Colduphere, how do you know me? I'm unfamiliar with your screen name and don't believe we have met in person.

I even clicked on your name to see if we have contributed to the same threads. But your contributions are mostly to Lounge topics, eg.:

"What's the view from your house?" and
"Would you change anything about your wedding?"

...unless you count Europe posts such as "Netherlands hygiene"

None of these being QUITE my line of country, I'm wondering -- quite uncritically -- how we're acquainted. Esp. as I'm on Fodor's about 1/10th as much as I was 3-4-5 years ago.

SCENE:
Bank Street in downtown Ottawa
TODAY - Saturday afternoon, Feb 23, '08, 2:15 pm

I am walking home to the Glebe from my gym at the Clarica Centre on Bank Street. Bank Street north of the Queensway is a scene of mild, and occasionally profound, human misery.

I am passing a modest-looking middle-aged couple and overhear the woman say to her husband:

"Ottawa sure has changed. It used to be classy. Not anymore! Now it's...it's A DUMP!"

I burst out laughing.

"Don't EVER say that on Fodor's! You'll get stomped." I say to the surprised couple. We smile ruefully and continue on our ways.

In all seriousness, tedgale, I've never heard of Ottawa spoken of in such a derogatory way. My knowledge of the city is extremely limited, so unless the job's a no-go, I want to learn as much as I can about the city.

When I asked you why you thought it was a dump, it was with sincerity. I welcome all opinions/insight about Ottawa...including any negatives.

Bloom

ps- the scenario you recounted in your last post...that didn't <b>really</b> happen did it? :-?

1. Yes, it absolutely did happen this afternoon. Word of honour.

2. OK, it's not like this was a toxic waste dump peopled by mutant sex-killers. When I say &quot;dump&quot;, I don't mean it's unsafe here or that your health will suffer. Just that I find it -- as others evidently do not -- disappointing, smug, self-satisfied, banal and SO grim architecturally.

TG

Met at MSSD, both ran on canal, male, initials GB

OK now I'm intrigued. MSSD closed down 24 years ago!

Curiously enough, I ran in to my old MSSD boss Rick Van Loon, lately President of Carleton University, at the NAC last night.

I'll start working through my MSSD mental honour-roll for a name:
Gordon Smith
Bruce Rawson
Marilyn Watters
Barry Carin
Jean Pierre Kingsley
Scott Serson
Ron Doering
Jim Miller
Jim Martin
Richard Stursberg
Kathy O'Hara
Michael Sabia
Francine Bertrand
Merielle Bradford
Lynne Elliott-Sherwood
Laurette Goulet
Ray Protti
David Good
Ken Stein
Dann Michols
Brenda Lundman
Nate Laurie
Jane Heintzman
Cecil Rabinovitch
Paul Becker...(was that the name of that fat man who went to jail for fraud???)............

TG - I will call if you are in the book. I was over at your place with J Fil-- and R She--- but you are right. Long time ago. Maybe you have moved from the nice place in Sandy Hill. No use boring readers here anymore.

I'm not in the book but I am on facebook with a wide-open page that lists my email address, which I will give here too:
[email protected]

Coldupher, Tedgale,

We're all intrigued . . . please let us know &quot;the rest of the story.&quot; It's pretty cool when Fodorites know each other.

Inquiring minds want to know . . . I could probably think up a few more cliches if it would help.

Thanks,
Sandy (in Denton)

Sandy

Ted and I worked in the same Canadian government department for a few months in 1984. They closed the department and we scattered in different directions. But we both jogged along the Rideau Canal at lunch for years and would periodically give each other the joggers wave (joggers do that in a daze almost not knowing who they are waving at).

The coincidence is doubly remarkable:

I'm now retired, as I mentioned, and work out regularly -- well, obsessively -- at my gym, as mentioned above.

A couple of weeks ago, I was walking down the very street mentioned above, on my way home from the gym, when I recognized colduphere.

Hadn't seen him in years. I once was a marathoner but don't run much now (bad knee).

I did not speak, as I did not think he recognized or remembered me. And indeed he may not have recognized me -- time plays cruel tricks with one's appearance.

Next time I'll stop.

Col &amp; Ted,

Thanks for filling us in . . . isn't life interesting? This is another reason to always do good, you never know who is watching and will remember you!

Sandy (in Denton)

A few weeks ago on the news (either CTV or CBC) I was rather dismayed to see a story aboot Ottawa having the reputation of being the rudest city in Canada.

Due to fine Ottawan Fodorites like Colduphere and tedgale, I know that has to be wrong. ;)

That's pretty cool that you two know each other. Except that it's made me paranoid about having vented about people in here.

e.g. My Inconvenient Goof rant.

My landlord told me he used to teach computer courses. When he dropped by the other day (for the 385th time this week), he stood in front of my laptop for some time.

Guess what page I had open on my screen.

(:|

Bloom

I would be proud to be thought a Canadian. I loved Ottawa when we visited. And Toronto whem I lived in Buffalo. And Montreal when I was there.....I think, in general, the Canadians are more genteel and well-mannered (exception:hockey). Americans tend to be more brash and swagger more.....by the way, everyone knows the capital of USA is Philadelphia.

I guess I'm a city girl, but I have learned not to respond to anyone on the streets no matter where I am. I live near DC and do try to be helpful if I see someone obviously lost. Tried to help out a young woman recently whom I assumed spoke Spanish. she looked at me blankly when I tried my (very ) limited Spanish. A moment later I asked her homeotwn and she replied &quot;Haiti&quot; (french speaking)
She must have thought i was nuts. I could have simply been Canadian.

We just returned from a 10 day trip to Paris and had the ring scam done in front of us three times. The first time my husband was trying to be nice to help the woman, but the doorman came running when he saw what was going on. The same scam was attempted on a colleague three times. Add to that we witnessed a French woman mugged at 2:30 in the afternoon. She screamed when a young woman stole her purse and ran after her jumping on her back and taking her to the sidewalk. Nice area, busy street, people all around, broad daylight.

You're quite obviously American, that's why you're the victim of scamers. If you were Canadian, they would shy away from you, but better always wear that Canadian pin. If you're Québécois you just carry your baguette like everybody else...
May I say Welcome to this forum. :-)

Yawn... this thread is 3-4 years old!

Another newbie drags up an old thread. It's a good thing we have logos for comic relief!! :)

Oh, please..lots of threads are three or four years old including those "what to wear" ones...some questions and experiences just never EVER seem to get "outdated"

While the thread is three or four years old, Annie pointed out that this scam occurred weeks ago. It is relevant to travelers, just not you erudite posters. Don't open the link if it involves something as disdainful as something that you are aware of already. Or don't post. Either will help this site immensely.