I took a long weekend and went to Ottawa, Canada to visit my brother, sister-in-law and my 4-year-old niece. It's nice to get away for awhile, even if the weather isn't terrific. I always look forward to the entertaining antics of a four-year-old and shopping at Roots. Why is it that we are so often seized with the urge to shop when away from home? Even if the stores are different, most clothing is at least similar in style. Whenever I go to Ottawa, I must stop at the Roots clearance store, not far from their house. Roots is a Canadian clothing company which makes very nice sportswear and casual clothes. The prices at their clearance center are merely reasonable - nothing like the bargain basement prices at the Gap outlet. But, hey, its hard to find Roots here and there clothes generally are very nice and well made. But then, as I was packing for the trip, I found the Ikea gift card my sister-in-law had given me for Christmas. Since Cincinnati lacks an Ikea for the time being, we had to go shopping there, too. Reasonable enough since I don't otherwise have easy access to Ikea. (Yes, everything is available on the Internet, but its not the same.) But that was it! Ikea and Roots. I didn't come here to shop. Well P(my sister-in-law) had to return something at Winners - a Canadian TJ Maxx with slightly nicer stuff. So I browsed while she returned and found a lovely corduroy blazer. And since we were in the area she wanted to check Carriere for some new clothes for the office. Carriere is one of those stores where you go straight to the sale racks in the back. She didn't find anything, but I got a lovely pumpkin-colored wrap sweater.
On Monday I went downtown for the afternoon, intending to visit some museums, something else I seem to do more of on vacation than at home. The photography museum was temporarily closed due to construction but the exhibits were on display at the National Gallery for the time being. I vaguely remembered where the National Gallery was, but also thought that, since I'm in the nation's capital, if I walk around long enough I'm sure to run into a museum eventually. My instincts were right and past Revenue Canada (like the Canadian IRS) and the American Embassy, I came upon the National Gallery. I was a little put off by the giant sculpture of a spider in front, but started across the plaza anyway. But wait, what does that little sandwich board sign say? The National Gallery is closed on Mondays! My artsy, non-shopping, afternoon was not meant to be! Downtown Ottawa has a lovely shopping and entertainment area called The Market. In addition to farm and flower stands, there are casual dining places, souvenir shops, restaurants and boutique shopping. The latter category includes another favorite Canadian company, LUSH. (www.lush.com) Lush sells "fresh handmade cosmetics." They are really fresh. And rather than cosmetics its mostly soaps, shampoos, bath bombs and other yummy things I don't really need. And although I didn't need anything, of course I had to look, and looking leads to buying. I really did not come here to shop! Luckily, by the time I went into The Bay and the huge adjoining mall, I was no longer in the mood. The only thing I went into the bookstore for was a coffee (bookstores are really bad places for me to not shop) and it was time to go.
Besides hanging out with my family, my niece is soooo cute, travel to Ottawa is special in other ways. Returning to the US is easy since US Customs is located at the Ottawa airport and you clear it all before boarding the plane. This used to be an important timesaver when I had connecting flights but now, Delta flies direct from CVG to Ottawa. Thank You Delta and its new affiliate ASA! I love direct flights!
One more bit of travel advice from this trip...don't bring a snowglobe in your carry on bags. There is that whole restriction on liquids thing now, and it completely slipped my mind. Luckily, security, after consulting 3 other people, didn't think I was a threat and let me keep it. (FYI - it was a birthday gift from my niece to her grandpa.) Sometimes it pays to look so sweet and innocent.