Ottawa

My mum and I went on a trip to Ottawa over the weekend to visit Mike's parents, gram and 'the king'. I feel really sad being there without Mike. I stayed in his old room - it just felt so empty! There is so much sadness around the house. Folks have written more than 100 letters and cards to Jan and Max. The support is overwhelming - but it doesn't change a thing. I mean it's great to have this awesome support, but we all just want him back!Mike's parents welcomed us with the biggest BBQew steaks I have ever eaten; and were they ever delicious, tender and grilled to perfection! Max is a true master of the BBQ, and Jan a true master in making pies! I have a 'new' favorite pie: rhubarb-strawberry, so so good! But first night we had an apple pie, my 'all time' favorite! The next day, Jan had made perfect breakfast, eggs and bacon on croissants with fruit salad. Then, we went on to stroll through the city, sightseeing at Parliament hill, which was full of girl-scouts, the Rideau canal, and Byward market where everything is neatly stacked - can tell me someone why they are so tidy? I mean, look back home, its just chaos...doesn't it take up way too much time and energy to arrange everything so neatly, and then trow it into a bag when the customer

buys it?

We had a great coffee and pastry at a french 'boulangerie' before we continued strolling along some tulip fields. It just happened to be the tulip festival, however, half of the tulips were already dead. That still left plenty, as they are supposed to have more than a million bulbs - 100.000 of them donated by the dutch for liberating their country during WW2. Later, Jan made a turkey, delicious as always and well appreciated at this unusual time of year.

in Jan's garden

The next morning, again another typical Canadian breakfast: oatmeal pancakes with lots of maple sirup. Later, we strolled along the tulip fields along Dow's lake and the Rideau canal. Some of the flowers were still very beautiful, even if everything was swamped with people, in particular, busses full of chinese. After that, we had a short walk through the woods at stony swamp: it's so good to smell clean air, hear birds and see only green around you! My mum made is rouladen in the afternoon - how I had missed those and their sauce! They tasted like Christmas at home!

In the end, I asked my mum, which she like more, Ottawa or Toronto. She said Ottawa...I sort of have to agree, the buildings are more beautiful, the air and streets are cleaner, there is more green - and the Gatineau - but Toronto is definitely more interesting!

And, I was really surprised how much English my mum understood and spoke! I hardly had to translate!