A few days ago I was on Parliament Hill for some exterior shots. On the east side of Centre Block, among the statues there, is one of two monarchs represented on the Hill. Queen Elizabeth II sits on a horse.
Close by is a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, our first prime minister and one of the fathers of the country (and occasional partaker of alcoholic spirits- by occasional I mean frequent). You can see the Queen's statue in the background.
A short walk away is this arched entrance, which is the east entrance used by senators. I like arches, so this one I've always liked to use to frame photographs.
One of the flagpoles on the Hill is occasionally used to fly other flags. At the time I took these shots, the Ukrainian flag was flying from this flagpole overlooking the East Block and the front lawn.
It's a gesture by the federal government given the current situation, a typical gesture by a government that loves symbols and making political hay out of everything.
Love the photos. William, are the stray cats still on Parliament Hill?
ReplyDeleteGimme one governement that doesn't...
ReplyDeleteWhat? QEII is surrounded by stray cats? That might be a problem when she's too old to ride...
Seriously, these are rather nice sculptures!
Love the arch and the tower! I always enjoy seeing buildings like these as we have nothing like that here.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a government flying another country's flag. Interesting. That would never fly in the States, so to speak.
ReplyDeletebeautiful architecture! love those arches as well!
ReplyDeleteNice arch...shame about the Government!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Linda: actually no... they got adopted out. I will make note of it in tomorrow's blog.
ReplyDeleteCiel: when the cats were on the Hill, I wonder what they thought of the statues.
Elaine: it is architecture that I hav always liked.
Stuart: it is, in this particular flagpole, occasionally done. The Olympic flag was there as well during the Vancouver games.
Tanya: I could see myself finding a house that features an arch.
Jane: the current government knows no shame.
Nice shots William. I like the last a lot. Love the details in architecture.
ReplyDeleteThe statues are quite elegant. Loved your comments! You have a pithy way of slicing the crap off the truth! We love symbols here, too. The neocons (like Senator McCain - a man whose military record is filled with disobedience and negligence) want the US to go to war - any war will do, actually. My feeling is they or their children should be the first persons on the front lines. They could run around waving the flag just to see what happens. :)
ReplyDeletei like your commentary. :) i like the spire of that building, too.
ReplyDeleteExcellent series of images William.. I don't just like arches I LOVE them they make such wonderful frames :) you have more than one beautiful arch in these shots :)
ReplyDeleteYou still have quite a lot of snow up there. It's hard for me to imagine when it's 80 degrees here.
ReplyDeleteNice statues, still so much snow there, cool!
ReplyDeleteGreat statues, fantastic stone or brick work on the building and I too love the archway. Great shots and info. MB
ReplyDelete@Luis: thanks!
ReplyDelete@Lowell: I've got a statue coming up in a couple of days of a politician who actually went out to the front lines...
@Tex: the style of the Parliament buildings has always appealed to me.
@Grace: I should photograph the Peace Tower through another Arch before I lose the snow...
@Sharon: we're so close to spring, but it doesn't feel like it.
@Wilf: we had plenty of snow this winter.
@MB: thanks!
I love statues. And arches, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd what else is a government supposed to do but try to make political hay out of everything? Would there be a need for them if they didn't do this? And hey, they could be using the time they spend on that, doing other things we really don't want done. Like raising taxes, passing more laws infringing on our rights, et cetera.
You're not voting for our wonderful Tories the next time around!
ReplyDeleteI like the statues.
ReplyDeleteWhat great shots of the capitol buildings and statues. Ottawa is such an interesting place!
ReplyDeleteGreat statues, they do very well in the snow.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the crisis around Ukrain won't lead to war.
Yes, William, your government and mine love symbols. Mine is denying visas to eleven Russian officials. Talk about tough!
ReplyDeleteI don't ever remember seeing Elizabeth II on a horse before. Great statues and I like that arch. In the short time I have been following you I have really grown to like the look of Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!!! I just finished reading a novel based on the premise that Queen Elizabeth I was actually an imposter!!! Interesting premise....All things royal are a bit of a fascination to us Americans!!!
ReplyDeleteGovernments are good at making hay out of everything:) Love the arches too and, I must say, QEII is looking very regal on her horse!
ReplyDelete@Cheryl: wait til you see what I say tomorrow.
ReplyDelete@RedPat: I consider myself conservative. I just can't bring myself to vote Conservative.
@Karl: there's more where they came from, but I'll wait til spring for the others.
@Halcyon: thanks!
@Jan: one hopes not.
@Jack: Churchill said that democracy is the worst kind of government... except for all the other kinds.
@Denise: oh, she's a great one for horse riding. I don't know if she still does it though.
@Chieftess: that sounds intriguing!
@LondonLulu: it's one of several presences she has on the Hill.
Love the archway! Hope to see it again some time.
ReplyDeleteI should photograph it again. They haven't erected the scaffolding around Centre Block, and may not do so for some years.
DeleteVery nice photographs. The statues are amazing. I ams rue they are better in person.
ReplyDeleteThey are. And especially so in sunlight.
DeleteLove the statue of the Queen!
ReplyDeleteI do too.
DeleteYou have so much great art and architecture in your city!
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot.
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