This Ottawa getaway includes three nights’ accommodation at the iconic Lord Elgin Hotel, downtown Ottawa. The Lord Elgin Hotel is a historic gem in Ottawa, offering not just a place to stay but an experience steeped in elegance and charm. Its prime location places guests within walking distance of some of the city’s most iconic landmarks and attractions. Locally owned and operated and with a legacy of hospitality spanning over eight decades, it’s no wonder that the Lord Elgin continues to be a preferred destination. Relax at the indoor pool, whirlpool and Sauna after a day of exploring our Nations Capital.
We will explore Ottawa with a local step-on guide. Our May tour includes the Canadian Tulip Festival. Starting in 1952, and since the Tulip Festival is continually held in Ottawa the capital of Canada. Thousands of Tulip flowers are spread everywhere over the city during the festival that holds various kinds of culture events. Ottawa’s largest displays of flowers at Commissioners Park, the festival’s main site, located alongside the Rideau Canal’s picturesque Dows Lake.
While there, you can also nibble on food truck fare, browse for unique items by local crafters and check out historical displays.
You will also have the chance to visit The War Museum or The Canadian Museum of History (choose one) plus enjoy an afternoon on a narrated Boat Cruise to see the city from a different view.
Also included are tickets to Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical, free time to visit the famous ByWard Market, Ottawa’s unique heritage destination for cuisine, shopping, arts, entertainment, enjoy some retail therapy at the Rideau Centre plus an optional visit to Lac Lemay Casino to try your luck! Come with us to explore our Capital City!
Your Front Line Tours Package Includes:
3 nights at the Iconic Lord Elgin downtown Ottawa 3 Breakfasts at the Lord Elgin Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Musical Tour of Ottawa with local step on Guide (May tour includes visit to the Tulip Displays) Admission to War Museum or Canadian Museum of History (choose one) Ottawa Boat Cruise Free Time to Shop and Dine at the ByWard Market and Rideau Centre Optional visit to Lac Lemay Casino All taxes and baggage handling Deluxe motorcoach transportation Fully escorted Front Line Tours
Saturday we were up at 7:40 and sat around our computers for the morning. It is cool in the mornings, this morning it was 10 C. But compared the weather they are expecting back home that is balmy.
The intense cold snap about to settle over most of Canada and the U.S. has been dubbed a “polar vortex’, but Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips says it could just as easily be called “Arctic air or Siberian air.”
In the present instance, Siberia is where the cold air is originating, so Siberian air is his choice.
We headed out around 11:30 for downtown Palm Springs for a gander around.
We finally found a parking spot and headed to lunch at Las Casuelas. We had eaten here in 2015. I know we also ate here before that as we both remember John had a t-shirt from here.
It was delicious.
My ceviche de la casa - shrimp.
Crispy beef tacos with the requisite rice and beans. We decided we needed a lighter dinner!
We had to stop by and say hello to Lucy.
I had spotted Marilyn as we were looking for parking so we walked over. There were a lot of people lining up for photos so we'll come back on another day.
Forever Marilyn is a giant statue of Marilyn Monroe designed by Seward Johnson. The statue is a representation of the image of Monroe taken from Billy Wilder's 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Created in 2011, the statue has been displayed in a variety of locations in the United States, as well as in Australia.
The 26-foot-tall (7.9 m) 34,000-pound (15,000 kg) sculpture, manufactured of painted stainless steel and aluminium.
The World's Largest and Only Cannabis Concert Lounge and Dispensary, Four Twenty Bank.
Pioneers' Park Museum was created to preserve the vision and journey of those who saw that potential and worked to make the community what it is today. From those who first brought the water that is the Valley's lifeline, to the settlers who escaped the Dust Bowl and found refuge in the fields and towns, and to those who have served in the armed forces to preserve the desert way of life, those men and women are honored and hope that by telling their stories the Museum can help residents, visitors and generations to come, appreciate the accomplishments of those who came before, avoid the mistakes of the past, and work to build a future that everyone can be proud to be a part of.
A skate park with murals.
I booked tickets for Thursday!
An arts fair was taking place.
This fascinating fountain has become one of the most recognizable pieces of public art in Palm Springs. The innovative 'Rainmaker Fountain' was created in 2000 by artist David Morris as part of a decree for public art issued by Mayor Sonny Bono in 1988. The two tubes bounce up and down in perfect rhythm, pouring water when full.
We enjoyed walking around town. The temperature got to 26 C. Downtown was very busy, lots of young families and dogs!! It is a long weekend for many, MLK Day.
Most restaurants were full, many with line ups.
We got 6100 steps in before we went back to the car.
Football for John. I strained the soup. I made hardboiled eggs for dinner and some more for lunches.
Sunday we were up at 7:20 temperature was 10 C. We spent the day as we usually do, lazy. Football was on.
We spent two hours by the pool 20 C reading.
We still had to do those mundane chores, cook, laundry, dishes, put out the garbage.
I lost my Wordle streak!
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the States.
We have an "owner update" meeting with Enrique this morning at 10AM. We finished the meeting and came back to have lunch. Then I noticed it was only 10:45 and we had had lunch!
