Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Vantages On Canada Day

Today I'm starting a series from Canada Day. This first shot was taken the day before, from the Mackenzie King Bridge looking over the Rideau Canal. The NAC and Parliament Hill stand to the left, while the Chateau Laurier and Government Conference Centre are on the right shore. The Canal comes to an end up ahead at the final bridge in the Ottawa Locks, descending down to the Ottawa River.


On Canada Day itself, I paid a visit to two museums, the War Museum and the History Museum. Leaving the first, I crossed the Ottawa River by the Portage Bridge to the Gatineau side to get to the second. En route I noticed the Peace Tower on the Hill among the trees.


When I was finished at the History Museum, I took the Alexandra Bridge back to Ottawa and photographed views along the way.



At the Ottawa end of the bridge is an observation platform that I come to for seasonal views of Parliament Hill, something I'll have in a post later in the year. I took additional shots from here, including of a kayaker down below.


My wanderings took me into the Rideau Centre mall, where there's a pedestrian bridge linking the mall to the Bay. It's a good spot to photograph Canada Day visitors to the west.


I continued onwards. At Plaza Bridge near the War Memorial are a series of statues and busts of military figures from Canadian history collectively called The Valiants. 


Over on the other side of Plaza Bridge, I photographed the other point of view of the Rideau Canal, looking towards the Mackenzie King Bridge.


I stopped in at the National Arts Centre, though it turns out I'd missed the Canada Day concert.


And I made a visit to the National War Memorial, where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a spot for Canadian flags to be placed. The wreaths in the background had been placed at the Memorial that morning- July 1st is also the date of the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and at a place called Beaumont-Hamel, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment suffered horrendous losses. The occasion is still marked here each year.

44 comments:

  1. Happy Belated Canada Day! All that water looks inviting. I'll be getting my H20 dose when I visit my daughter in September next month.

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  2. Thank you for this tour! So different to where I live.

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  3. The Rideau Canal looking towards the Ottawa Locks before descending down to the Ottawa River makes for a very fine vista.

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  4. Was a beautiful day!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I particularly enjoyed the street scenes, just people going about their business but somehow revealing about the mood of the day.

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  6. My favourites are the images of the river.

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  7. Thanks for taking me along with you. The photos bring it to life.

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  8. Hello, wonderful tour and photos. Wishing you a happy day!

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  9. ...it's wonderful to see the streets of Ottawa alive and filled with people!

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  10. I love that Beaumont Hamel is commemorated in Ottawa as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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  11. @Lady Fi: it was a good day.

    @Italiafinlandia: it was somewhat cooler than it was last year, but last year was horrendously hot.

    @Pat: have fun when you go!

    @Iris: you're welcome.

    @Rosemary: I photograph that view often. In fact I did so again last night for a sunset view.

    @Ella: you're welcome.

    @John: that's quite true.

    @Nancy: I get so many different perspectives of that river down through time.

    @Gattina: and it's a pleasure to show it.

    @Fun60: I had a good day, and needed it.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Tom: that's true.

    @Marie: it's a fitting occasion.

    @Mawyn: thanks!

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  12. The canal view is just so beautiful!

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  13. I will enjoy this series, and this first post shows a lovely Canada on its day. :-)

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  14. Nice serie. I prefer the wide views at the city, the river and the canal.

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  15. I remember seeing the Rideau canal for the first time. I was impressed with the structure as I 'd never seen a canal. Over the years it's history and meaning have slowly sunk in.

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  16. It looks to me like the day was perfect for those Canada Day celebrations.

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  17. @Sandi: thank you.

    @DJan: I had a good day.

    @Jan: I like them too. I may use one of them for next year's summer header.

    @Red: it's quite an impressive structure, well deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status.

    @Sharon: not overly humid, which I approve of. Last year it was horrendously humid.

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  18. i agree with your comment on my blog ... i found it odd to be a 2nd Pike's Peak. guess it was just a "want-a-be"? great city shots. always enjoy your water ways. nice!! ( ;

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  19. Lovely shots on Canada Day. I hope I wished you a Happy Canada Day when it happened, as I like to acknowledge this special day with my Canadian blogger friends. In case I didn't, a belated Happy Canada Day William.

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  20. You were a busy guy that day, William!

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  21. You have shared some great shots here William, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  22. @Beth: I looked- they're both named after Zebulon Pike.

    @Denise: thank you!

    @RedPat: I was!

    @Bill: thanks!

    @Jan: you're welcome.

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  23. Preciosas foto

    http://fotos-trini.blogspot.com/

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  24. I do like this series of pictures, William.

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  25. I'm sorry I missed passing Happy Canada Day greetings onto you. I'll look forward to this series.

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  26. Canada Day in Ottawa is on another level!!

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  27. Wonderful tour and photos ~

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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