The Museum

 My path led me on to the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History, which is along the shore of the Ottawa River here in Gatineau.

Heading down the slope in the direction of the river, I passed by a blossoming tree in the museum grounds.

Down here, just up slope from the river, is a flowerbed that was filled with tulips. On the far shore, Parliament Hill dominates the surroundings.

This bed is dedicated to Malak Karsh, the founder of the festival, and world renowned landscape photographer, who called Ottawa home.

A wonderful place for such a dedication. The Alexandra Bridge spans the river just downstream.

Malak took a famous photograph a few meters upstream- a sign on the other side of the trees at right notes it. It was on this shoreline many years ago that he took a photograph of the river during a log drive, with the Parliament Buildings overlooking everything, and a boat working along the river. That photograph spent many years on the Canadian one dollar bill. A portrait photograph of the Queen was on the other side- taken by his brother, Yousuf Karsh. Many Canadians will remember that bill.

I headed up the slope in the direction of the Museum. The very boat that Malak photographed is now up here, at left.

There is a reflecting pool alongside the exhibition wing of the Museum. Here we find 'namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together) by the First Nations artist Mary Anne Barkhouse. This sculpture is based on a story her grandfather told, of giving a wolf a lift through dangerous waters.

The patio for the Museum restaurant has blooming trees at the same time as the tulips. I had planned to take advantage of my membership and have lunch, but was too early.

I turned and took this shot, looking at the central stairs between the exhibition wing and the curatorial wing.