SkyWatch Friday ~ Happy New Year!

Ottawa, Ontario

Happy New Year to everyone in blogland and may 2010 bring much joy and peace to you and yours.

Thanks to the SkyWatch Friday Team (Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise & Sylvia) for a great year.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Heart you...

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My World Tuesday ~ The "Chateau"

Chateau Laurier Hotel 2009
One of my favourite buildings in Ottawa, Ontario is the magnificant Chateau Laurier Hotel built between 1909 & 1912 to compliment the Grand Trunk Railway's Union Station across the street.
Union Station 2009
Commissioned by Charles Melville Hays the chairman of the Grand Trunk Railway, the hotel was to open on April 26, 1912 however Hayes, returning to Canada for the opening perished when the ship he was travelling on, the RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912

Chateau Laurie Hotel circa 1912
The hotel was opened in a subdued ceremony on June 14th, 1912 by it's name sake and Prime Minister at the time Sir Wilfred Laurier.
The original building was L shaped with the front facing south on Wellington Street and Union Station and the other arm of the L facing west along the Rideau Canal Locks (as seen in the photo above). In 1928 an addition was built to create the current U shape. The shaded area to the right in the photo above is the addition. The three arches in the bridge contained a road on left, the Rideau Canal in the centre and in the old days the railway tracks on the right as seen below.Ottawa circa 1912
Looking north across the Ottawa River to the Gatineau Hills of Quebec. On the left the Parliament Buildings, on the right the Chateau Laurier Hotel and Union Station Rideau Locks
Same view today looking north only from the bridge over the canal.

West side of Union Station now the Ottawa Convention Centre.

Looking south from the Ottawa River(Major's Hill Park)

The hotel is located on the east bank of the Rideau Locks across from Parliament Hill. Until the mid 1960's the Chateau Laurier Hotel, then owned by Canadian National Railway was the premier hotel in Ottawa.

(Remember you can click on all photos to enlarge for more detail.)

During 1977/78 I worked at the Chateau Laurier as their Convention Sales Representative. I was young and idealistic and could not understand why conferences would not book the hotel, the fact that many of the rooms were not much bigger than a bathroom didn't occur to me! They have since renovated and enlarged the rooms and continues to be one of Ottawa's premier hotels

In researching the history of the Chateau Laurier I happened on Robert's Urbsite Blog which has many great photos and lots of history of the Chateau Laurier.

I must send special thanks to my son-in-law Steve who rescued my computer and more importantly my blog from a nasty virus that threatened to end my days of blogging and prohibited me from leaving comments on anyone elses blogs(probably a good thing!)

Thanks Steve!

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My World Tuesdays.

Christmas Blessings to all...

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah.....

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Scenic Sunday #75

(click on pictures to enlarge)

A beautiful day in Ottawa, Ontario almost always leads to a walk on Parliament Hill (Canada's seat of Government). A view looking north over the Ottawa River, The Alexander Bridge and Gatineau, Quebec Looking west at a late autum sundog over Ottawa, Ontairo.

For more beautiful scenes check out

Scenic Sunday.

Weekend Reflections on the Road

Going down, looking up
Icy reflection in Edmonton, Alberta

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SkyWatch Friday ~ Skies Across Canada

Dusk on the beach at Tlell, Haida Gwaii Thursday, December 10th. I left Haida Gwaii, BC on Thurdsay, December 10 for a trip 2/3rds of the way across Canada. The skies across this huge country are beautiful.

View Directions to Ottawa, ON, Canada in a larger map

I dedicate this post to my Greyhound Refugee Buddies, eight of us who were abandoned by Greyhound in Edmonton, Alberta to fend for ourselves. By coming together, standing up for each other everybody got home despite Greyhound Canada(another post). The loading dock of BC Ferries at Skidegate, BC 11p.m. Thursday, December 10th.

Along the Skeena River about 30 minutes out of Prince Rupert, BC.
Friday, December 11th.
The mighty Skeena River, BC.
Close encounters along the Skeena River, BC.Is that blue sky? Three Sisters Mountain, Hazelton, BC. From west of Prince George, BC to east of the Rockies we travelled in the dark.An icy dawn in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, Alberta.

Saturday, December 12th

West of Edmonton, Alberta December 12th (I think it is an oil processing plant?)

Icy fog in Edmonton, Alberta Sunday, December 13th. The coldest day on record for Edmonton and the coldest spot on earth this day!

Dawn over the Saskatchewan prairies, Monday, December 14th between Calgary and Regina.

Leaving Regina, Saskatchewan on Monday, December 14th.

Cold winds and sunshine leaving Saskatchewan Monday, December 14th.

Manitoba was travelled in the dark. This is just outside Thunder Bay, Ontario overlooking Lake Superior Tuesday, December 15th
From west of Sault Ste. Marie to just outside Ottawa, Ontario we travelled in the dark.

Arrived in Ottawa at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 16th five days, 10 hours, 5500kms. and too many buses later!

To see other beautiful skies from around the world why not join us at

SkyWatch Friday.

Watery Wednesday ~ North of Lake Superior

Travelled across the top of Lake Superior yesterday and am always awed by it's beauty and size.

The lake is quickly freezing but where there was open water a weather system was forming. This picture is taken from a moving bus behind tinted windows but if you enlarge it you will see the warmth of the lake water being drawn up to make the clouds...quite fascinating.

Taken at dusk near White River, Ontario, one of the coldest places in Canada and the home of Winnie the Poo!

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My World Tuesday ~ The Coldest Place in the World

The coldest place in the WORLD yesterday ~ Edmonton, Aberta, Canada at -49*C and I was there!
For more chilly places from around our world why not join us at
My World Tuesday.

SkyWatch Friday ~ Memories

(All photos can be clicked to enlarge and view detail)

I am off on a 5,500 km (3500 mi) road trip tonight beginning with an 8 hour ferry ride so this morning has been spent walking the beach and spit for the last time until April.

The day could not have been more beautiful with drama in the sky and on the beach. When you live by the sea it is hard to leave it.
But I am going to visit family and to await the arrival of my first grand child.

So I will hold these wonderful vistas and memories until I return in the spring.
And maybe one day I can share this beautiful place with my Grandson.

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