Morning found me speeding East on the Queen’s way from suburban Kanata toward downtown Ottawa, juggling the steering wheel, oatmeal, and fresh blueberries.
Kind, radiant Isabel Mar (who I met on the plane. Her website is www.purejoojoo.com so you can meet her too!) and I had met for breakfast a few days before at a tiny restaurant called Stonefaced Dolly’s. We were short on time, so in true fairy-godmother style she whirled me through downtown Ottawa. Parliament buildings, the Byward Market, endless restaurants – she grew up in Ottawa, and from her wealth of knowledge gave me the ‘teaser’ tour from the car. I knew I had to go back, soon, and experience the real thing on foot.
So, with no real plan except go there I went downtown. Perhaps because of the early hour I found it easy to park on the street and figure out the meter.
When I stepped out into the street, the most noticeable thing about Ottawa was its friendliness. I didn’t feel that anyone was about to steal my purse. Or that asking random pedestrians for directions would reveal them as surprise psychopaths. I’ve never been in such a comfortable city.
The Byward market is made up of several outdoor tent sections along the streets where vendors and artisans and farmers can sell their wares. The farmers and florists were already open. Baskets of juicy strawberries… Raspberries… Radishes.
I walked further, drawn toward the spires in the distance. The grand entrance of the Chateau Laurier was guarded by busboys and forbade entry for the time being, but I could still admire the view of the canals from the street. 
On Parliament Hill, I wandered around the gorgeous buildings and took in the view from the back. At the visitors entrance I met a young man, an intern helping greet guests. He was matriculating college in just a few days and in love with his summer internship on the Hill. He was bound for law school in the fall at the University of Ottawa. I wished him luck, recognizing the joy he took in his work and his ambition. 
Across from the American Embassy, coutour gowns graced a shop window. 
The bakery tempted me with scrumptious cakes, but I opted for a croissant.
I’ll go back again soon. A city so walkable presents endless possibilities.
As I passed the Byward market leaving I heard a high schooler describing his friend’s plan to have a Beta fish fight club. The idiots already forgot the first rule of fight club, so i foresee it having a poor start. And this made me laugh all day.
Jennie says:
What a lovely day! Makes me wanna come up there!