Discussion
happygoron said:
Any PHers in Ottawa, or know much about the place? Looks like I will be moving there early next year for a job and wondering what the area is like. Apoart from cold, I've already learnt that!
Guilty. What sort of thing are you looking for?Ottawa itself is a fairly straightforward government city. The downtown core is fairly small with most things easily accessible on foot - I can walk up the canal into the Byward Market (Bars and restaurants) from my place in around 15 minutes. I try to get over to Quebec fairly often and visit Gatineau Park, the local National Park. There's some good hiking in the summer, and skiing in the winter. There's a good selection of museums, as you'd expect with a capital city. I recommend the aviation museum out towards the east end of the city.
Ottawa doesn't really have the metropolitan lifestyle of Toronto, nor the culture of Montreal, but there's a lot of things happening - you just need to know where to look!
Being PH, I should also mention Calabogie Motorsports Park is around 40 minutes from the city. I try to get out there a few weekends a year to watch some racing (plus, there's some decent driving roads out there). I have yet to drive the track, but it's on my list!
Oh, and it snowed on my drive to work this morning.
Cheers for the replies.
It looks a pretty nice area to live. Will be based rothwell area so looking for nice areas to rent a 1-2 bed place near to there. Beacon hill looks nice but slim pickings renal wise. Can you reccomend any good websites to look for rentals from? I've heard that nightlife wise it's a bit of a poor relation to toronto/montreal but I can cope with that. Can't see myself getting a car till I've been there a bit, won't be top of my list, what's public transport like?
It looks a pretty nice area to live. Will be based rothwell area so looking for nice areas to rent a 1-2 bed place near to there. Beacon hill looks nice but slim pickings renal wise. Can you reccomend any good websites to look for rentals from? I've heard that nightlife wise it's a bit of a poor relation to toronto/montreal but I can cope with that. Can't see myself getting a car till I've been there a bit, won't be top of my list, what's public transport like?
happygoron said:
Any PHers in Ottawa, or know much about the place? Looks like I will be moving there early next year for a job and wondering what the area is like. Apoart from cold, I've already learnt that!
For many years, I have spent 4 months on the right hand side of the Atlantic and most of the rest near Ottawa. I will never get used to the dampness in the UK and Ireland. THAT is cold!The weather is changing in eastern Canada. We just had the most magnificent summer I can remember. 25-30C right through September,(sun almost every day for months). But the winters are becoming way too mild, killing that tourist season. Snow is not dependable any more.
Ottawa is a cute town...or by UK standards, a good sized city of 1.2 million. Like the rest of eastern Canada, there is little or no violence and you and yours are safe anywere at any time. Canada has not been hit by the world recession (much) and Ottawa, the nation's capital, has always been recession-proof. It is very hard to lose money on a house bought in Ottawa.
As you saw, it is a pretty place. Lovely with the Parliament Buildings and all the musuems overlooking the mighty Ottawa river (which loses a lot of width there). On other side of the river you quickly access Hull, Ottawa's sister city on the Quebec side. Ottawa is in Ontario..which has long been referred to by Quebecers as "Ontario the Good". Limited hours and even tabu days for liquor sales, etc but things are loosening up a bit. But Quebec has always been known as the Canadian party province. The best dining, bars, bistros, entertainment in Ottawa are to be found in Hull. Quebec ladies make you feel you are too young forever.
Ottawa is surrounded by many suburbs. Clean, safe and boring..routes in and out of the city are good. Ottawa's weekend playground and country retreats are all found in Quebec, mostly in the little Gatineau mountain region. If you go east enough, you reach the kntertnational resort of Mont Tremblant. Montreal, a fabulous San Francisco-like city is 2 hours away by car. Toronto, a city very much a US-clone, is about 5 hours south west. However, Toronto is where Ottawa's decisions are made. (Both of Canada's largest cities are safer than any English urban center...so not to worry.)
There are a few British car clubs in Ottawa..but for the closest vintage and prestige racing, you will have to drive to Le Circuit Mont Tremblant or the Grand Prix in Montreal
Need anything else?
P.
Edited by plushuit on Saturday 17th November 21:11
2nd coldest capital city in the world!!
i lived there for 18 months in the west end. I never had the misfortune to have to use public transit thanks to a company car. but the 417 in rush hour is a joke, coming from England, you'll be used to traffic haha. the French can be extremely rude to you if you do not speak their bastardised version of French
, but on the other hand, on a stat, or holiday , you can nip across the boarder into QC to a Macs or grocery store and buy booze...(i ran out on xmas day) something i miss having moved back to BC.
ottawa is what you make of it, there isn't a whole bunch to do, but do everything at least once like I did. also, its bloody hot in the summer!!
i lived there for 18 months in the west end. I never had the misfortune to have to use public transit thanks to a company car. but the 417 in rush hour is a joke, coming from England, you'll be used to traffic haha. the French can be extremely rude to you if you do not speak their bastardised version of French
, but on the other hand, on a stat, or holiday , you can nip across the boarder into QC to a Macs or grocery store and buy booze...(i ran out on xmas day) something i miss having moved back to BC.ottawa is what you make of it, there isn't a whole bunch to do, but do everything at least once like I did. also, its bloody hot in the summer!!
mickydub said:
the French can be extremely rude to you if you do not speak their bastardised version of French , but on the other hand, on a stat, or holiday , you can nip across the boarder into QC to a Macs or grocery store and buy booze...(i ran out on xmas day) something i miss having moved back to BC. ottawa is what you make of it, there isn't a whole bunch to do, but do everything at least once like I did.