John dropped at Wal*Mart on E. Ramon and headed to the driving range. I got my hair cut (Andrea) at Great Cuts for $19 plus tip. Then set out to explore the Mart of Wall as I never go to one at home when John messaged that the range was closed (MLK?) and was coming back. I said I'd be in the groceries. We finished our shopping but didn't find any crab utensils.
Back home groceries put away, I was going to sit out but the winds were strong, John went to work out.
He booked golf for Friday.
Tuesday I was up at 7.
And I saw this!
For the first time in recorded history, the immediate GULF COAST is under a blizzard warning.
This is likely a once-in-a-lifetime event—a generational storm we may never witness again.
I made John a good breakfast omelet before he headed out to play golf at Cathedral Canyon.
I did various chores and administrivia online. I worked out our mural discovery map.
Wednesday
We were up at 7:15 and whiled away the morning on our laptops.
After lunch we went mural hunting to Cathedral City, Coachella, Indio.
Cathedral City
I caught the end of this Tesla.
Eduardo “Lalo” Guerrero (December 24, 1916 – March 17, 2005) was a Mexican-American guitarist, singer and farm labor activist best known for his strong influence on today’s Latin musical artists. Lalo was a musician, writer and performer for more than six decades, gaining worldwide recognition as the “Father of Chicano Music”.
The bronze guy in the tuxedo, trombone pointed heavenward, is jazz musician and actor Charles "Buddy" Rogers, husband of Mary Pickford for more than 40 years, the silent film star. He stands at the intersection of streets named after him and Pickford.
The sculpture was created and donated by artist George Montgomery. Yes, the Hollywood actor.
We found his resting place in Forest Lawn in 2015.
The Fountain of Life was designed by artist Jennifer Johnson in coordination with architect Reuel Young, A.I.A. It was built by House of Stone and Fountains and Landscape Enhancements. Artisans whose families have sculpted stone for more than 600 years carved the fountain pieces out of adoquin stone from a quarry near Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Once the individual pieces arrived in the desert, Johnson spent more than a year adorning the fountain with hand cut mosaic tiles and glass.
Reflecting the nature and history of the desert, the fountain features three central stone columns surrounded by sculptures of big horn sheep, lizards, tortoises, fishes, shells, wildflowers, birds and other creatures found in the area both now and in the past. The rooster and hen represent the importance of family in both the Anglo and Latino cultures. A Cahuilla basket embedded in the stone pays tribute to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, whose gift of the soft surface enhances safety for children of the desert. Buddy and Beverly Rogers became the fountain's first major donors with a gift that launched the project.
Called Hollywood Heroes it was also created and donated by George Montgomery, there is a striking resemblance to some of George's roles.
We had found his burial spot in Forest Lawn when we were here in 2015.
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Pickford Lizards fountain which is made of stone and mosaic tiles.
Sculpture outside of Cathedral City Library
You are here—“X Marks the Place” was created by artist Simi Dabah, who has been welding sculptures with steel scraps for more than forty years. In order to stay true to Dabah’s style, the sculpture is left in its natural state and has rusted to a warm patina color. The “X” is located outside of the Cathedral City Public Library and perfectly symbolizes the library’s mission to showcase all things arts and culture.
Coachella - we've never been here!
Coachella is well-known for being one of the most prominent and renowned music festivals globally. It unites leading artists across different genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, along with stunning art installations and a lively festival ambiance.
Lots of murals to come!
Artist – Bob King - Art Description– Transformed the trunk and branches of a dead historic eucalyptus tree into a 60-foot tall tree sculpture with various Coachella Valley desert animals and images. The artist used a chain saw and other wood tools to create the various art image and animals that represent the City’s ecosystem and cultural heritage.
Dr. CarreĂłn founded and built Indio Community Hospital in 1966, with three doctor friends and their contractor, on land that he donated for the cause.
David Phelps’ sculpture of “The Dreamer” who seems to be very comfortable and providing an example for all to follow.
The weathered and crackled figure is nearly 14 feet long and 4 feet high.
Oh, BTW, GG (GPS Guy) developed a stutter when saying Hiway 111. It came out as HiHiway 111 which had us in childish giggles.
Thursday
Weekly housekeeping is provided here. They booked it for Thursday at 11 and requested we not be here. We were up at 7, John made scrambled eggs and we tidied up.
We headed to the factory outlets at Desert Hills. It was so windy and cold!
Chinese New Year - Year of the Snake.
I had to buy a sweater and John put on a jacket he had in his golf bag. We were in Columbia and John was about to buy something when the power went out! The manager explained that So Cal Edison, the power company, had cut the power to the area due to the weather conditions (winds at 60 MPH) and large power lines behind the mall.
So Cal Ed website says
So we headed into Palm Springs. The winds were ferocious on I-10.
We stopped at the Visitors' Centre as I had it on my list. No winds!! And it is warm, however this is the road up to the Aerial Tramway and there is a forecast of snow for Sunday and Monday.
New red sweater, about to be shed as it is warm here in PS.
