ottawa:everything but the tulips

it's so long ago already, all these pictures look standard tourist to me. but seriosly, it's very tempting to be a tourist in a touristy place. it's like supporting the local hockey team (i just wanted to say that, ok. i'll shut up about hockey now.) anyway, whatever, here is the parliament buildings. also, here's part of the line for free guided tours (at 9.45 a.m., at which point i was told a bit later that there were no tickets left already.)

i don't understand the purpose of each buildings, but there are lots of buildings there actually, not just the one. they look like a mismatched set of toys, or like the furniture at my place at the moment.)

like for example this ...thing, the library building, for whose sake i would have probably gone on the guided tour. well, next time. maybe. if i stay in ottawa more than 1 day, or if i start from montreal at 4 a.m. to get there in time to stand in line.

and, bridge views. this is alexandra bridge, jsyk

and i still have no idea what that building with the tumors is

things i've gotten used to taking photos of over this past year

i think i was aiming for a full-length picture of this tower, then i gave up. too close. but you need to be close for the details, etc.

so here's some details, for those among you interested in...details, even if this baby building was only finished in the 20th century. omg this continent is just so...you know.

i mean, what?!

oooowww, the queens!

the nice side of tourist culture

somehow the fact that there is a queen, and she exists, and we acknowledge her, is something that needs to be emphasized. a lot. well alright. 

women are persons! google it, i think...

tea time, obviously

goodness, more detailing. all over the place. 

alright, moving on to the locks

and the very eventful opening of said locks for this boat to pass

very aptly, in the memory of people who died building the canal

and more view of the hill

part of national gallery

the spider that everybody loves

this is already in the marketplace, looking for an appropriate snack. (byward market : translation in french, marché by; obviously ottawa is very bilingual. i heard a lot of french spoken, but most people i was crossing were tourists, so i dunno) .
i think the 'obama cookies' are just the maple leaf- shaped ones, but i was happy to see a lot of flower options...of course tulips are held in high regard

another cookie place, more gourmet-y, i think, with an inexplicable thing for penguins. i mean no, i do understand them, penguins are damn cute.

giulia!!!!

more market fare. interesting thready fare, but i mostly took the pic for the stag, yea?

a 'survey' project of sorts, on the wall of a cafe, at the entrance. the cafe is on a sidestreet from the market, that gives into a lovely courtyard. truly lovely. and of course i did my part for this poster

angels frozen in awkward moments

sculpture was initially called 'love', then the author went and changed its title into something else - i forget what now, but i think that would make a good story. like the way julian barnes comments on the classic 'we must love one another and die'. (this is quite a tangent, no?)

along the canal, not really sure whether to take pictures or what. i mean yes, there's a field of tulips across the water. is that really so special? dunno, walk on.

now this dude, props to him. considering that my forehead started peeling one week post-my ottawa trip, when all i'd done was walk...

at the festival site. cheating again by incorporating tulips in pictures/post. i obviously have excuses and justifications for the cheating too.

like, oh, but they are not real, it's just kitschy festival fare. and that face looks so weird (it's princess juliana, i think, the one who got this festival started)

of course this...deserves an inclusion. in whichever blog post, ever. 

and this is really lovely. i caught her alone by chance, everywhere there were people clamoring for pics with her

goodness, is this all? i was convinced i had tons more to show and comment on. i admit that this month was bad for the blogging business in the sense that life got in the way in...weird ways, but i will try to get back on track and stay serious about informing the public. soon,
c.