Walking in a winter WONDERland

DAY 13 AND 14 -

THE UNIVERSE MUST HAVE HEARD MY PLEAS - Mon amours, it snowed. It really snowed.. it ACTUALLY SNOWED!!! This was my first snowfall in the Great 'White' North so t'is the season to be jolly; despite temps of -5 degrees outside. That's not even the frostiest Ottawa will get to as it can plummet to as glacial as -30 or -40 degrees Celsius in the height of winter. Brrrrrr! 

Elizabeth messaged me from her hospital shift and instantly with a resounding 'YES!' I threw back the curtains, looked out the window and what did I see? A beautiful, fluffy, white blanket of freshly fallen snow outside, just waiting for me. Up til then, I'd been filled with disappointment that Canada's weather had been obnoxiously warm and that the season was well overdue for some powder. 

MERCI BEAUCOUP FOR THE SURPRISE VISIT, LA NEIGE - Snowflakes fell on my nose and eyelashes and it was beaucoup belle! Everything looks better, feels better when it snow, snow, snow, snow, SNOWS!!! There's a romantic aspect to treading through the wintry, sparkly covering midst the flurries -- or else there would be if I had a handsome honey to stroll hand in hand with. Scratch that, he wouldn't even need to be handsome, so long  as he was here and breathing, that would be enough for me. 

I took a short bus ride to the RCMP: Musical Ride Centre, where the prestigious Mounted Police (who volunteer for 2 years) train with their troop of 32 riders. Throughout May and October the choreographed spectacle is performed over Canada and internationally some 40-50 times, as is tradition. It is completely free to take a tour of the stables and as I attended solo, the attention was focused solely on me and I was able to ask any question. 

HORSING AROUND - They permitted me to pet one of the Hannoverian horses who has been part of the Musical Ride for 7 years. Viper, a black beauty with a glossy mane, who measures 17.1 hands, was there to party and tried to lick/nibble my face. I spent some time watching three horses exercise in The Riding School. As delightful as that all was, I didn't want to spend all day in their smelliness when there was snow to be frolicked in outside, as the flurries sprinkled on. But not before I purchased some Maple Syrup chocolate from The Mountie Shop; it is 60% sweeter than any human should consume.

Something I'd been dying to tick off my Canada bucket list was to observe the ice sport, curling in action. At the RCMP Curling Club, I got to do just that and it was an accidental occurrence as I hadn't known beforehand that this even existed until I spotted it around the corner from the RCMP Musical Ride. A league of elderly gentlemen were kind enough to let me stay as they played; I was even extended an invite to join a league! I can't say I get the rules of the game but it was so cool to see them in action and be envious of their special ice trainers which allows them to glide on the ice without blades. For your FYI, the wives come along to the club to socialize and lunch with one another while rooting for their hubbies. EXTRA cute! 

Trudging back along the riverside was irresistibly rapturous and I became a 5 year old at heart again, having too much fun with imprinting my footsteps in the crisp snow. To an outside observer, it may seem childish but snow is such a novelty to me now that whenever nature sends me some, I take full advantage! This was the glittering icing on four beautiful days in Ottawa and the beauty was not lost upon me. Two of my Canadian wishes were fulfilled today; I'm a lucky minx!!

I GET IT NOW CANADA.. I.. GET.. IT - Sadly, most of the snow has already melted away with the new light of day for my final hours in Ottawa. Still it is in the minus figures outside and Jack Frost is defo nipping at my nose. First and maybe foremost on the agenda aujord h'ui was scranning the Canadian fare of a Beavertail. This is essentially flattened, fried dough in a shape somewhat resembling the tail of its animal namesake. Beaver man suggested I opt for the classic cinnamon and sugar - which is an important milestone in venturing throughout Canada. I AM IN LIKE WITH YOU and your sugary loveliness, beaver tail! 

As you may know, looking at pieces of art is not something that I have extensive experience with. But I had the best time visiting The National Gallery of Canada with an old friend and I did enjoy looking through the exhibitions. It was extraordinary to see Monet's actual brushstrokes on his masterpieces without a glass encasement but a pity none of his art was authorised to be photographed. Most of his Impressionist series paintings on display here revolve around bridges and rivers, particularly along the Seine but my favourite is Waterloo Bridge at sunset. 

The abstract art and optical illusions hurt our eyes and caused temporary dizziness but the cartoony pieces just for grins, were amusing to contemplate. I wouldn't wonder that the compositions created some powerful statements that I'm not smart enough to understand. Even Brillo pads or a red rectangle above a yellow one is classed as creativity. Mary Pratt is quite the sensation, her still life depictions of jellies setting in jam jars is somehow strikingly beautiful. 

YOU MIGHT MAKE AN ART NERD OUT OF ME YET - Elizabeth and I had an old fashioned photo postcard taken in shawls, with parasols against an Argenteuil scenescape. Only a crazy pants is who would spend 1 millions dollars on the red and blue vertical striped Voice of Fire. It took us sometime to figure out that if you stare intensely enough at it, it soon emits an orange glow from behind and the red appears to move. When I looked away, I saw a flash of neon green against the wall and found it thoroughly trippy! We laughed gregariously at this insanity and other artworks like the lady pulling a mooner in the moonlight.

The two of us dined in Vittoria Trattoria, a romantically Italian restaurant for our last supper. What's NOT to love about the simple things that bring such happiness? E.g - crusty breads dunked in olive oil and balsamic vinegar; the man who baked that has won his way to my heart! Another cause for excitement, was the bruschetta with its strong garlic flavouring. My alio y olio wholemeal spaghetti with artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers, baby arugula and sliced black olives - reeled the piggy in! It was like Italy IN MY MOUTH. 

After all that food, I am not cutting a fine figure and see a very pimply future with food babas galore. I treated Elizabeth as a thank you for putting me up and putting up with me during my stay as a small token of my gratitude. 

IT WAS QUITE THE FANTASTIC REUNION - Thanks for a spectacular time, Elizabeth and for your excellent hospitality! I was sad to have to say goodbye, not wanting to leave her or the not-so-ordinary Ottawa. I mainly slept all the way to Montreal on the Greyhound and struggled to find my hostel upon my arrival as my printed directions were not correct. It was just two streets away!! Great, I was in a room with 5 guys who left the bathroom in a beyond nasty state and who talk and snore in their sleep!!!!!!! How cruddy my first night in the province of Quebec was!