Geometry In Nature

 Some nights before the visit I showed you yesterday, I came to Confederation Park to photograph. This was one of the entrances, with a three dimensional kind of set up perfect for photo ops.

Spotlights changed colours behind it upon the trees that flanked the path.

This totem pole is a permanent part of the park.

So is this fountain, a memorial to Colonel John By, the British military engineer who led the building of the Rideau Canal. As is typical with Winterlude locations, a Beavertails outlet was here.

Close by, an art installation that intrigued me. These geometric shapes in metal had animals and nature patterns incorporated into them, and lights within.

Back Upon The Skateway

I took another tour of a section of the Rideau Canal skateway, this time during the evening. I approached the Canal near Lansdowne Park, looking to walk towards the Pretoria Bridge. 

I descended down onto the ice surface.

This skate changing hut is in the foreground in this rest area, with a Beavertails cabin beyond it.

Such rest areas tend to have fireplaces for a break- with the fireplace elevated off the ice level, of course, otherwise you'd soon have problems.

I headed off, taking photos back and forth as I went.

The Flora Bridge looms before us. It links the Glebe on the west side with Old Ottawa East on the east side.

Skate

 A strip of snow is left on the Canal in this stretch at the sides for walkers- which was good, because the ice was slippery.

A glimpse of the next bridge, where Bronson Avenue crosses.

On the west side of the bridge, we find Dow's Lake, a reservoir for the Canal. On the west shore, trees mark the grounds of the Arboretum.

I took two panoramic shots.

The sun was trying to poke through the cloud deck.

Skate shacks and some food choices are found along the south side of the skateway here. That includes poutine and Beavertails.

Festivity

A European style Christmas market has been a tradition at Lansdowne Park for several years. In late November, the lighting of the big Christmas tree in front of the Pavilion, along with the opening of the market, drew a big crowd. I took this shot from the arena at one of the gate staircases.

Out on the east side of the building, an ice sculpture was found. These were small- the size one could do in an hour or so- and changed each weekend.

I attended the market several times, and there are still dates after Christmas, before they wrap up entirely on New Year's Eve. The tree is simply decorated, but lit well.

The vendors are a mix of food and gifts, housed in chalets, as is done in European Christmas markets. This event really draws in visitors.

One of the vendors specializes in novelty socks. I have several pairs.

I will likely go at least once more before it's all done. I have a particular appreciation for one vendor that sells both strudel and perogies. 

There is also a vendor here that sells Beavertails- the local pastry that is fried and covered in a variety of toppings. They're really, really good. No, you have to get your own. I'm not sharing.

Here is the east side of the Pavilion. More vendors are found here.

Back I went into the main section of the event.

The vendor at left is Thor's Trinkets. She makes beer mugs, glasses, and other items with a pop culture influence, and I've bought a number of items from her down through the years, either here or at Comiccon. The same applied this year.

Lastly, taken two days ago. I paid a visit to the Canadian Museum of History over in Gatineau. This is their Christmas tree.