* Dear readers – thanks for the affectionate comments in the last post! We are super happy to have completed this step… I responded to the comments below each one… Merci/thanks! /// Last Saturday I had a relaxing morning, one of those rarely seen around here. I went to wear my Mother's Day present to a spa about 20 minutes from home, right on the edge of Gatineau Park. According to their website, Le Nordik Spa-Nature, located just minutes from Ottawa in the Chelsea-QC region and opened in 2005, has been expanded to become the largest in North America with its unique facilities, with 7 outdoor pools, 7 saunas ,…

Today, after almost 6 years on Canadian soil, we attend the citizenship ceremony and become Canadian citizens. Wow, what a long wait! But our process took almost 3 years! Generally we think that as it is required only 3 years (discounted the days off) on Canadian soil to apply for citizenship, but in the head is that impression that it is really only the 3 years to be able to have a second homeland. Obviously not quite so, since we expect almost double, right?! See the first part of our "infinite" citizenship process here. According to the Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca) website, citizenship processes are currently with long waiting periods, ranging…

Last Monday, July 1, was Canada's 146th anniversary, celebrated since July 1, 1867, when representatives of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and The Province of Canada (originally a colony only, but thereafter, separated into Ontario and Quebec), with British support through the British North America Act, they established a new country called, first, Dominion of Canada. The date was called Dominion Day until 1982 and since then is officially Canada Day (or Canada Day). The other colonies joined the dominion in the following years, beginning in 1870, Manitoba and Northwest Territories, 1871 with British Columbia, 1873, with Prince Edward Islands, 1898, with Yukon, 1905 with Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1949, with Newfoundland…

*Karla, Nadia, Get Away and Cindy: I replied your comments below in the same post. Thanks, i'm sorry. During June 19-23, Ottawa hosted about 14 ribbers for the Ottawa Ribfest or pork chop festival. It sounds funny even, but business is taken seriously and the people here appreciate it a lot.  Caravans with the trucks of the costarives come from various areas of the USA and participate in festivals throughout North America. There is even competition of the best sauces, best rib and such, since they are produced (the sauces) artezanalmente and the chops are roasted with charcoal, firewood and gas, among the various groups of chops. Trophies are exhibited…

Last weekend we decided to dust off the body and re-visit Parliament and downtown Ottawa. Fact is that we had not walked there since last summer and despite the cold, the region is a must in the icy seasons too (which seem to never end…). Worshipping – even in the cold It's good to walk outdoors again… Just resting… Hi! Rideau Canal and Ottawa River in the background Rideau Canal – Already closed for skating – now only next year… Parliament Hill Rideau Canal – to the other side Canal da Mackenzie King Bridge Mirrored – Ottawa Convention Centre Hi! Bisou!

Source A few weeks ago we went to watch the Disney ice show over there in Ottawa. Disney on Ice – Rockin' Ever After. We were first apprehensive about how Alice would behave, since it's a show where she has to sit around watching and she's not in a quiet phase.  But overall, Alice loved it, especially Minnie, who is her favorite character. He also liked it when the rink was full of characters and the music was loud and lively. I wouldn't even look if there was only one or two skating. At halftime, we had to go in search of popcorn, because Mrs. Alice is a fan and…