OTTAWA, CANADA EXPEDITION!

I first heard about the Rideau Canal when I attended a tourism meeting in 2015, called BeinvenueQuebec (www.bienvenueqc.com).  On a more recent visit to Ottawa, Canada,  I was very thankful to "accidentally" come across the lower section of the Rideau Canal,  that leads into the Ottawa River, as I was coming off of Parliament Hill, and walking on the sidewalk of the Plaza Bridge.  The locks were right below me!

After scanning the landscape to see how to walk down beside it, I saw the sign near some  steps that led downwards, to a pedestrian area beside the canal.  After observing a person actually walk across the canal on top of one of the locks, my curious nature inspired me to do the same.  After a quick camera exchange with some other ladies venturing across, we snapped photos to prove we had been on the "cat walk" above the water.  Such a moment deserves to be remembered with arms uplifted to heaven, in gratitude!

We also took photos where we pretended to be working the hand crank, that operates the gates of the locks. 

The canal was an engineering "miracle" when it was completed over one hundred years ago, and as such, qualified to be named a World Heritage Site. 

The end of these canal locks empty into the Ottawa River

When one is at the bottom looking upward, you can see the famous Fairmont hotel, called Chateau Laurier on the left, and the Rideau Canal Museum, on the right.

The Chateau Laurier Hotel (shown below) is one of several built over a century ago, by railroad companies, with the goal of increasing use of their railway cars by tourists, taking the train to visit previously "hard to reach" scenic areas.  I have had the wonderful blessing of getting to visit several of these hotels across Canada.  My first was the Banff Springs Hotel, which my son and I visited when we attended the 1988 winter Olympics in the Calgary area.  A decade later, my husband and I enjoyed a Mother's Day Tea at Banff Springs Hotel.  The other historic, transportation-connected properties seen by me in person include: The Empress in Victoria, British Columbia; Chateau Lake Louise; Prince of Wales Hotel near Glacier National Park; Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City; Le Manor Richelier overlooking the St.

Lawrence River, and The Algonquin in New Brunswick,Canada.  I can imagine a future where transportation companies that want to encourage travel in outer space, will build magnificent, interstellar resorts to encourage space travel to "a galaxy far, far away" (as the famous Star Wars quote references)!!??  

For those interested in boat rides on waterways of Ottawa, several are available, as evidenced by the Captain's Wheel billboard beside the steps leading down to the water.   Imagine you were transported by a time machine, back one hundred years, and see this same billboard.  You know both the English and French languages, but the white squares with black scribbles in them would be very puzzling!  You can read the part of the sign that says "Scan", so you scan the entire sign with your eyes and full concentration, but still know very little about what the billboard is trying to communicate!

 

Fortunately, a walk beside the canal revealed the docking location of the two types of boats available, making it easier for a "time traveler" (or anyone else without a smart phone) to discern the ticket purchasing procedures/costs.

If a visitor is more inclined to include burning calories with their sightseeing, both kayaks and two-person foot-pedal boats are readily available for rental.  

 

Another way to navigate the Ottawa waters (as well as the city streets!) is the Amphibus (www.ladydive,com).   In 2015, at the BienvenueQuebec tourism conference, I visited at length with the lady involved in developing the Amphibus tours in Ottawa.  There were many "hoops to jump through" for approval, but any tourist in Ottawa will probably see their bright red vehicles around the city.

Earlier in the day, our group had started their Ottawa tour in a most appropriate way---inside a beautiful house of worship, called Notre-Dame Cathedral/Ottawa (www.notredameottawa.com).  It has a convenient location across from the National Gallery.  While there, it was a time to pray and reflect and give thanks, for the safe travel and magnificent weather, our group had experienced in Canada. 

From the Cathedral,  we continued a short distance to the beautiful grounds of Rideau Hall, where this familiar-looking "rock sculpture" was located. 

The photo above does not indicate its size, so photo below shows an actual human being, standing beside the structure. 

I had become familiar with design, because it was also the logo for the 2010 Olympics I attended in Vancouver, Canada.  The placard below describes in several ("languages"), that the Inuckshuk, represent the "Silent messengers of the Arctic."

A red maple leaf is the prominent feature of the Canadian national flag, so it is not surprising that the gardens of Rideau Hall had numerous maple trees (some even planted by U.S. government officials).  One of the maple leaves even "posed" for its photograph!

