One thing I noticed after moving to Ottawa was how keen Canadians here are about winter sports and activities, no matter how freezing cold the temperature is outside. Ice skating, skiing, and snowshoeing are some of the most popular activities, but in my own experience, the most hilarious is definitely sledding down a hill coveredContinue reading “15 great spots to go sledding in Ottawa”
Category Archives: ottawa
Where to study English or French in Ottawa
For many immigrants who come to Ottawa, mastering the English language is a must. If a newcomer doesn’t have an advanced level, they will need to look for a language school to fill in any gaps in order to succeed in the job market. In the case the newcomer speaks good English but doesn’t knowContinue reading “Where to study English or French in Ottawa”
OTTAWA: Q & A
In the past few years, Ottawa has caught the attention of many people as an interesting place to move to, in part due to good job opportunities, and because of relatively affordable housing. That’s why Ottawa has grown a lot in recent years, and many of its residents are people who have arrived from otherContinue reading “OTTAWA: Q & A”
Exploring Britannia: history, beach, and nature in the west of Ottawa
The first time I ended up in Britannia, it was by chance. We were driving back home from the west and we took one street that led us to a charming neighborhood, with beautiful old, very well-kept houses surrounded by big, leafy trees. A sign said: “Britannia Village.” We kept wandering and eventually we cameContinue reading “Exploring Britannia: history, beach, and nature in the west of Ottawa”
Ottawa vs Gatineau: where to live?
Living in the National Capital Region has an advantage: a person has access to two cities, two cultures, and two languages, as if they were one. It’s as if Ottawa in Ontario, and Gatineau in Quebec, were Siamese twins, indivisible. And that is because they have a symbiotic relationship. What would Ottawans do if theyContinue reading “Ottawa vs Gatineau: where to live?”
Hintonburg: Ottawa’s hipster neighborhood
The first time I was in Hintonburg it was a rainy day. I really couldn’t see much but as I lived that time in the East end of Ottawa, I never had the excuse or the curiosity to come back. What a mistake. In the past month I have rediscovered Hintonburg. What I found isContinue reading “Hintonburg: Ottawa’s hipster neighborhood”
Moving in Ottawa: our experience
I hate moves. The last time I moved was when I came to Ottawa with my family. Disassembling our house in Lima was a huge job. I remember hours and hours of piling up things, putting them in boxes, discarding things, putting them in the garbage, giving them away or selling them. After almost threeContinue reading “Moving in Ottawa: our experience”
Major’s Hill: Ottawa’s loveliest park
During my first year living in Ottawa, I spent a lot of time home alone while my husband was at work and my kids at school. To avoid boredom, I sometimes ventured downtown alone by bus. I liked my walks downtown, but my Canadian husband always asked me what I found so interesting downtown ifContinue reading “Major’s Hill: Ottawa’s loveliest park”
A fresh guide to help know Ottawa’s neighborhoods (Part Two)
For many decades, Ottawa had the air of a small town. Basically, the city consisted of downtown and the closest neighborhoods like the Glebe, Sandy Hill, Old Ottawa South, and Old Ottawa East. Ottawans used to have the feeling that they all knew each other. But things changed once nearby towns like Vanier, Gloucester, OrleansContinue reading “A fresh guide to help know Ottawa’s neighborhoods (Part Two)”
A fresh guide to help know Ottawa’s neighbourhoods
Very soon it will be three years since I moved to Ottawa from Lima in Peru, and I must confess that I still sometimes find it difficult to get around the city without an app like Google Maps or Waze. I recognize my own neighborhood and its main streets and avenues, but there are stillContinue reading “A fresh guide to help know Ottawa’s neighbourhoods”