It was cold, and the wind was a brisk and icy one, still the sun was shining but for dark cloudy interludes, leading people to get out and enjoy the seasonal landscape, although most deciduous trees have not yet turned their autumn colours. People were out riding bicycles, we even saw a phalanx of at least a dozen three-wheeled motorcycles at one point. People were strolling about, running, just not picnicking as so often nature invites them to do in large grassy areas where specimen trees arouse admiration.
Since it was a Saturday we knew the Byward Market would be crowded, and it most certainly was. In the press of people the atmosphere seemed less raw and there were plenty of people sitting out at cafe outdoor facilities, chatting and enjoying the environment with their coffee and whatever else struck them.
We were interested in visiting one of the speciality cheese shops, and picking up the latest editions of the art and antique magazines my husband is interested in. We walked Jack and Jill through the relative quiet of the Tin House parkette close to where we had parked, and the activity and din of the market quite confused them.
We picked them up where the crowds were really dense, and when we entered the shops. Other people walked well-behaved dogs of all sizes who evidently were accustomed to crowded conditions and loud sounds; not so ours, more familiar and comfortable with natural surroundings.
Our purpose was to stop briefly at the market, pick up what we wanted, and drive over to the Quebec side and enjoy a traipse in Gatineau Park, knowing that the usual routes we take have been closed, requiring us to take alternate, unfamiliar routes. Meanwhile, the colour, activity, beauty of the day and sheer spectacle of what the market has to offer provided its own type of entertainment, however briefly, for us. The bounteous sight of fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers represent visual treats and the opportunity to pick up delightful edibles for home.
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