The World's Largest Skating Rink

There are many places in Ottawa that the whole family can have fun time together. One of them is Rideau Canal. In winter time it turns into a skateway, the world’s largest skating rink. One can skate through the heart of downtown Ottawa on the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Skateway is 7.8 kilometres long, and begins just steps from Canada’s Parliament Buildings. I love walking along the canal and "on" the canal, watching people gliding their way through.

More of my Rideau Canal photos can be seen here: http://lazynui.multiply.com/photos/album/48

Winterlude Week 3

During the second week of Winterlude festival, the temperature went up for few days. It was warm enough for the festival ground to be closed temporarily, and many of the ice sculptures were melting away. Although I knew that these sculptures would melt one day, I was still sad to see them go away so soon. Some of the sculptures' basic structures were still there but without details left.

More of my Winterlude photos can be found here: http://lazynui.multiply.com/photos/album/47/WInterlude_2011

CSI Ottawa

Right in downtown Ottawa, a collision between a pedestrian and a dump truck took place at around lunch time. The man was trapped underneath the truck and pronounced dead in a hospital slightly later. The roads were blocked for almost the whole afternoon for polices' investigation. I felt sad walking past the scene. Accidents could happen anywhere and anytime, sometimes it so close to you without you even realize it. Be alert, be aware and be prepared. Take care of yourself and people around you. RIP mr. pedestrian.

A Giant Slide at Jacques-Cartier Park

Winterlude festival is such a fun event for the whole family. I really like the giant snow playground at Jacques-Cartier Park which is North America’s largest snow playground! It is a pity that the second week of the festival the temperature went up for few days. It was warm enough to melt away many of the ice sculptures and caused the snow park to close for many days. More of my Winterlude photos can be found here http://lazynui.multiply.com/photos/album/47/WInterlude_2011.

Frozen Locks

The Ottawa Locks connect the channel of the Rideau Canal in Ottawa to the Ottawa River, almost 80 ft. (24.4 m) below. These locks represent an amazing engineering achievement in the middle of the Canadian wilderness of the early 19th century.

More photos can be found here http://lazynui.multiply.com/photos/album/46/Ottawa_Gray_Day.

Dripping

After seeing many icicles from neighbours, finally we see them also from our own balcony. They are melting away as sun shines directly to them. Pity! I wish I could keep them hanging there for the whole winter...

Winterlude Ceremony

The opening of Winterlude festival on Feb. 4th was spectacular, especially fireworks on Alexandra bridge. The festival lasts for 3 weeks and is filled with excitement and activities, e.g.  glittering ice carvings, snow sculptures and a gigantic snow playground. Come to celebrate the joys of winter together!

More photos can be seen here http://lazynui.multiply.com/photos/album/45/Winterlude_opening_2011.

First snow storm of 2011

The first snow storm of 2011 in Ottawa was not as bad as media announced. Somebody said they did a pretty good "snowjob" to bring everybody's anxiety levels up.