From the tenor of your post, you must be western Canadian...or mid-west American. , but on the other hand, on a stat, or holiday , you can nip across the boarder into QC to a Macs or grocery store and buy booze...(i ran out on xmas day) something i miss having moved back to BC. ottawa is what you make of it, there isn't a whole bunch to do, but do everything at least once like I did.Anything "to do" in Ottawa is on the other side of the river in Hull, Quebec or much better still, in glorious Montreal.
I am one of those people whose mother tongue is that "bastardised version of French", so God knows what that makes my brother, my sisters and I for you. I used to speak the France version of French when there...they were as intolerant of accents as you are but only up to a decade ago. Quebecois French sounded Alsatian to them. However, a Quebecois accent has now become an incredible ice-breaker everywhere we go, including Paris! I am even guuilty of exagerrating it a bit when there, like an Aussie abroad!
Edited by plushuit on Sunday 16th December 12:21
plushuit said:
From the tenor of your post, you must be western Canadian...or mid-west American.
Anything "to do" in Ottawa is on the other side of the river in Hull, Quebec or much better still, in glorious Montreal.
I am one of those people whose mother tongue is that "bastardised version of French", so God knows what that makes my brother, my sisters and I for you. I used to speak the France version of French when there...they were as intolerant of accents as you are but only up to a decade ago. Quebecois French sounded Alsatian to them. However, a Quebecois accent has now become an incredible ice-breaker everywhere we go, including Paris! I am even guuilty of exagerrating it a bit when there, like an Aussie abroad!
yep, i am from westen Canada, but also English (ahem) further to this, i am actually learning to speak French lol. Anything "to do" in Ottawa is on the other side of the river in Hull, Quebec or much better still, in glorious Montreal.
I am one of those people whose mother tongue is that "bastardised version of French", so God knows what that makes my brother, my sisters and I for you. I used to speak the France version of French when there...they were as intolerant of accents as you are but only up to a decade ago. Quebecois French sounded Alsatian to them. However, a Quebecois accent has now become an incredible ice-breaker everywhere we go, including Paris! I am even guuilty of exagerrating it a bit when there, like an Aussie abroad!
Edited by plushuit on Sunday 16th December 12:21
i actually used to exaggerate my English accent to strike up convo with people when abroad.
mickydub said:
yep, i am from westen Canada, but also English (ahem) further to this, i am actually learning to speak French lol.
After the opinon you have expressed, I will not inquire which french you have chosen to learn (there are as many accents and dialects in french as there are english). However, be aware that the french spoken in urban France has sadly become a mélange with anglo-american english, something not a factor elsewhere in the franco-phone world. There are lists of anglicisms the urban French use found on the internet. The concern for the state of the language in France has been addressed in their Assemblée nationale on a number of occasions and language legislation is inevitable...once they move past the shoulder shrugs.
Choose the french you learn wisely..I have always been partial to Brussels or Quebec City french. P.
Well I'm in Ottawa now! Arrived yesterday. Weather not too bad really, not that cold now, though lots of snow left from last week I understand. Looking for flats and trying to set up all the essentials. Everything here is similar enough to the uk to lull you into a false sense of security! Am staying by the market area for the next few days, lots of building going on. if anyone fancies a drink say!
happygoron said:
Well I'm in Ottawa now! Arrived yesterday. Weather not too bad really, not that cold now, though lots of snow left from last week I understand. Looking for flats and trying to set up all the essentials. Everything here is similar enough to the uk to lull you into a false sense of security! Am staying by the market area for the next few days, lots of building going on. if anyone fancies a drink say!
Based on what I heard tonight there should be a fair amount of snow hitting you in the next 48 hours - it's at Chicago now and will follow the Great Lakes.It will show you how well set up Canada is to deal with the snow, but also give you a fairer reflection of what winter really is like in Ontario.
Welcome, OP! Unfortunately you have missed Winterlude, and the canal is no longer skate-able, but we have some gorgeous weather this weekend. I feel a trip out to Gatineau park is in order tomorrow.
I am, of course, always available for a pint. I'm based a short walk from the market, near to the university.
I am, of course, always available for a pint. I'm based a short walk from the market, near to the university.
GavinPearson said:
Based on what I heard tonight there should be a fair amount of snow hitting you in the next 48 hours - it's at Chicago now and will follow the Great Lakes.
It will show you how well set up Canada is to deal with the snow, but also give you a fairer reflection of what winter really is like in Ontario.
I am constantly amazed by how well set up Canada is for winter. Walking back from the pub in the early hours and seeing queues of trucks carting away snow is quite the sight.It will show you how well set up Canada is to deal with the snow, but also give you a fairer reflection of what winter really is like in Ontario.
Hey, may well take you up on that pint next week sometime if you're about. Good to meet new faces.
Just rented a flat not that far from you, towards the Rideau river, moving in tomorrow. Start work on monday, perfect timing!
This snow seems to be melting fairly quick, been a beautiful day today. Everybody says I'd be pretty unlucky to see any more serious snow this winter.
Just rented a flat not that far from you, towards the Rideau river, moving in tomorrow. Start work on monday, perfect timing!
This snow seems to be melting fairly quick, been a beautiful day today. Everybody says I'd be pretty unlucky to see any more serious snow this winter.
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