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Actually, I'm calling this the tulip festival page, and I did indeed walk around
downtown (with some friends) during the tulip festival, and even visited the main
pavilion (I think), but you aren't going to find any pictures of tulips here.
One reason is that I'm just not all that much of a horticultural enthusiast, and
the other reason is I kept being distracted by the smell of tasty poutine and
italian sausage hot dogs. Mmmm...
We hooked around the back of Parliament Hill and over the Rideau Canal. It's
surprising how important the canal is to Ottawa. It defines defines the bounds
of downtown along with the Ottawa River and Rideau River. Lots of beautiful houses
look over it. It flows past both universities. Everybody skates on it in the winter.
And of course, many tulips (not pictured here) are planted next to it every
spring.
My interest in the canal is more for the locks. The idea of using locks to manage
a change of water level seems so obvious in hindsight, but it was brilliant.
Before steam, canals were the only easy way to reach inland cities with large
cargoes if they didn't have river access.
I have to say, though. If I had the choice, I'd rather have worked laying rail
road track than digging the canal. Digging a canal before earth moving tools
were available must have been incredibly difficult.
Oh wait, I did snap a photo of some tulips after all. If you squint just right,
you may be able to make them out as a splotch of red running in a horizontal
line.
I've always loved this view of downtown. The red brick buildings behind the
flag have always been some of my favourite.
I realize that the business district of many cities sees less traffic on the weekends,
but the emptiness of many streets is just amazing considering Ottawa is the capital
city and this shot was taken within a block or two of the Parliament buildings.
You'd think there would be some tourists even if locals stayed away.
I wonder if regulations make it especially tough on small business here. Even many
pubs with patios were CLOSED on a day with great weather!
No photo album of Ottawa's downtown can be complete without a picture of the
Parliament Buildings. I didn't manage to include the eternal flame though, and
it was time for the changing of the guard.
Personally, I think the best view of Parliament is actually from the Quebec
side of the river, maybe from somewhere near the Museum of Civilization, but
the front seems ore recognizable. I guess because the clock tower is more
obvious that way.
I wonder if it says anything about the U.S. and Canada that their most recognizable
government building is the residence of the President, and our most recognizable
building houses the legislature?
One thing I learned today is that taking pictures using your phone is extremely difficult
on sunny days because the LCD screen's backlight can't compete with the sun so you have
to hope that your shot turns out well since you can't see it until you find a shaded
area to review it!
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