Scenes From A Capital Celebration

I was out and about on Canada Day, the first proper celebration of the occasion since Covid wrecked havoc with the world. I wanted to photograph some of the landmarks before heading to my destination for the day, and stopped first at Parliament Hill. The presence of some malcontents- the idiotic alt-right remnants of the 'freedom' convoy that tried strangling the city back in February- persuaded me otherwise. Generally the police kept a good eye on them throughout the core during the day. Instead I went east and photographed the National Arts centre, with its glass lantern lit up with a red stylized maple leaf.

A turn to the left gives us the National War Memorial and the Chateau Laurier beyond it. This area is called Confederation Square: the Canadian equivalent to Britain's Trafalgar Square, with national landmarks around it and the Memorial at its heart.

Crossing onto the grounds of the Memorial, I stopped to take this shot of the Hill in the background. The building at left is the distinctive main Ottawa branch of Canada Post.

The Memorial, with tourists paying their respects. Canadian Forces personnel are standing at post during the day now.

A short walk over to the east is the Rideau Canal. On the far shore is the Government Conference Centre, presently home to the Senate while work goes on at Centre Block.

A look down along this side of Plaza Bridge.

And at the front of the building, where the statues of the Famous Five presently reside. These five women brought forward the Persons Case nearly a century ago, a victory for women's suffrage in the long run and a chance for women to serve in the Senate.

Here we look over the other side of Plaza Bridge, with the Ottawa Locks descending down towards the Ottawa River.

I headed through the Byward Market, where these painted onto the walkway caught my eye.

Not sure what happened with this shot, but I like it. It's a new phone, and I think I clicked a different setting. Anyway, these are the York Steps, and each year a new design is painted onto them. I took these up from the Market towards Major's Hill Park.

Taken from the park itself, this shows Parliament Hill. The Canal lies between here and there.

This view towards the National Gallery and Notre Dame includes flowerbeds that were home to tulips in May. Now they're home to other plants and flowers that will last into October. I was going to the National Gallery for a visit, in a series I'll start showing you tomorrow.

But I stopped over on the Alexandra Bridge for a couple of shots. This one looks to the Gatineau shore of the Ottawa River, with the Museum of History at right.

My final shot taken on Canada Day. I didn't attend the fire works, though I certainly heard them. I went to a restaurant and picked up some take-out for dinner. This was on the wall inside. 

Poutine is one of those Canadian essential meals: fries with cheese curds and gravy. My choice of extra toppings from the menu was entirely fitting for Canada Day. The Canadian, with ground beef, mushrooms, bacon, and maple syrup. 

Oh, so good. 

No, I didn't leave any left over to share.