Elegant And Graceful

 The Flora Bridge is the newest of the bridges that crosses the Rideau Canal in the city, and is named after Flora Macdonald, a well respected politician and humanitarian who lived in the area for many years. It is elegant and graceful in its design.

I kept moving.

The Skateway In The Night

 I returned to the Rideau Canal skateway one night for another walk. My times on the Canal this year have largely been at night- definitely for photography. The crowds are on the ice during the day, particularly the weekend, but the nights, especially later, are quieter. There are some skaters out and about, but not as many. For this time, I came to the Canal near Lansdowne Park, and had decided to walk up to the Pretoria Bridge.

But first, finding a way down onto the ice. A staircase was that way.

Down on the ice, a plow was at work.

This bridge is the Flora Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that links the Glebe on the west to Old Ottawa East on the east.

A Canadian Talent In Music

 I said yesterday that Oscar Peterson was the greatest musician this country has ever produced, and I'll continue to stand by that. He was a gift to the world.

I proceeded on. This fireplace sculpture, with the flag embedded, was still in fine shape.

And there were some new smaller ones mixed in with other smaller ones from the previous weekend.

Carved Expressions In The Ice

Some evenings after my first visit, I returned to Sparks Street, and was surprised that the ice sculptures were still looking in good shape, given that they are not sheltered as they were at previous locations when the ice sculptures were elsewhere. I took more shots.

There were new sculptures as well. This one, Thunderhead, is based on a new national monument in progress just west of the core, for the LGBT community.

And another one that particularly spoke to me. This year is the centennial of the birth of Oscar Peterson, the Canadian jazz legend who is the best musician this country ever produced.

The ice sculpture is based on the sculpture that stands at the National Arts Centre a short walk away, showing the great pianist at the keyboards, taking in applause after just finishing a performance.