Yesterday in Ottawa was a great day for Canadian-European integration when in the grounds of Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence, a celebration of winter took place. It was also a great day to be out there, with the temperature not too cold for once, although not above 0º. The Canadians and the European diplomats had got together to set up a whole range of activities for families to enjoy for free; no money changed hands, but there were horse drawn wagon rides up and down the driveway, giant Norwegian skis for teams of people to race on, kick-sleds and mini curling for the children, and best of all, dog-sled rides. At the entrance to the grounds by the visitors' centre the German Embassy had a "mini Brandenburger Tor" erected, made entirely out of ice, as the German Ambassador told me when I met him and his wife at the Kartoffelpuffer and Glühwein stall. The Swiss Embassy had conjured up an amazingly versatile Alphorn player, complete with a set of cowbells, and the Swedes were in charge of games of Bandy on Rideau Hall's 19th century ice rink. Carol and I were served to a cup of blueberry soup there, Blåbärssoppa, very warming.Here are some of the pictures I took:
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