Lights In The City

 A few nights before Christmas, I got out to take in some of the lights in the downtown core. I stopped by an office building across from City Hall and took these two shots.

City Hall has two distinctively different architectural sections. This is the Heritage Building, a 19th century school turned into city offices, and a wreath was seen in the upper floor.

Beyond, I headed towards an outdoor skate rink outside the more contemporary section of City Hall. Lights were shining in the trees.

A large wreath is suspended outside the building.

I caught a glimpse of a Christmas tree inside, and the upper catwalks, all trimmed with Christmas decorations.

The skate rink was busy. Cartier Square, a drill hall that neighbours the building and also dates to the 19th century, is a ghost in the background of these shots.

I crossed Laurier Avenue on the north side and went into Confederation Park. The lighting here is not strings of lights, but coloured spotlights on the trees themselves. The effect is a good one.

Boughs Of Holly

 Carrying on today with looking at the decorated Christmas trees around the Chateau Laurier, here are more.

Deck The Halls

 This wreath is outside the main entrance of the Chateau Laurier.

Inside we go. One big tree stands in the main lobby, flanked by two smaller ones. Through the corridors on this first floor are multiple trees, part of a Christmas tradition. Local companies and organizations decorate trees and donate to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The concept is a photographer's dream in a luxurious location and Ottawa landmark.

I noticed this, not far from one of the hotel's restaurants. This castle is in fact made by a local bakery, consisting of 15 kilograms of chocolate.

More of the trees. We'll continue here tomorrow.

Silent Night

 Merry Christmas.

It is my general habit to feature churches on Christmas Day. I begin with this shot from late November, taken in Westboro. All Saints Anglican and First United Church share this one.

This is St. Patrick Basilica downtown.

They have a Nativity scene outside.

Centretown United Church is also in the core.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is in a prominent spot on Wellington Street downtown- directly across from the Supreme Court of Canada.

Dominion-Chalmers United Church is downtown, a few blocks south from Parliament Hill.

And I finish with what's generally accepted as the most prominent church in the city- Notre Dame Basilica, seen from its neighbour across the street, the National Gallery of Canada.

And here it is in full, a fitting conclusion for churches on Christmas Day.