Ottawa is distinguished not only by being the world's penultimate coldest and snowiest capital, but also in three seasons beyond winter, a city surrounded by green, with the added invaluable attribute of having great areas of parkland and even forested areas within the urban landscape. Aside from the vast acreage within a vibrant city of its well-known and beloved Experimental Farm there's the urban forest so many of us rely on to provide us with recreational exercise and ease among deciduous and coniferous trees.

Driving along the Eastern Parkway, as we do to access the downtown core of the city, we've come across deer, coyote and foxes among other creatures espied in the green areas of the parkway. These understandably elusive creatures use these green spaces with caution, since they're the same areas that are used by bicyclists, hikers and picnickers. Yesterday, as we drove along en route to Byward Market we came across Canada geese picking at the leavings of the RCMP's musical ride stable of horses.

And further along there was not a gaggle of geese, but rather of wild turkeys, birds of a good size and colourful display, casually making their way through a newly-mown field. Whatever we see on these drives represent a sighting adventure, increasing the pleasure of the pleasantly leisurely drive alongside the Ottawa River.

As we arrive closer to the city centre the views across the Ottawa River separating Ontario from Quebec are of the communities in Quebec adjacent the river, as picturesque a landscape as can be imagined. Yesterday was a cold, heavily overcast, windy day, so the river looked dark grey in its cast and anything but calm.

During the summer months there is plenty of watercraft making the most of the opportunity to celebrate the combination of warmth, sun, wind and water; all were absent yesterday. People who live alongside the river are no doubt already turning their thoughts to freeze-up, snow and ice, when they can put their ice huts out on the river and enjoy their winter sport of ice-fishing.

Despite the gloom of the weather and the return to seasonal cold, Byward Market brims with activity and colour. Nothing yesterday to compare with the vitality and sheer number of people, both tourists and residents who crowded the Market area two weeks earlier when we'd been enjoying unseasonably hot and sunny weather, but people still bustle about there in any type of weather conditions to access the proliferation of specialty shops, the many cafes and restaurants.

As a special site it represents one of Ottawa's unhidden treasures of which there are ample. So aren't we fortunate?!