Happy Canada Day!

Finally – CANADA DAY!  We wanted to get an early start to the day so we headed out around 9.  Cameras all charged and room on the hard drives to store all the photos and videos we wanted.  We decided to take the OCTranspo into Ottawa to make things easier.  With so many road closures and little parking as is, I figured it would be easier to do it that way.  We also took with us a pedometer to see how many steps we took and how many kilometers we ended up walking.

Our first stop was Major Hill park – this is a park just southeast of the Hill and there were a lot of activities planned in it.  On our way there, we stopped to watch street performers and just look at some of the vendors who had set up shop along the way.  Once we were in the park area there was SO much to see and do.  From another stage area to crafts and food.  It was neat to see how so much of the city was getting into the spirit of things.  The kids decided to make little sacs to hold their electronics and, after only a minor burn, we were off to see more things.  We hopped on the shuttle to go across to Jacques Cartier park – it is a doable walk across the river but I figured with all the walking we would be doing the rest of the day taking the shuttle might be a good, cranky saving measure.  Across the river, in the Gatineau part of Ottawa, were more activities.  The kids got to try cheerleading, playing with the latest Hot Wheels cars and then skating on this amazing sheet of plastic ice!  We even got to experience what it would be like to be a Paralympic athlete with a big display set up in the area.  Then it was back across the river for another stop at the NGO.  We saw a few exhibits which Navras really wanted to check out plus we saw some winning artwork from local, young artists.

After hitting a few more activities, we decided to huddle down and get a spot for the big fireworks display.  We managed to snag a spot just facing the river with a clear view of the Parliament Buildings and the Museum of Civilization.  If you ever go to Ottawa for Canada Day, this is the BEST spot to sit.  I swear it looked like the fireworks were being shot off just for us they were that close and that spectacular!  Over 1000 fireworks in a span of about 20 minutes.  The crowd was amazed and ended the evening with an impromptu singing of O’Canada.  How moving.   

Oh, a couple of funny things:  Remember the exhibit at the NGO of amazing young artists I mentioned?  We ended up sitting next to one of those artists while watching the fireworks.  Josh Tiessen - just a teen and already a professional artist!  And the second - as we were waiting for the fireworks display to begin a friend of Arjun’s from school walked right up to us and said hello.  They just happened to be in the city as well and just happened to stop to look at the river from the same spot!  It really shows what a small world we live in doesn’t it?