We sign into jail and are shown to our cell! Yep we are staying in Ottawa's old prison. Cell 108 was to be home for the next 3 nights.
We had an invite to the British High Commission for a cheese and wine evening thanks to a friend of Blinkys. We had a true backpackers dilemma here....'how does one create a decent outfit fit for the high commission?!' Surprising ourselves we manage this task in 20 minutes making it on time! Now from last years travels in Oz cheese and wine nights seemed to be an introductory thing in hostels. This one was way better!! Having had our fill of cheese and wine (mainly wine) we head out in search of more wine and food only to stumble across silly photo op after silly photo op! Dinner was had and we meander back to our cell.
Day 2 in Ottawa began with a delayed start. No early doors in this prison! We used this day to suss out what there was to do. We went to the Market, saw the parliamentary buildings and generally worked out how to fill the next two days. That evening we headed back to Parliament Hill to watch a light show. This was actually really quite captivating. It animated the history of Canada projected on to the front of the buildings.
Feeling like we needed to make up for our somewhat 'chilled' day the previous day we made a plan to head over to the Gatineau to visit a hot air balloon festival that everyone was recommending. We hired bikes and set our way (we learnt a lesson here - cheaper is not always better. These bikes had no gears and back peddle brakes that didn't actually work that well!!) it was somewhat of an interesting ride. Not really knowing where we were heading we asked for directions. Having crossed over to the french speaking side people were a little less willing (read as not willing) to communicate with us in English. Eventually finding our way to the infamous balloon festival we were a little perplexed as to why we could not see any hot air balloons. We go in search (normally they are pretty easy to spot) we finally give in and ask where they are being told that they will only be up after 6 if at all. This was not music to our ears. However, we are not to be disheartened too much. We find a big yellow chair sit for an hour in the sun and jump back on our bikes for the journey back. Returning to prison for an evening of relaxation. Not something you hear very often!
Our last day in Ottawa consisted of a tour of the Jail. I had been to nervous to do this whilst we were still staying there incase they told us some terrible stories! It was actually really quite interesting. Seeing where death row was and the gallows! All apparently exactly where they were before it was changed into the hostel. Following on from the educational morning we headed to the parliamentary buildings for the free tours they ran. I, in true Moo Moo fashion cause a scene going through security and have to have my bag emptied and searched thoroughly. This proved to be a lot better than we had both expected. Feeling very cultured and fairly productive we head back to prison to fetch our bags and await our lift to our little bit of luxury and home comforts for a few days.
We went to stay at Blinky's friends house for a night before visiting her parents out in Cottage Country (about an hour and a half north of Ottawa)
Arriving there we settled in quickly turning a lovely room into something that resembled a bomb site. We had big plans for the next day to explore the lake. Up early we went for a run to get our bearings then headed down to the lake with the crickets (kayaks) this was heaps of fun and such a good way to see things you would not by foot/on land. The weather was stunning. It was an all round great way to while away a few hours. One of the neighbours offered us a tour of the lake on his boat so we took him up on his offer. The lake was huge. We definitely could not have seen it all by cricket exploration! Arriving back after our hours tour we have a feast for dinner before packing our bags ready for our departure the following day.
We are back on the road heading for one more night in Ottawa (a night of sheer indulgence) staying at the Lord Elgin Hotel courtesy of Blinky's friend. It is true what they say 'it is not what you know, it's who you know. Knowing we have an 11 hour greyhound trip the next night we make full use of the hotel facilities and our room. Pampered princesses for sure. Definitely not your conventional backpacker style but we were not complaining.
We check out at midday and visit the art gallery and then head to the bus terminal where we were to board our mobile hostel for the night, the greyhound! On to Boston we go