From our motorcoach I snapped this photo of the War Memorial Museum (www.warmuseum.ca) in Ottawa.  The windows on the side of the building represent the dots and dashes of the Morse Code, with a phrase to say, "Lest we forget".

Originally, Ottawa was named after Colonel John By, and the Byward Cafe is a reference to his name.

 

 

I happened to be in Ottawa on Orange Shirt Day (www.orangeshirtday.org), also called "National Day for Truth and Reconciliation", which is a national holiday in Canada.                                                               

In 2024, there was a special emphasis on remembering the children of First Nations people who had been sent away to boarding schools, but never returned home.

I was able to meet one of the First Nations government representatives, and have my photo made with her.

The event where I met her had several gourmet foods available, all with the goal of being a nod or tribute to the indigenous foods of the First Nations peoples.  

The squash cake was delicious.  The card beside it tells about its history.

The building below is on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  I read its design is called "civic gothic architecture".

The sacred fire is a custom among indigenous people of Canada.

Often when I am out doing photography, I am looking for images that will help me remember one of the memory verses for a healthy living program I participate in called First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com).  In Ottawa, I saw a bronze war memorial sculpture that included both old and new army weapons, and at the time I saw it, was framed by a metal fence, with a spear-point design.  That is the photo I am using for my memory verse from I Samuel 17:45, that says, David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." 

War memorials can be seen, not just in the city of Ottawa, but in locations across the globe, and usually express a hope, for peace in the time going forward.  The source of true, inner peace can be found on the pages of the Holy Bible.  Knowing how "HIS"story ends gives me a "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia

EUREKA SPRINGS EXPEDITION!

I took this photo of downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in 2017, during a recent summertime visit.  Except for the change in car models, its main street has looked mostly the same, for over 100 years.  Eureka Springs is a small town (population around 2,073 last census), in northwest Arkansas.  Native Americans and early settlers experienced medicinal healing from the numerous springs of the area, long before Dr. Alvah Jackson established a clinic in the area in 1850.  By the late 1870's, a busy resort had developed. You can learn more about the city's history and attractions, by visiting their website at www.eurekasprings.com or phone 800-638-7352. 

The arrival of the railroad in 1883 made the spa more accessible, and the sick and weary came from great distances to be healed.  Of course, all these people needed a place to stay, and this photo shows the historic 1905 Basin Park Hotel, that was built to accommodate the growing number of visitors to Eureka Springs.  I remember the first time to go inside this property was with my young son, when we were participating in an annual holiday tour, sponsored by the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce.  We learned that one of the unique features of the multi-story hotel, was that there was a "ground level" exit from each floor.  At the time, I was just learning to operate my new 35 mm SLR camera, so I persuaded my son to let me take his photo on the top floor, where the multi-colored stained glass windows that enclose the entire level,  provided colorful portrait lighting. The Basin Park Hotel ( www.basinpark.com ) continues to attract visitors, in part because of it being adjacent to its namesake, Basin Park.  I have fond memories of sitting in Basin Park, listening to live Blues music concerts, during the annual Eureka Springs Blues Festival. 

One of present-day medical benefits of visiting Eureka Springs, is the physical workout you will receive from traversing its numerous stairways!  I took this photo when I was with a local chapter of the American Volkssport Association ( www.ava.org ), as we followed a designated route that took us on a three-mile walking/stair climbing loop around the town. 

Many visitors to Eureka Springs, never venture out beyond the Main Street (Old Highway 62) that passes through the historic downtown.  However, if one has enough time, they can take a scenic drive on a road above the downtown, along the  east side of the town.  There you will find an overlook, where you can get a good view of the famous 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, as it sits atop the opposite mountain. 

I had the privilege of spending a couple of nights at the Crescent ( www.crescent-hotel.com ) while attending a tourism event recently.  A benefit of being a guest in their hotel, is the opportunity to enjoy the many amenities they offer, including the regular early morning "power walks", led by the Activities Director, Mary Howze, shown in this photo.  It was fun to talk to her about growing up locally in Carroll County, Arkansas, and her passion for encouraging folks to get outdoors.  In fact, she is part of an endeavor called "Outdoor Adventures for Women" (  www.OutdoorAdventuresforWomen.com ) that sponsors outdoor activities for both local, and out-of-state adventurers. 

Another free amenity the hotel offers takes guests throughout the hotel and grounds, to tell them the highlights of its historic past.  This photo shows our tour guide, and two of the other tour participants, on the expansive front porch of the Crescent. 

