Ottawa

Ottawa is a strange sort of place.  I imagine it's a bit like Canberra in that you sort of wander around it, wondering where the city actually IS.  Because there's no real reason for it to be there except politics, it feels like it's all suburbs apart from the Canadian Parliament buildings which are all very pretty.  Aside from that, we were distinctly unimpressed with the place.  The main reason we were there was to go to the Jazz/Blues festival anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.  And we got good weather for the festival and spent a pleasant afternoon under a tree, listening to the music, so I shan’t complain.

Other things we did while in Ottawa.  I bought the Weekly World News, because I feel it's my job to keep you informed of the Important News Stories.  This particular week it happened to be:  "Mom Stuck In Yoga Position for Six Hours", "Michigan Woman Has Space Alien Baby", "Caterpillars Ate Our Home" and "Jokester Chokes To Death On Goldfish".  All of which I think you'll find is much more cutting-edge and important than the G8 Conference where no-one choked to death on ANYTHING.

I also examined Canadian currency, on which Her Majesty looks a bit tired and shagged-out. 

I worry about the image the Queen projects throughout the world of currency.  It's no wonder they want to be a republic in Australia where she looks a right miserable old cow on all their notes.  In New Zealand, she looks like she's sat on something.  And in Fiji she just looks constipated.