KEEPING TABS

On my first time to Ottawa, the Where Magazine which I found on the coffee table in my hotel room proved to be an excellent tool for sightseeing and shopping in the Ottawa area. I tabbed pages and marked locations on the enclosed map and managed to see the city's highlights, as well as take in some great restaurants which Where featured. Thanks to Where, I had a great time in Ottawa!

Heidi Schulz
Edmonton, Alberta


HOME AWAY FROM ROME

My stay in Ottawa was memorable, in both a good and bad way. Bad because I flew over 6000 km and crossed an ocean to come to see a guy who turned out to be a total loser. Good because I fell out of love with the guy and fell in love with this city. Ottawa is a city to discover little by little. It gets under your skin and soon you realize it is not as austere as some may say and it has a lot more to offer than just Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market.

To the eyes of a foreigner (as that was what I was, an Italian in the heart of Ottawa) this is what it looks like: a welcoming city, apparently serious and conservative but more open minded than you expect, modern but old at the same time—with both its concrete and glass buildings and its irresistible charm and the hidden and somewhat romantic corners of a small town. Big and hectic but never so frenetic or chaotic to intimidate or scare you off (for those of you who may now think: "Ok, yes, fine, but you forgot to mention the permanent roadworks, the scaffolding, the traffic jams….", well, you've obviously never been to Rome). Quiet and peaceful around some spots—along the Rideau Canal or in some courtyards around York street—but also incredibly alive and bustling, with the crowds and the live venues around Bank street, the cozy bars and the great restaurants with their amazing food (yes, I found out that there is more to Ottawa than beaver tails and maple syrup and trust me, it is not at all easy to impress an Italian when it comes to food) and with its museums and art galleries (from the most famous ones like the National Gallery, to more "underground" ones, such as the Cube Gallery, where I headed right after I read about it in the pages of Where Ottawa and it was definitely worth a visit). I could go on and on.

I prowled around Elgin Street until I decided to step into a nice bar and sit at a table right beside the window to watch life go by. I sipped on a glass of Canadian wine and nibbled on some salmon bites while the cute waiter smiled at me and mumbled something in "franglais" and I felt like the centre of the universe. And here they are, the Ottawans. Nobody mentions them in the tourist guides, but to me, they are one of the main attractions and one of the best reasons to come here. Why? Because the Ottawans are friendly, welcoming and incredibly laid back.

As I hopped on the bus and headed back to my apartment, I looked out of the bus window and kept asking myself "What is it? What makes this city so special?" I don't know. Then it finally hit me. Ottawa makes you feel at home, away from home.

Francesca Fabi
Rome, Italy

Have you had a memorable trip to Ottawa? If you'd like us to hear about it (and maybe get your story published on our website), please contact the editor at kbraginetz@stjosephmedia.com. We'd love to hear from you!