Yesterday evening we arrived in Ottawa, for a bonus ‘Citybreak’ on our way to the High Arctic. Carole from Just Airlinks pronounced herself exhausted by the last-minute flurry of activity, but it was me who dozed off, fortunately, as she was driving. The flight check in (online) was instant, just a backpack dump, and the transatlantic journey comfortable (extra legroom on Air Canada) a breeze. And we got the fish meal from First Class! Even the Hertz rental pickup went smoothly, including 20% discount booked online. Navigating Ottawa is a bit tricky as it’s a grid lay-out with a complicated one-way system and assertively safe roadworks, but we arrived at the Auberge des Arts at the appointed hour (I 'phoned from home, having found it in the LP.) At first glance, it’s a pair of ramshackle clapboard houses full of miscellaneous rubbish, but it’s clean and friendly, and quaintly quirky. We are for one night sharing a bathroom, which is inconveniently through the dining room and kitchen. Late risers beware! The hearty types will peer disparagingly over their cranberry juice. The proprietor, Chantal, wears her thin hair long, with a crazy pair of patchwork dungarees and odd shoes, if any. She is 4’6” and has a couple of sons, one who tends the B & B and one, 6’4”, 20 stone and an IT geek. Which is good, because he gave us lots of help. Dined at a local pub, Pier 21.