Tuesday 23 November 2019--Sleep in late again this morning...there seems to be a pattern emerging. I have a message from Doug, looking to confirm our rendezvous this evening. Huh. Apparently I don't know what day it is.

In the course of planning this trip, I was surprised to learn that, since I was in Ottawa last, a light rail/subway line had been proposed, debated, approved, funded, designed, built, and put into operation. They call it the O-Train--O for Ottawa, of course, but also meant to to sound like au train, French for "on the train", while evoking Duke Ellington's "Take The 'A' Train". As a retired transportation professional, I have to experience it, of course. Pass through the Golden Triangle again, and across the Corktown Footbridge to the uOttawa station (spelled just so). Ride just one stop to Rideau Street, and pass some time shopping in the Byward Market neighborhood. This is the commercial district of Colonel By's Lower Town, to the east of the canal. Nowadays, it's Ottawa's primary entertainment district, full of restaurants and bars. The actual market buildings, the fifth on or near the spot, were built in 1927.

Back at the Rideau station, I take the long escalator down--the tunnel is quite deep here, to pass under the canal--and ride along another stop to Parliament station. Stroll south along Bank Street about a mile to Flora Street and Flora Hall. Doug arrives shortly after, and we pass the time catching up--it's been a long time. Doug is my oldest friend from Quebec City, a bartender when I met him almost forty years ago. He went back to school for IT and has worked for the Canadian government for some years now, living with his family in Gatineau.

Doug heads home, and I pop into the Manx Pub, back over on Elgin. This was my favorite pub back in the bus touring days, a bohemian basement room with a good beer selection and local art on the walls. It's changed little since then--the beer list is longer, I guess. Hipsters and geezers and everyone else rub elbows comfortably. I still like it...wish I hadn't waited until my last night in town to visit.