A change in latitude, does wonders to my attitude.

Montreal is the sophisticated sibling in contrast to plain, proper Ottawa. Here skyscrapers rule the skies and underneath your feet, a sprawling underground city.   We stayed at the Hotel Omni Mont Royal right on the Golden Square Mile, right where the action was. Corporations and big name retail stores, coffee places, restaurants, churches, gothic style buildings, parks, monuments and Canada's Hudson Bay Department store all crammed in this area.  At the upper side of Mont royal is the Mcgill University campus attracting a diverse nationality of students. There is that youthful, dynamic and always-learning vibe of university towns which i find interesting. Further seawards is the historic downtown, Latin quarters, port area and Chinatown. As an introduction to this dynamic city, our first dinner was at the Place Ville Marie Observatory. This hip & happening bistro was teeming with young adults under 35 years. I was wondering how youngsters could afford to eat at suc

view from across the Rideau River Friends reacted with disbelief when i said that we will be in Ottawa and Montreal  in December. These cities are notorious for temperatures dipping to minus 20 or more. Plus the wind chill blowing over from the poles, you'll better be adequately dressed. Out came my thick down-filled parka, woolies, cashmere wrap, gloves and a newly purchased fur trimmed water proof boots to face the cold fury. Like most people visiting a city for the first time, I consulted Tripadvisor on where to dine in Ottawa and found a list of coffee places and restaurants. Our hotel was situated in the business district on Albert Street, a Delta Hotel by the Marriot group. Scone and blueberry Jam On the first day of arrival, I was feeling peckish and our driver recommended "Good Eats" which was right across our hotel. I entered the shack-like cafe, half ready to turn around and leave, when I saw  the kitchen buzzing with workers preparing sandwiche