Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Random Street Scenes Of A Capital

Some random shots to close out the month today. This angel sculpture stands across from Notre Dame Basilica in the Byward Market.


Along Sparks Street, the old Bank of Montreal building has undergone a refurbishment in recent years. It's now in the hands of the government after the bank moved its main branch to a new office tower a couple of blocks away, and is used as a reception space. I've seen pictures of the interior- I'd love to get inside, but there's no word on public access.


A couple of birds were perched in this small tree in August, singing away as I passed by. Can you see them?


Early one morning I was up in the Hintonburg neighbourhood. I paused to photograph the house, which has appealing architecture. The laneway to the left is common in older neighbourhoods, offering garage space to homes which might not have front driveways. It's also familiar to me, since I walked that laneway many times when I was living in the area.


Heading downtown along Somerset Street, the complex here is one of the city's uglier buildings. City Centre, as it's called, has been something of an eye sore for decades, but the ownership has been revitalizing the place, and it's actually well used, with a number of shops, gyms, businesses, artists, and even a bakery finding quarters here.


Further east on Somerset in Chinatown is the Dalhousie Community Centre, which at one point, from its architecture, would have been a Catholic school.


I'm finishing this post with a shot from late August. The Ceremonial Guard are marching here at the corner of Elgin and Laurier, on their way up to Parliament Hill for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. First Baptist Church lurks in the background.

30 comments:

  1. I love that Hintonburg house...and especially the cat lounging in front. Sweet!

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  2. What an interesting and fun collection! I love the older house.

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  3. Great series of photos you took round the city showing a different side of it

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  4. A big city has to have everything, beautiful and ugly.

    Tomás.

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  5. A nice tour around Ottawa, thanks for sharing.

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  6. I like the house too. Lovely double round porches.

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  7. So many interesting structures; a wide variety of architectural styles. Very interesting!

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  8. I'm glad the old B of M is being used as it's a beautiful building. The old house with the curved porches is a beauty! Raining cats and dogs and elephants here today.

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  9. I enjoyed this tour, William! Thanks so much for sharing. :)

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  10. That was a good tour through the area. I like the old house in Hintonburg. Lots of planning went into this place. It also looks like there was a large addition put on the right side.

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  11. @Kay: I remember that house having cats when I lived in the area, but this one's new to me.

    @Meradeth: thank you!

    @Bill: Hintonburg's a neighbourhood I rarely get to these days, but a lively one.

    @Tomas: and City Centre is plenty ugly, but still vital.

    @Marianne: you're welcome!

    @Janey: it's a house with a lot of character.

    @Lowell: thanks!

    @Sharon: I assumed it would be popular.

    @Pamela: we had the rain yesterday. Hopefully that's the last of it for a few days.

    @Linda: you're welcome!

    @Red: I think so, yes, but a good deal before my time!

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  12. Nice tour with the old house as a wonderful highlight.

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  13. That looks to be a wayward angel. Probably lookin' for me.

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  14. I did see the birds William, doves by the look of them. Super selection of randoms here, love to see the changing of the ceremonial guards.

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  15. Nice selection of random pictures. Thank you for the city tour.

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  16. Excellent selection of eye-catching scenes around your beautiful capital!

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  17. A nice assortment of pics, William. I love that large porch on the Somerset house.

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  18. I love seeing all these sites in Ottawa!

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  19. amazing Victorian ... i love the leaf tree shot. ( :

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  20. Thank you for the tour. Excellent!

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  21. some good, solid-looking buildings there!

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  22. Lovely old house William, I'm afraid City Centre just doesn't compare...

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  23. @Jan: I find myself wondering just how old the house is.

    @Birdman: or me!

    @Grace: I think they were smaller than doves, but definitely talkative.

    @Nancy: you're welcome.

    @VP: thank you!

    @RedPat: so did I.

    @Halcyon: a pleasure to show them.

    @Beth: I did as well.

    @Carolann: you're welcome.

    @Tex: indeed!

    @Geoff: it doesn't, but at least it's a busy place as opposed to abandoned.

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  24. Love the angel sculpture and that fabulous Victorian house. I'm just glad I don't live there.

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  25. That bank is a solid gem. So glad they kept it! A similar vintage bank was sacrificed here to a glass tower. Glad Ottawa was smarter-wa







    ALOHA
    ComfortSpiral

    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

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  26. I'm with Mari...love the angel sculpture.

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  27. I love that round porch thing on the front.

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  28. A wide variety of Capital scenes.

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  29. @Mari: I love it here.

    @Cloudia: I was glad to get inside that old bank.

    @Norma: it's a beautiful sculpture.

    @Whisk: I do as well.

    @Jack: I seem to like randoms.

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