Woken by children screaming and thumping in the room next to ours. Still managed to stay in bed until 9am. Instead of having the carb heavy breakfast at the youth hostel, we went to Cora’s for eggs. I had an omelette and Glen had a big breakfast.
Today I was keen to go to Gatineau Park to see the fall colours. We picked up a little leaflet at the youth hostel that explained how to get there because it was too far to go on foot. Gatineau Park is in Quebec, across the border (I had no idea Ottawa was so close to the border). So we needed to catch a bus. We went to the Rideau Centre to buy a Presto card to use on buses. I asked, too late as the purchase had gone through, if the bus to Gatineau left from outside the Rideau Centre. No, it didn’t, and that bus was part of a different network and the Presto card wouldn’t work on those buses.
Luckily, there was some Rapibus celebration this weekend so the STO buses were all free of charge. We jumped on the number 33 and went to Gatineau Park, taking a scenic drive through southern Quebec. The instructions said to get off at Campus Gabrielle Roy, which we couldn’t find on Google Maps. So Glen suggested we get off at a stop that looked like it might lead into the park. It was right next to the park so a not unwise decision. We got off, quickly realised we were just going around a building and not going to get into the heart of the park (which is massive), then had an argument and went back to the bus stop.
We got on the 33 again and found the next stop was the one we originally wanted but for some reason didn’t get off. We’d seen the colours. To get much further into the park we would have had to walk for ages (the park really is massive) and the clouds were looming and ominous. We stayed on the bus.
Half an hour later we ended up somewhere in Gatineau at the Rapibus celebrations. Soon after we got on the 400 which was a more direct route back to Ottawa. I wasn’t too upset about not going to Gatineau Park properly because getting lost in southern Quebec was an adventure and a bit of fun. It stressed Glen out though.
It started to rain on our journey back into Ottawa. We got off outside Parliament, had a look at the centennial flame, went inside parliament to do a tour but the next available wasn’t for another couple of hours (will go next time) and then walked around Chateau Laurier before the rain drove us to find somewhere more suitable for food.
The buildings in this part of Ottawa are amazing. So interesting and gothic and atmospheric. Really impressed with the architecture here. Also learned that there were four rotating capitals of Canada when the two Canadas joined: Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Montreal. Queen Victoria chose Ottawa in 1857 and this was reaffirmed ten years later.
We walked through the Byward Markets then decided to go back to Play for the dishes we didn’t get the day before. Wasn’t as stellar as the night before but food was fine and the fresh lemonades were delicious.
We walked through Major’s Hill park, seeing plenty of colour in the trees, from green to yellow to orange to red. And a wonderful view of the Ottawa valley and Parliament on the hill.
Then it rained harder and we went back to the hostel…
…and had a nap until 6pm.
Dressed and walked back to the National Gallery for the night’s showing of a German film called Freier Fall (Free Fall) about German policemen having sex. SOLD!
The organiser, before the film started, was promoting the other films of the festival including one called Blue Is The Warmest Colour. He described it as three hours long and with lots of lesbian sex. The lesbian sex isn’t a bother but the three hours bit is a major turn-off. He also promoted Sarah Prefers To Run. Glen and I snickered.
Like Sarah Prefers To Run, Free Fall had lots of running in it. But there was better conflict, interesting characters and a much more developed storyline. Some worrying themes in it though that:
- all gay men are predatory
- all gay men go to nightclubs
- all gay men can easily acquire and frequently take drugs
- all gay men are liars.
But, if you watch it just as it is, about two guys, then it was a good film. Even a day later I’m still thinking about it.
After the film, we walked down Clarence St looking for dinner. We settled on a Vietnamese restaurant called Sweet Art. Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls and a bowl of Pho each. Was pretty tasty and good Vietnamese food. Recommended if you’re going to Ottawa. And then, at about 9:30, we decided it was quite fine for us to go back to the hostel at go to bed. Maybe we’ll check out a gay club next time.
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?