Our tour guide told us that the stone-covered walk shown in the photo, would have been the route taken by hotel guests of the 1880's, as they emerged from their horse-drawn carriages, and faced the impressive east facade of the Crescent Hotel.

Of course, this was long before the days of air conditioning, so a comfortable and breezy porch would have been a must. 

This photo shows me at one of tourist-type telescopes, located on an upper balcony.  Another one of my memories from Eureka Springs from decades ago, is coming to this balcony floor of the Crescent Hotel, to hear Eureka Springs infamous "Singing Sheriff" perform.  His unusual antics had been featured on nationally broadcast talk shows of the time, so I was delighted to get to hear and see his performance in person!

From the upper balconies, one has a nice view of the manicured grounds that contribute to the beauty of the property.  I was compelled to take this photo, because, although the C and H stand for Crescent Hotel, it is also the initials of my sister-in-law!

The ornate fireplace in the lobby is special to me, because of memories it brings back of taking my grandsons to visit Eureka Springs, when they were in college, at nearby Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Grandson Ryan took photos of the fireplace, which he posted on Instagram.  This required a quick "tutoring session" for his Grandma, who had no idea how to use the then new, photosharing social media site.  (He went on to finish college, and is now working as a professional photographer---so it turns out Instagram has been an appropriate platform, for him to hone his visual imaging techniques!)

Adjacent to the Crescent Hotel is the St. Elizabeth Church ( www.stelizabethar.org ).  You can read its complete history on their website, but it is noteworthy that its location next to the hotel, goes back to the fact that it was the spot where the hotel owner of the time, last saw his mother standing, as he embarked on a trip away from Eureka Springs.  The church is unusual in that it is entered through the bell tower.  Along the walkway are the Stations of the Cross.  A prayer garden at the side of the church provides a good view of the "Christ of the Ozarks" statue across the valley. 

A somewhat new feature of the Crescent Hotel campus, is that it serves as the trail head, for recently completed trails through the woods, that will eventually traverse the entire downtown area.  When I visited, the trails were well maintained and well marked. 

If you prefer paved sidewalks to hiking trails, there is access from the parking lot of the St. Elizabeth church, to a route that will eventually get you to the downtown area at the base of the mountain. 

No visit to Eureka Springs is complete without a visit to The Great Passion Play ( www.greatpassionplay.org ).  It depicts the days leading to Christ's death, followed by the resurrection and the ascension. 

The 550-foot stage represents the streets of Jerusalem, at the time of Christ. 

If you want the COMPLETE passion play experience, you can arrange for a backstage tour, which will give you the opportunity to see the back side of the stage set, as well as the barn area, where the live animals used in the performance are housed. 

These youngsters, dressed in appropriate costumes for the evening,  were assisting as ushers before the performance.  They were very obliging when I asked for a photograph.  When I was posting on Facebook the evening that I attended the outdoor drama, one of my friends commented that she had been a part of the play when she was a child, and she said it was an experience she will never forget.  Considering how many years The Great Passion Play has been in operation, I can imagine there are hundreds of folks who have felt its impact because they were a part of the cast. 

When my father was hospitalized near the end of his life, and I was visiting with him about various aspects of his life, he told me one of the few regrets he had, was that he had never attended The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs.   Sadly, at that point in his life, he was too sick to arrange for his making the trip to see the play.  I felt guilty that I did not know about his wish earlier, so that I could have taken him to see it.  Therefore, when I heard about the "Save-A-Seat" fundraising campaign of The Great Passion Play, I knew I wanted to make arrangements to have a plaque put on a seat, in memory of my father. ( For a donation of $100 - $1000, you can have a seat designated with some one's name.  The play is a 501-3c organization, so all donations are tax deductible.)

The seat named in memory of my father  is in Section D, Row 6, Seat 25.  I want to thank Kent Butler for sending me this photo of the plaque, and the wide angle photo of the entire theater below:

The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, is America's #1 attended outdoor drama, and I am very thankful that I live close enough to be one of the fortunate people who helped give it that honor. 

The final scene of the Great Passion Play is Jesus' ascension into heaven.  Though his death on the cross, and subsequent resurrection from death, sin was conquered.  Likewise, WE can be conquerors, if we accept Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.   I am using the images I have fixed in my mind of The Great Passion Play, as my visual aid to learn my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse that says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  Romans 8:37.  Such divine assurance gives me "Miles of Smiles"!    Tricia

MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE EXPEDITION!