We went in search of a sculpture in town. We parked and found the sculpture.
'Isabelle' is astonishing from every angle. This awe-inspiring sculpture by quantum physicist turned artist Julian Voss-Andreae is made of polished stainless steel which glimmers in the sun. Every small detail from the shifting silver hues to the see-through elements make viewing this sculpture an extraordinary experience that can't be missed.
A great view from down the street!
Then we had coffee and Danish in Cafe Mon Amour, delicious hot coffee and the Danishes were fresh and tasty.
We sat outside but they also have this cozy room.
Of course we had to check out (and buy) in Lolli and Pops. Retro-modern candy store offering an array of treats including gelato and whiskey-infused chocolates.
We stopped at Von's for bread and wine, then headed home for a few hours.
Nice to come home to a clean unit.
We headed downtown around 4:30. We were dressed in jeans/long pants with jackets. The temperature dips to 3C once the sun sets.
We went by the theatre first, found a perfect parking spot.
There is a downtown street fair on Thursday evenings so many streets were closed off.
The ticket pick up office wasn't open. we left the car and walked to find a place for lupper (lunch/supper).
I had a half order of white fish ceviche. John had the Burrito -stuffed with beef. Topped with ranchera sauce & cheese. Mine was good, John said the burrito at Ramona's in Lordsburg TX was better as this was a bit soggy.
Who should sit down beside us, so close that John had to sneak this photo!
Now I know for sure where Mr. and Mrs. Claus go after the Xmas rush! Palm Springs.
She had on a red dress and look closely at his Christmas shirt!
Posted on the theatre which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Prescott T. Stevens, developer of the El Mirador Hotel, donated this site and the funds to build the Frances S. Stevens School, in memory of his wife and her interest in education. The first two rooms were completed in 1927. Katherine Finchy, who arrived in Palm Springs in 1922, became this school's first administrator. Palm Springs' first bond issue provided additional classrooms, a library, indoor plumbing, a cafeteria, an apartment for the principal, and a large auditorium which served as the city's first theater. The City of Palm Springs later purchased the facility as a cultural arts center; then Vice President Gerald Ford dedicated the center, known as Everybody's Village, in 1974.
This was highly entertaining! The cast were outstanding.
Del Shores returns to local stages with "A Very Sordid Wedding," a compelling sequel to his 1996 stage play and 2000 film, "Sordid Lives." With the former having become a uniquely Palm Springs legend, this sequel went with the opposite process in creation. Whereas “Sordid Lives” began as a stage play and evolved into a film and (later) a single season television series, “A Very Sordid Wedding” began as a 2017 film, (which debuted at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs, now the Palm Springs Cultural Center) which is now making its onstage debut at Palm Canyon Theatre.
"A Very Sordid Wedding" picks up 16 years after the events of "Sordid Lives," set in the same small Texas town of Winters. The play centers around the gay wedding of local boy all grown up, Ty Williamson, played by Noah Wahlberg and his husband Kyle, played by Samuel David, that stirs controversy within this rural notch in the Bible Belt. To be clear, the wedding is part of Ty and Kyle’s “50 Gay Weddings in 50 States” protest that was in support of the 2015 Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized gay marriage. Wahlberg and David portray a loving couple with humor and charisma amidst a community that is increasingly turning hostile to their very existence.
It may seem that we bought a lot of groceries but we are away for 7 weeks and have a kitchen everywhere. Plus we can take our stuff between locations in the cooler.
We have yogurt and fruit most mornings. We also had bananas this week, $1.49 for 7 bananas from Costco.
Saturday Lunch out
Dinner hamburger stew salad, tomatoes, cheese and eggs
Sunday L ham, cheese, tomato, scallion sandwiches
D crab legs and Caesar salad hamburger stew with homemade chicken stock
Monday L cheese and crackers
D chicken divan sourdough baguette. This was delicious. And the bread was $1.76 from Wal*Mart.
It is hard to find gluten free soup at home.
Tuesday B John omelet
D leftover hamburger stewchicken divan
Wednesday L ham and salami sandwiches
D spaghetti and meatballs hamburger stew and mashed potatoes
Thursday B scrambled eggs toast
Coffee and Danish
LUPPER (lunch/dinner) out
Friday L egg, onion and celery sandwiches
D steak onions green peppers and mushrooms
We bought these at Costco.
Santa Lucia produces three types of tequila for the Kirkland line: blanco, reposado, and añejo. Blanco tequila may be bottled directly after distillation or aged up to two months; reposado tequila must be aged between two months to a year; and añejo tequila must be aged for at least one year, usually in oak barrels.
This is a single malt scotch whisky, from a single distillery on the island of Islay in Scotland.
This is a $9 wine on sale for $5!! And it was surprisingly good.
READING
I read The Lies I Tell you've got to love a good con woman who goes after the men who use women.
I also started reading a "real" hard copy book by the pool, The Suspect.
THINGS I NEVER KNEW
Manila envelopes are named after Manila, the capital of the Philippines, because they were originally made from manila hemp, which comes from the Philippines
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