canadian Museum of Civilization, but an absolute must for art lovers is the National Arts Centre, a mixture of opera, theatre, studio and restaurant under the same roof. The centre is also host every year to the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Those in possession of a rental car will be able to combine their Ottawa experience with a trip, or trips into the unbelievably pretty surrounding countryside. Both Ontario and Quebec are well-known for the beautiful flora and fauna found in the Great Lakes area, and of course the most popular day trip is to the spectacular Niagara Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world.
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