Being  from a small town in rural Arkansas, I probably would have never heard of this place, if it hadn't been for a phone call from my sister several years ago, that she made to me while sitting on the magnificent covered veranda of the resort. ( She was taken there by the daughter of her traveling companion, who lived just a short distance from the resort.)  After my sister described what an incredible location it was,( and with much consternation over the spelling of the word), a "Google" search started my quest to see this place in person.  The first step in my "Mohonk Quest" research was to check out their official website, www.Mohonk.com .

I learned that the resort was started in 1869 by two Quaker twin brothers, Alfred and Albert Smiley.  This photo shows the Skytower overlooking the resort, that is also called the Smiley Tower.  The area is part of the Shawangunk Ridge (also called "The Gunks"), and consists of a ridge of bedrock that forms a section of the Appalachian Mountains.  It is located 90 miles north of New York City, near the town of New Paltz, and on the west side of the Hudson River.  In fact, the Shawangunk Ridge around Lake Mohonk was a popular subject of several Hudson River School of painters.   

The rustic A-shaped pavilion provides a transitional space between the lodging facilities, and the marina area, where you can use the canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards to cruise around the lake.  It is unlikely you will get lost on the lake, as it is just half a mile long, and relatively shallow, at 60 feet deep. 

This side of the hotel looks out over the Catskill Mountain Range, while the opposite side looks out over the lake.  As you can see, many of the rooms have balconies.  The edifice, sometimes described as a "Victorian Castle" has been the backdrop for many television and movie stories.  One of the Mohonk film credits is from the 1994 movie The Road to Wellville and  it caught my eye because of its subject matter.  It is about the hilarious situations that occur at a health sanitarium that the Kellogg family built in Battle Creek, Michigan, about one hundred years ago.  The reason it was significant to me, is because I got to visit that REAL sanitarium in Michigan that the movie is based on, and wrote about it (along with lots of photos!) on this blog.  You can find it in my blog archives with the date of August 25, 2012.

Inside the lobby, you will see many displays of historical interest.  The model shown in this photo gave me a "bird's eye" view of how the property was laid out, in relation to the lake and surrounding landscape. 

This was one of the most unusual and beautiful stone arches I have ever seen, because of the large, unsymmetrical nature of the stones.  It made a graceful frame for the lush grounds surrounding the lake.  Because of the Smileys' love for the outdoor life, the area around the hotel was treated as an integral part of the attractions of the resort. 

Much of this area was planned as an experiment in conservation of the natural environment, and as an educational tool for the study of botany, geology, and outdoor living. 

The calm waters of the lake make it an excellent location to practice your SUP (Stand-up Paddleboarding) skills!  

There are many miles of hiking trails on the resort property, and the surrounding Mohonk Preserve .  The Mohonk Preserve is New York State's largest visitor and member supported natural preserve, with 8,000 acres of protected cliffs, forest, fields, ponds, and streams. 

I happened to be visiting the week of Independence Day, so there were plenty of patriotic banners decorating the grounds.  The guestbook of the Mohonk House includes many  U.S. Presidents, so it is very fitting to pay tribute to our nation's signing of the Declaration of Independence, at a location where so many presidents have slept!

For those who were not familiar with the history of the Mohonk Mountain House, this timeline provided explanations and photographs of its origins.  The fact that it was founded by Quakers, a Christian movement with a basis in the belief of the Priesthood of all believers (from I Peter 2:9), and conscientious objectors to military service, might have played a factor in the role that the Smiley family played in the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.  The Quakers were also very concerned about the well-being of Native Americans and from 1883-1916 was the location of an annual conference to improve the living standards of American Indians.  Albert Smiley was part of the U.S. Commission on Indian Affairs, and hosted the conference each year.  When I read about the Quaker's concern for Native Americans, and also that one of the first "satellite" Quaker missions was in Oregon, it made me understand a statement from an elderly cousin I had who lived in Oregon.  He told me that as a young man, he was influenced by the Quakers he knew, who had come to his rural area of Oregon to minister to the Indians there.  Up until my cousin told me that story, I had mostly associated the Quakers with Pennsylvania. 

