Things I learned in Ottawa

Hello Gentle Reader(s)

The usual gaps between posts, but I am currently filling time at Pearson Airport in Toronto (Terminal 1), so thought I would send some random thoughts out to the ether.

Things I learned on this business trip to Ottawa:

1) The Parliament Buildings are pretty neat to look at.
2) Capital Hill isn't much of a hill - more like the top of a river valley.
3) The Parliament Buildings tour is free, but it is worth what you pay for it.
4) The Library of Parliament is a spectacular room
5) Going to watch a House of Commons debate involving 8 MPs is dull
6) The Rideau Canal is kind of interesting. The Ottawa Locks that lead from the river to the Canal are very interesting.
7) Apart from the obvious tourist-y stuff, Ottawa is not that interesting
8) The Canada Council for the Arts has a great meeting room - first time I ever had to turn on a microphone for my involvement in a discussion
9) There are a bunch of very clever, articulate folks who work for arts funding agencies from around the country
10) Simultaneous Translation/Interpretation sounds like a great idea, but doesn't work terribly well in practice when discussing subtle and potentially controversial topics.
11) My French is adequate to some things, but not for discussing subtle and potentially controversial topics. (No wonder Canadians don't understand each other in a national context sometimes!)
12) Air Canada has invested in some Embraer (see here also) Aircraft that are pretty swanky... Bombardier might be the local option, but these things beat out the Canadian Regional Jets hands down.
13) Don't ever pay a 'non refundable' rate at a hotel when travelling on business...

Best,

Steve