Gatineau Park, Gatineau, Quebec

Pink Lake, Gatineau Park, Quebec

We visited Gatineau Park and I learned something new -  Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world!

Pink Lake is unique as it is meromictic which means that the waters in the lake don't mix as they would in other lakes in the Gatineau Park. This type of lake is very rare and have unusual features such as  a total lack of oxygen in the bottom layers of the lake, with a special aquatic life and a complex and fragile ecosystem.

The Pink Lake is called Pink Lake as it was named after a settler's name.

The colour of  Pink Lake's water actually changes; the colour can be green or blue according to the amount of algae present in the lake.

Lots of tourists come to visit Gatineau Park

There is a trail around Pink Lake and it would only take an hour to walk the entire trail.

It was a beautiful day to walk the trail. Unfortunately, a section of the park was closed for the morning due to a race or something.  As we were on our way back to Toronto, we could not wait for it to be opened at 1:00pm.

Next time when we are in Ottawa, we will be back here at Gatineau Park. It was definitely worth a visit!

Beaver Tails in the making

Another special thing we tried this time was the Beaver Tail, a dessert special to Ottawa. It is a thin piece of pastry lightly deep fried and served with your choice of toppings such as icing sugar with strawberry, cinnamon, chocolate etc.. Yumm...mmy!~

R.T.
Gatineau Park
Gatineau, Quebec

Canada's Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

May 16, 2014

Parliament Building, Ottawa

Today was a raining day! We planned to visit a number of places in Ottawa but due to the inclement weather, we had to modify our schedule for the day and do a rainy day activity.

Inside the Centre Block of the Parliament Building

The Senate Chamber - The Chamber of Second Thoughts

Instead of a walking tour of a number of places in downtown Ottawa, we decided to focus on one place so that we would be able to stay indoors most of the afternoon and save us from getting soaked in the rain.














For people visiting Ottawa, a tour of the Canadian Parliament Buildings is almost always on the agenda. We visited the Parliament Buildings years ago and did again today.

View from the top of the Peace Tower, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

We got our free tour tickets on 90 Wellington Street, right across the Parliament Building.

However, it was a pretty windy day and we decided not to line up for the tour nut went on our own to visit the Peace Tower located in the Centre Block.

From the top of the Peace Tower , we had an excellent view of the buildings below us in Ottawa, as well as the city of Gatineau, Quebec,  from across the Ottawa River.

After taking many pictures from the top of the Peace Tower, we visited the Memorial Chamber and the Senate Chamber.

A coffee at the Rideau Centre rounded off our day after Doug picked us up from the Westin.

R.T.\
Ottawa

The Governor General's Flag Flying High at Rideau Hall,, Ottawa

Entering the grounds of Rideau Hall

 After the visit to the Tulip Festival, we got into Douglas car and drove back to his house.
Doug took us past Rideau Hall  on Sussex Drive - Canada's  Governor General's official residence.

Rideau Hall - Governor General's official residence

It was about 4:45p.m. and we were hoping that we could go inside the grounds of this famous residence. We were lucky as the sign by the door indicated the grounds would be open until one hour before sundown!

Beautiful and well manicured grounds at Rideau Hall

We entered the ground of Rideau Hall with plenty of time to stroll about before closing time.


I had been to Ottawa numerous times but never visited this site and did not realize that the Governor General's residence is situated in a very spacious park like setting property.





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It was a real pleasure strolling around in such a peaceful and green setting.

There are many different plants and shrubs, monuments, historic markers of Canada's history as well as various trellis and gardening decorations.

Governor General's Residence with his flag flying high

Looking around, my mom made a very good observation and asked:

" This is Canada. Why isn't the Canadian Maple Leaf flag being hoisted on top of the building?"

Security Officer answered tourists' questions patiently

The guard outside the residence gave us the explanation:

" The Governor General has his own flag.

 When he is not traveling and in the residence, the Governor General's flag is hoisted on top of the building.

While he is not here, the Canadian Maple Leaf flag would be hoisted."

The Governor General's Emblem

On the day we visited, the Governor General was at his residence with his flag flying high!

Thanks, Mom, for your great question, We all learnt something today about the Governor General's flag.



R.T.
Rideau Hall
Ottawa

Pictures - courtesy of Doug K. - my wonderful brother-in-law!

Beautiful Flowers at the Tulip Festival, Ottawa, Ontario

This morning the weather was a little better yesterday with no rain but a grey sky.

As long as it was not raining, we were happy as this was the day we planned to walk around and take part in Ottawa's famous annual Tulip Festival.

2014 Tulip Festival at Commissioners' Park, Ottawa

Horse drawn wagon ride at the Byward Market

 We drove to downtown Ottawa and visited the Byward Market - my favorite place to buy fresh flowers and plants.

