Situated between the border of Ontario and Quebec, the fourth largest city in Canada is its capital – Ottawa.
It may not be the first city that comes in mind when people think of Canada but it should be.
Why?
It has everything an old/new vibrant global city has to offer.
Canada’s Parliament Hill – East, West and the Centre Block with the famous Peace Tower
The Chateau Laurier (right), French Gothic architecture design to match the Parliament
The Alexandria Bridge – Connecting Ottawa to Hull/Gatineau, Province of Quebec
links Ottawa and Gatineau, its name represents the unity of English and French
Maman – a bronze cast sculpture (1999) by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois
welcomes visitor to the National Art Gallery of Canada
When I first learned that we will be moving to Ottawa from the Philippines years ago to finally get reunited with our mother, I didn’t know much about the city. It didn’t even occur to me that the city (well, all of Canada really) has two official languages – English and French. It didn’t dawn on me that having four seasons and the extreme weather swing of scorching hot summers to freezing cold winters gave us, Canucks, an endless amount of activities (and the reason why Canadians give exemplary medalled performances at both Summer and Winter Olympics) all year long.
The city I live in is undeniably a wonderful melting pot of cultures, languages, architecture, sports, arts nature, festivals and everything in between (shopping included). Though I’m not a huge fan of the biting cold, I’d be amiss if I don’t hit the slopes in the winter and canoe in the lake in the summer. The National Capital Region has one of the most stunning vistas in Canada, if not the world. Though a constant underdog in the popularity contest against Toronto and Montreal, Ottawa is anything BUT boring. This city will wake your senses, lift your spirit, warm your heart (visit Ottawa Tourism to lean more) and will leave you wanting more.
Ottawa is my home town.
What about you? What do you love most about your city?