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.All Trips / Eastern Canada / North America / Ontario
Rambling around Ottawa
Canada’s capital city of Ottawa is one I’d highly recommend for a visit. It’s small (even if including its twin city of Gatineau across the Ottawa River), has many interesting museums and sites for tourists to visit, is home to some fine restaurants and a great market, and is very easy to explore on foot. It makes an excellent long weekend get-away destination.
My most recent visit to Ottawa was my third so I had a pretty good sense of the city and where I was going. I was traveling with my brother and cousin, both less familiar with Ottawa than I was, but we all had a great time wandering and exploring and catching up with what’s happening in each …
“Pic of the Week”, August 2, 2019: Saskatchewan Sunset
When I was driving across Saskatchewan last summer, I saw darkening clouds on the distant horizon which got progressively closer with each passing mile. It was dusk, and I thought the light of the setting sun quite lovely against the storm clouds. I stopped several times and snapped some photos along the drive.
Fortunately it stayed dry into the early night, until I’d checked into my hotel. After that, the heavens opened for quite a downpour.
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“Pic of the Week”, July 19, 2019: Indian Trading Post, Banff
One of the classic places to visit in the Banff townsite, within Banff National Park, is the Indian Trading Post. It has been around since 1903 and was originally called the “Sign of the Goat Curio Shop”. It’s one of those places that hasn’t changed much during the years.
Situated on the bank of the Bow River, it is removed from the busy touristy part of Banff. The exterior decorative items are interesting, but not as interesting as what you find when you enter the shop.
The walls of the shop are a museum of taxidermy, with a large variety of local species on display. Initially dealing primarily in furs, the shop now sells mostly First Nations (Aboriginal) handicrafts. These include items like …
“Pic of the Week”, July 12, 2019: World’s largest Wagon
A popular spot for families visiting Spokane’s Riverfront Park is this interesting piece of functional public art, a massive Red Flyer Wagon, the largest of its type in the world.
Built at a cost of $36,000 in 1990, and made of 26 tons of steel and concrete, it stands 12 ft high and is 27 ft long. The wagon is designed to be a slide and you’ll often find lots of kids waiting in line waiting to use it. It can hold as many as 300 people.
I like the simplicity of the piece. I had a small version of this type of wagon as a child and used it to haul around all kids of things, from vegetables in my mom’s …
“Pic of the Week”, July 5, 2019: ‘Ice and Flowers’, Kluane National Park
When I visited Kluane National Park headquarters, situated in the small and remote town of Haines Junction, Yukon, I was immediately drawn to this magnificent artwork. It was hanging near a large window, the framed backdrop being wonderful views of Kluane.
The work is called “Ice and Flowers” and was created by Yukon artist, Doug Smarch Jr. The work was inspired by the water drops reflecting the faces of those studying them up close.
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.All Trips / Car Culture / Central USA / Colorado / North America
Great Cars along the Highway. Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado
Pearl Street is the heart of downtown Boulder. Much of this street is a pedestrian zone, with lots of shops, restaurants and buskers. It’s a lively place in the evening, filled with people, conversation and music.
During our last visit to Boulder, we wandered to Pearl Street and found one of the most unusual car displays I’ve ever seen. One vehicle in particular was a tribute to rock and (*I think*) especially to Freddie Mercury of Queen fame (one of my favorite voices in popular music). Someone had spent hundreds and hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars glitzing up a ‘rock ‘n roll’ car in tribute.
Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado
Some of the photos below give you a closer look at some of the many …
Tagged Boulder, cars, Pearl Street
.All Trips / Eastern Canada / Food Tour / North America / Ontario
Breakfast at the Elgin Street diner
When I last visited Ottawa with my brother and cousin, we decided to have breakfast at the Elgin Street Diner because of a recommendation I’d seen (I believe in Frommer’s).
The diner is open 24 hours, and is a clean well kept place. It wasn’t too busy when we visited, although it was a late breakfast for us so we’d likely missed the breakfast rush. Here’s what the place looks like on the inside.
Peameal bacon, beans and eggs, Elgin street Diner
Elgin Street Diner is relatively new — open about a quarter century — and during that time has amassed a very respectable reputation as a good and reasonably priced place to eat in the nation’s capital. It has been recognized as Ottawa’s best diner and for having the …
Tagged bacon, breakfast, Elgin Street Diner, Ottawa
“Pic of the Week”, June 28, 2019: Peyto Lake, Alberta
One of the classic symbols of the Canadian Rockies is Peyto Lake, which is situated adjacent to Icefields Parkway, the road which connects Banff and Jasper. Peyto Lake is a popular stop with travelers who enjoy taking in this panoramic view from Bow Summit.
The lake is glacier fed, the glacial silt giving it a lovely milky turquoise-green color. It sits at 1860 m (6100 ft) above sea level.
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Jun 27, 2019
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