Ottawa - Rideau Canal Kayak, National Art Gallery and Zorba the Greek Fest!

After yesterday's sad news of Sophie passing away, we needed to keep our minds occupied. We started the day with a kayak on the canal right out our campsite, enjoying nature and the beautiful setting. Rideau Canal locks 12 & 13 are a stones throw away.

Rideau Canal locks 12 & 13

Vimy Memorial Bridge

On the way into Ottawa, we cross the Vimy Memorial Bridge, built to honor World War 1 troops who captured the strategically important Vimy Ridge.  

National Art Gallery of Canada

For the afternoon we decided to visit the National Art Gallery of Canada, our last trip into downtown Ottawa. While it had an impressive collection, the display isn't really our style though we thought it would be good for us!

Favorite display - VVG Iris from 1890

Oddest display :)

Colorful building in ByWard Market

We do another walk through the ByWard Market area and into the big Rideau Center mall but we are still very emotional and not in the mood for this sort of thing, so we exit quite quickly.

Odyssey Dance Troupe

Next stop was the 50th Anniversary Greek Fest, just south of downtown and our way back to camp. Lots of good food and a very festive atmosphere. We watch a few different Greek dance groups including the local Greek Odyssey Dance Troupe, a performing group for the Hellenic Community of Ottawa. 

Useful Greek phrases to use at a Greek Fest! 

Yeia sou “Yah-Soo” (Γειά σου) – Hello.

Andio (αντίο) – Goodbye.

Parakalo (Παρακαλώ) – Please/You're welcome.

Efharisto (Ευχαριστώ) – Thank you

Yamas (Στην υγειά μας!) – Cheers!

Opa!

Zorba The Greek dancers

It's definitely a vibrant festival and we have great seats so we decide to stay for the last performance of the evening - "Zorba The Greek dancers." They are a high-energy display of Greek culture, dancing and plate breaking. The show has crowd interaction, fire and a lot of Ouzo shots. Even some smoking of cigars...lol

To top the evening off, the interactive finale has us all doing a Greek line dance...

The evening was a great distraction for us, just what we needed. On the way back to our campsite, we get a view of Vimy Memorial Bridge at night. 

Sophie - RIP

Once we get back to the RV we sit on the dock and raise a glass to Sophie. 

Just before we head in for the night, I take a moment to walk out onto the end of the dock. It's pretty clouded in but I look up and ask Sophie to give me a sign she's out there. Oddly, a lone star emerges encircled by clouds. I know that little pup is up there running around like the wind, stealing sticks from other dogs, just like she always did to her brother Barley.  You will always be in our hearts Sophie.