Before I ever arrived at Mohonk House, I had read about their magnificent gardens, so visiting them was a priority for my time at the resort, and I was not disappointed!  The round sphere that reminds one of the shape of the earth, with all its diverse nations that make it up, is a reminder to mention that in 1994, the Mohonk House received the U.N. Environment Program Award in honor of 125 years of stewardship of their little section of our beautiful earth! 

There are several acres of formal gardens, so it is nice to have park benches placed throughout the grounds, for the purpose of resting and meditation.

Even though there was a fine mist falling when I was visiting the gardens, it did not keep the families away from exploring the area!

I have visited many formal gardens, but I do not recall ever seeing an all- stone sentry tower as beautiful as this one. 

I once participated in a photography seminar where the leader asked each of us in the class, "Why do you take pictures?"  There were many interesting responses, and one person said, "to prove I have been to a particular place."  I think that is why "selfies" are so popular---people want to "prove" they have been to a certain place, or been by the side of a famous celebrity.  So here is my "selfie", to prove I was successful in my "Mohonk Quest"!!  And I want to assure you, it was not easy!  When I read the room rates on the Internet, I knew there was no way I was going to devote that much of my travel budget for a hotel room, so I started looking at other options.  I read that one can buy a hiking pass for the grounds, but it does not allow you to set foot inside the hotel or in the lake; however, I decided the hiking pass was my best option.   I had read that if one does not get to the parking lot very early, you might not even be able to buy a hiking pass, because the numbers sold are limited to a designated quota.  I had also read that the hotel was a bit remote, and sometimes difficult for "newbies" to find.  For that reason, I decided to do a "trial run" of finding the place, as soon as I arrived in New Paltz, New York, after two days straight of driving from Arkansas.  It was getting late in the afternoon, but after a few wrong turns, I found myself at the entrance gate, with a smiling Mohonk staff member, clipboard in hand, waiting to find my name on their guest list.  I literally begged the young woman to allow me to go in and have supper at the hotel, since it was too late to buy a hiking pass. I explained how I had just driven in all the way from Arkansas, and I wanted with all my heart to see this famous "American Castle" I had heard so much about!   She called her supervisor to see if they could make such an exception.   I did not know what the outcome would be, but I had determined that no matter what the meal cost, I was going to "bite the bullet" and pay it, so that I could see inside!

By the grace of God (and after a check of my photo I.D, and running my credit card through their system), they allowed me to purchase a supper meal ticket, saying they had space for me, since it was a week night.  The price of the buffet meal was $86.  Granted, it is the most I have ever paid for a buffet ( unless you count the $100 per plate charity  fund-raising affairs I sometimes attend)!  My frugal mindset of "eat enough to get your money's worth" was battling against my knowledge that if I ate too much, too fast, my medical history of reactive hypoglycemia might kick in, and cause me to pass out, amongst a roomful of startled strangers!  I kept reminding myself of the "Mindful Eating" practices I had learned from reading the blog by one of the family members of the hotel's founding Smiley family---Dr. Nina Smiley---who teaches extensively on the topic of Mindful Eating( www.mohonkmountainhousemindfulness.com ).  As a Registered Dietitian, I have shared some of her behavior tips with the healthy living class I lead, called First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com  ).  I am pleased to report that the food was delightful, the view of the Catskill mountains from the dining room was magnificent, and the wait staff treated me like royalty!  This reference to being "treated like royalty" reminds me of one of the commentaries I read about the I Peter 2:9 verse I mentioned earlier, as being a founding principle of those of the Quaker Faith (also called "Friends").  "But you are a chosen people, a ROYAL priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  I find it reassuring to read that the Bible says that Christ-followers truly are "ROYALTY"!!   (By the way, I ate very mindfully, and hence DID NOT pass out!  YEA!)

 

This relaxing veranda on the west side of the hotel is a popular place to "rock out" any stress and frustrations that may be weighing down guests.  Since it is located just 90 miles north of the bustling, crowded, stress-filled streets of Manhattan, I can understand why people are willing to pay so much money to come stay at the Mohonk Mountain House.  It was a reminder to me that the time I spend in the serenity of my own back porch in the Ozark Mountains of  Arkansas, is priceless, and makes me much more appreciative of it!

I knew that it would be a little risky driving the narrow mountain road back to New Paltz after dark, dodging deer that might run out in front of me.  However, I did not want to miss a single moment of daylight, as I completed my "Mohonk Quest".  The pink hues of the evening sky were the last photographs I took during my visit to Mohonk Mountain House.  My visit there gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!