Menu at La Bottega, Byward Market

The little plant I bought from the market years ago is still growing beautifully in our front garden in Toronto and has brought us a lot of pleasure over the years.

Delicious dessert at the La Bottega

There are many places to eat at the Byward Market; Margaret took us to La Bottega for some Italian food and latte.

We had pizza, veal cutlet, pasta, and yes, desserts!

Beautiful tulips in full bloom at the Tulip Festival, Commissioners Park,  Ottawa

I was here many years ago for the Tulip Festival and frankly, I was not that impressed by it.

This time I revisited the festival mainly because of my brother and his friend. I thought it would be more fun visiting with family.

We were not disappointed! This time the festival activities were more concentrated at one venue so we did not  have to run around all over the city like we did many years ago.

The flowers were spectacular!

There were over 10,000 tulip bulbs planted throughout the park. These beautiful perennials were given to Canada as a gift by Holland.

The Dutch wanted to express their gratitude for Canada's assistance to their royal family while their pregnant princess was about to give birth and seeking protection here during WWII.










The gifts from Holland leaves a legacy for generations of Canadians to enjoy!

Besides the brilliant displays of colourful and massive flowers, there were activities planned for kids as well as for adults.

A few cutouts where one could post and had their pictures taken with different costumes or scenery.














There were many places for festival goers to rest their tired feet.

The weather was still a bit on the chilly side. However, it did hold out and we were able to walk around, admire the massive blooms and take many beautiful pictures of the tulips!

R.T.
Tulip Festival
Commissioners Park
Ottawa
P.S. Pictures - courtesy of  Doug as my camera battery was dead for the day!
 

Canada's Secret Army Bunker During the Cold War

Diefenbunker - located in Carp, about 40 minute drive west of Ottawa

I have been to Ottawa before a number of times in the past thirty years visiting my sister and friends.

 An alert system stand guard the entrance to the Cold War bunker

 It is only recently that I learned of the Diefenbunker structure located in Carp, a small town about a forty minute drive from Ottawa.

On our way to Ottawa for the Tulip Festival, we stopped to visit Diefenbunker, Ottawa's most unique historic site.

The Helicopter Patch at the Diefenbunker

Diefenbunker, Canada's response to the Cold War built during the Diefenbaker government, was designed to shelter some government and military officials in the event of a nuclear attack.

Inside the Entrance to the Tunnel of the Nuclear Bunker

The bunker was built in the late 1950's on time and on budget! A rare thing these days.

The Tunnel Leading to the 4 Story Underground Nuclear Shelter

Fortunately, this nuclear shelter for our government officials was never used for its intended purpose.

A Well Equipped Hospital

The only Canadian Prime Minister ever visited this nuclear bunker was Pierre Trudeau whose army helicopter landed right on the bunker's helicopter patch.

The nuclear bunker is a 100,000 square feet facility which could accommodate about three hundred people.

It had a decontaminated area and people entering the site would have been required to shower first then scrubbed and later on with his/her clothes buried underground to prevent the contamination by any nuclear dust carried on people's clothes.

Beds were anchored down by chain in case of earthquakes

It also had a well equipped hospital with a qualified team of medical staff consisted of doctors, nurses and dentists.

Everything was well thought out and many furnishing items were  anchored down by strong chained in case there was an earthquake during a nuclear attack

The cafeteria where soldiers and officers dined

Military personnel and officers dined in a spacious cafeteria.

The Cafeteria also doubled as a recreational space

The cafeteria also doubled as a recreational hall where military officers gathered to relax and to watch movies.

Dances, musical performances an d even weddings were held there.

The Prime Minister's Office

In the case of a nuclear attack, the Prime Minister of Canada,  Cabinet Ministers and some military officials would have worked in the offices located in this bunker.











There was a bedroom for the Prime Minister with his own en suite bathroom.







Though Prime Minister Diefenbaker never even visited this bunker. His bedroom was supplied with blankets with his own insignia.

The Computer Room

The computer room housed gigantic computer machines.

But the guide told us that all the tasks performed by the machines in this computer room could be easily done by one of today's i phone. How about that?

The Meeting Room

In case of a nuclear attack. as long as there were the Prime Minister, the Governor General and three Cabinet Ministers - this would be the legitimate government who could meet and make decisions to continue to govern Canada.

The Door to the Bank of Canada Vault

A vault was also built to shelter Canada's gold reserves during a nuclear conflict.

The Bank of Canada Vault

The door to the Bank of Canada Vault was so heavy and secure that it required four people ( each with different combination of the four locks)  to open and close it.







We were glad that we visited this unique historic site and though the Diefenbunker Government did plan to retreat to this place for protection during the Cuban missile crisis  in 1962, we were really happy to learn that this site was never used for its intended purpose!







R.T.
Diefendbunker
Carp, Ottawa Region