Thousand Islands International Bridge (And The Story Behind The Dressing)

From above the Thousand Islands Skydeck in Ontario, Canada, Miss Iggy saw the Thousand Islands International Bridge which "extends from Collins Landing near Alexandria Bay, New York to Ivy Lea near Gananoque, Ontario covering a distance of 8.5 miles and provides direct connection between US Interstate Rt. 81 and Canada Highway 401."



And where there's a U.S.-Canada border, there's a duty-free shop! Guess what Miss Iggy bought as a souvenir? Well...a bottle of original Thousand Islands dressing (Vinaigrette Mille-Iles), of course! The bottle's label tells the origin of this famous dressing:

"Legend has it that the Thousand Islands dressing was created on board the magnificent steam yacht the "Louise" belonging to millionaire proprietor George Boldt of Waldorf Astoria fame. One day, while George and his wife Louise sailed amongst the beautiful 1000 Islands, Boldt requested their steward on board create a dish in honour of the area. A very special dish indeed, today almost 100 years later people around the world enjoy his creation, the distinctive legendary Thousand Islands Dressing. The diced cucumbers in it are meant to represent the 1000 Islands, or more accurately 1864 islands. The steward on board the "Louise" rose to international fame and became known as "Oscar of the Waldorf."

The "Oscar" immortalized by this dressing is Oscar Tschirky.

A Thousand Isles

Miss Iggy felt like singing Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" song but replace "Miles" with "Isles." If Miss Iggy could "fall into the sky," it will be because of the elevator that took her up the observation deck.

Somewhere in this cluster of islands in the St. Lawrence River between Ontario and New York is an island called "The Price Is Right," named after that popular game show and was given away in 1964 by Bill Cullen.

To prove that Miss Iggy really went on top of the Thousand Islands Skydeck, she signed the guestbook. It also shows you when she actually visited the place!

Thousand Islands Skydeck

Just before crossing the border between Canada and the U.S., Jersey Iggy decided to conquer this tower above the Thousand Islands in Ontario: The 1000 Islands Skydeck.

This observation deck goes 400 feet up into the sky and is reachable by either the spiral staircase or the more convenient high-speed elevator. Miss Iggy chose the latter, of course.

You've heard of the "thousand island" dressing, well, turns out there really is a place called "Thousand Islands"--a group of islands (1,793 in all) between Ontario and New York State along the St. Lawrence River. These islands were the inspiration for the popular condiment--the bits of pickle in the dressing were supposed to represent the islands.

Radical Rideau Canal

Jersey Iggy says "bonjour" from the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada....a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

This historic waterway stretching 202 kms. was originally built for military strategic purposes during the early 19th century, when Great Britain and the United States rivaled each other for control of this region.

Nowadays, this scenic length of Canadian Heritage River offers boat tours, bike trails, and more popularly--the venue for the Winterlude Festival, where it becomes the "world's second longest skating rink" at winter time.

Guess what they eat there to keep themselves warm and fuzzy? BeaverTails! Radical!

Miss Iggy admired the night lights reflected on Rideau Canal. Too bad she didn't catch the last boat tour.

National Gallery of Canada

Jersey Iggy outside the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, where she was lured by a giant spider.

This place is said to be "one of the world's most respected art institutions," already in existence since 1880. It is one of Canada's oldest cultural institutions.

Itsy Bitsy Spider...NOT!

This giant spider sculpture called "Maman" (French for "mother") by Louise Bourgeois stands ominously outside the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

The artist was inspired by her mother to create this arachnid masterpiece, thus calling it "Maman." Up close you can see giant eggs in her sac! Miss Iggy sure doesn't want to get caught in her web of wrath!

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Ottawa

Jersey Iggy visited the oldest surviving church in Ottawa: the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.

It was recognized as a National Historical Site in 1978. Located just across the National Gallery of Canada, tourists of all faiths come here to admire the intricate Gothic interiors of this church.

