Vibrant Colours

 From where I left off yesterday, I headed towards the Alexandra Bridge, where once a month I take a perspective shot of Parliament Hill. The bridge starts where Nepean Point, recently renamed Kiweki Point, leaves off.

Bright red was seen along a lower platform along the way.

It suits Parliament Hill nicely.

This is taken from the platform itself, with the bridge and the Museum of History featured.

A look up at the Point. There had been an underused ampitheatre up there, and several years ago plans were drawn up to reconfigure the land up there with a viewing platform. The work is ongoing right now, and expected to be done next year.

I headed past the National Gallery, where I took this photo of Notre Dame interwined with the sculpture Maman, by Louise Bourgeois.

More fall colours along one of the streets feeding onto Sussex Drive.

The sidewalk ahead drew me on.

This shot is taken into the fenceline at the Royal Canadian Mint, which I have yet to visit. The sculpture at the wall is what caught my eye, perched on a ledge: a bear.

I carried on along Sussex Drive. The dark building at right houses the foreign affairs ministry and is called the Pearson Building.

I decided on a couple of close ups of leaves at this location.

Taking A Stroll Along Sussex Drive

One day during the Tulip Festival I took a walk up along Sussex Drive, headed for Green Island. Along the way I noticed these tulips outside the Global Centre For Pluralism. This is an organization started by the Aga Khan. The building itself was the former headquarters of the Canadian War Museum. 

Its neighbour is the Royal Canadian Mint, and these tulips were along the edge of the property.

A short walk along, I got a view of the Ottawa River, and Gatineau beyond, with lilacs in the foreground.

The parkland on and around Green Island was my destination. On the east shore of the Rideau River where it splits into two branches and meets the Ottawa River, I know there are tulips to be found. This shore is part of the New Edinburgh neighbourhood, and aside from the parkland, there's a restaurant and facilities for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society at this spot.

And there's something else. The Rideau River spills over into the Ottawa River as the Rideau Falls. This is the east branch, with Green Island beyond.

And this is the west branch, with a current of silt visible. These were actually the last shots I took during the Tulip Festival, but I have more to come.

Christmas

I turn now to a series that I do for my readers and not for myself: Christmas. I'll be honest: I hate this holiday. It's a difficult time of the year, and weighs heavily on me, triggering a depression each year. I'll be glad in a few days when it's all behind us.

I start with two shots taken last year between Christmas and New Years. This wreath was hanging on the fence of the Royal Canadian Mint.

 

One evening at Lansdowne Park, I photographed the decorations in the window of a car dealership in the retail section of the property.

This was taken on an evening earlier this month, the same dealership.

One day early in the month I went out to Westboro to run errands and this wreath hanging on a street lamp pole caught my eye.

These decorations are in an office building downtown, taken on another day.

And on another day- Pearl Harbor Day, to be exact- I was back downtown passing by the American embassy and photographed one of the wreaths along the fence.

A short walk further up the street I took a shot of the Royal Canadian Mint, with wreaths up along the fences. In all the time I've lived here I have yet to take a tour inside.

Coming back, I headed into the Rideau Centre mall, where they always decorate for the holidays.

Rich Fall Colours Along The Path

Continuing on where I left off yesterday, here we have more fall colours in Major's Hill Park.

The north end of the park descends down a slope, seen here. The National Gallery of Canada and Notre Dame lie beyond the park. The flowerbeds here are at their height, with the plants being dug up in October to get the beds ready for tulip bulb planting.

Departing the park, I crossed to the Peacekeeping Monument, commemorating Canadian peacekeepers. It lies between the park, the Gallery, and Notre Dame. Bushes that surround the monument were turning from green to a bright red.

These colours were in a tree near Notre Dame.

And just up the street along Sussex Drive, the bulk of the Royal Canadian Mint loomed against the sky. Fall colours at the far end caught my eye.