August 2011
We beat the rain to make it to Rideau Hall early in the morning. Rideau Hall is the residence of the Governor General. We witnessed the changing of the guards and took a tour of the residence. It's nice that you can walk all over the grounds freely. It seemed odd since if you did that at the White House you'd be tackled before you got 5 steps in. We then headed back downtown to walk around Byward Market, the Rideau Canal Locks and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. After the weather cleared up some, we went to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride stables.

Rideau Hall is the home of the Governor General of Canada

Rideau Hall is the home of the Governor General of Canada

Changing of the Guards at Rideau Hall

Changing of the Guards at Rideau Hall

Changing of the Guards at Rideau Hall

Changing of the Guards at Rideau Hall

Changing of the Guards at Rideau Hall

Fountain on the grounds of Rideau Hall

Rideau Hall Rose Garden

Rideau Hall grounds are open to the public

Totem pole represents the First Nations of Western Canada

Governor General's flag is the highest ranking flag in Canada other than the Queen's flag

Rideau Hall with the Fountain of Hope in front

Fountain of Hope

This black squirrel paused from his trash picking long enough to pose for a picture

Rideau Hall is the home of the Governor General of Canada

The Governor General's Footguards march to the front gate for the Changing of the Guards

Rideau Hall is the home of the Governor General of Canada

The Governor General's Footguards march to the front gate for the Changing of the Guards

Standing guard at Rideau Hall

Inukshuk is a symbol of inuit culture

Byward Market is a neighborhood full of restaurants and shops

Fresh veggies at Byward Market

Fresh veggies at Byward Market

Patriotic cookies

The Connaught Building near Parliament Hill

The Connaught Building near Parliament Hill

The York Steps connect ceremonial Ottawa with Lowertown

Lieutenant-Colonel John By supervised the construction of the Rideau Canal and founded what would become Ottawa

The Rideau Canal locks

The Rideau Canal locks

The Rideau Canal locks

The Rideau Canal locks and Gatineau across the river

The West Block of Parliament

Rideau Canal Lock House

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel

Flags of the Canadian provinces

The Rideau Canal

Veteran's Memorial

The Rideau Canal locks

The Rideau Canal locks

United States Embassy

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The Lady Aberdeen Bridge is the oldest bridge connecting Gatineau and Hull

The St Francis de Sales Church stands out in Gatineau

Rockcliffe Boathouse is a floating restaurant

Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride Center

Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride Center

I didn't have the heart to tell her he isn't a real Mountie

Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride Center

Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride instruments

The Landau is the Governor General's carriage

The horses of the Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride

A Mountie in his traditional red serge

One of the horses of the Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride

These name tags represent retired horses of the Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride

Canadian Police College is home to the Royal Candian Mounted Police Musical Ride Center

This Royal Candian Mounted Police facility was across the street from our hotel

A storm approaches our hotel

The storm was followed by a double rainbow

The storm was followed by a double rainbow

The storm was followed by a huge rainbow

One night we ate at Aulde Dubliner Pour House in Byward Market