BeaverTails at Byward Market

Jersey Iggy stumbled upon a unique, sugary pastry in Ottawa's Byward Market: Beavertails!

Don't worry! No actual beavers were killed or maimed to create this yummy pastry! It's actually deep-fried dough shaped like a beaver's tail then sprinkled with sugary goodness. It's best eaten when warm, and it's a favorite comfort food during Ottawa's famous Winterlude Festival.

Even US President Barack Obama stopped by this original BeaverTails location in Byward Market during his visit to Ottawa back in February to order a BeaverTail!

Where's Miss Iggy?

Jersey Iggy just hanging out at the foot of a totem pole in Ottawa's Byward Market in Canada last June.

(Big) Bottoms Up!

Miss Iggy decided to offer a toast of this giant Canadian beer (albeit inflatable) to Fortuitous Faery, who celebrates her birthday today and is currently in Chicago for a short vacation. Miss Iggy wishes her good health, more happy travels (so she can tag along) and a lucky year ahead.

Anyone else care to buy her a drink? :P

Bonjour from Byward Market!

"The ByWard Market is where Ottawa was born. Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal; Lt-Col. By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George and York Streets to be extra wide to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages that brought foodstuffs to the market every day."

Miss Iggy made sure to drop by this popular tourist attraction in Ottawa. There's a lot to learn about a city's culture and lifestyle just by visiting their public markets.

Lester B. Pearson's Statue

His complete name with titles is The Right Hon. Lester Bowles Pearson, P.C., C.C., O.M., O.B.E., B.A., M.A., LL.D., Canada's 14th Prime Minister and a Nobel Prize Winner (1957) for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. His statue is inside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada.

Pardon the disembodied hand, that's Fortuitous Faery's sister's hand, not a ghostly apparition as you might think.

Ottawa River

Jersey Iggy viewing Ottawa River from behind the Parliament Building. See the small islet over there? This river is shared by the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

Miss Iggy sailed through Ottawa River on board the "Lady Dive" amphibian tour bus!

Tour de Parlement

Jersey Iggy admiring the Parliament's architecture in Ottawa, Canada. She was on a "self-guided tour."

...and was secretly loitering outside the gates of the Parliament.

Inside Ottawa's Parliament

There are free guided tours to the Parliament in Ottawa daily, but Jersey Iggy went there a little too late in the afternoon to catch the last guided tour. She explored the grounds on her own instead.

She imagined being in Europe with the way the Parliament's architecture looked!

"Is This Burning An Eternal Flame?"

Miss Iggy couldn't help but sing that Bangles song in her head when she saw the Eternal Flame or officially, "The Centennial Flame," inside the Parliament grounds in Ottawa, Canada last June.

This was first lit in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniverary of Canada. The torch is in the middle of a fountain surrounded by shields of the Canadian provinces and territories. The water flowing across the shields "symbolizes Canada's unity from sea to sea."

The flame really isn't that eternal, since they snuff it twice a year for a week: in spring and in autumn.

See the folks with their bikes? Ottawa is known as a "Cycle City." Lots of places around Ottawa to "park" your bike!

Dive Like A Lady

Miss Iggy rode her very first amphibian tour bus--"Lady Dive"--to see the sights around downtown Ottawa. The wet part of the ride is sailing through Ottawa River.

They have bilingual tour guides who narrate the history of the landmarks in English and French. Miss Iggy was particularly enchanted with the French Canadian lad on the tour. "Will you be my Canadian boy?"

Canadian Souvenir Shop

Jersey Iggy was looking around the souvenir shops in Ottawa for...what else? Postcards!

Confederation Building, Ottawa

Can you imagine working in this building? Yes, this gothic revival structure is actually an office building just west of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Canada. Miss Iggy thought the Confederation Building was a castle of some sort.

Ottawa's Post-Its

Last June, Miss Iggy noticed that there were designated post-it areas around Ottawa for people to advertise anything and express everything--like this one on a pedestrian cross light near Parliament Hill. Now that's orderly freedom of expression!