Monday, 5 April 2010

Montreal

Highlights from an Easter trip to Montreal:

Flags of Quebec and Montreal. (The Montreal flag has symbols of the four main cultures that initially made up the population: French, English, Scots and Irish.)

Place Jacques-Cartier, the centre of the old town, and a hive of activity on a sunny weekend evening.


Montreal's first skyscraper, The New York Life Insurance Building. Built in 1887 with sandstone imported from Dumfriesshire, Scotland.


Across the Place d'Armes is the Basilica Notre Dame. 


The stained glass depicts scenes from the history of Canada and Montreal.


Wandering in Montreal's trendy Plateau region...


...it was not uncommon to come across curious scenes.


To the east of the city is the Olympic Park. The stadium was designed in the 'Modern Organic' style...


...which is fitting, as presently the main attraction in the vicinity is the botanical gardens and butterfly house:




















No trip to Montreal would be complete without a climb up the 233 metre high Mount Royal for the views across the city:

Monday, 22 March 2010

Maple Madness

A trip to the Cataraqui Conservation Area to learn how maple syrup is made...









 



Monday, 22 February 2010

Lemoine Point

A walk around Lemoine Point Conservation Area, on the edge of Kingston. Although most of the snow is gone, there are no signs of any spring growth yet, but many birds and squirrels out enjoying themselves.
















Saturday, 6 February 2010

Lake Ontario Ice

A walk along the frozen shore of Lake Ontario
(You'll notice that I've got my photo editing software going again, so the colours might not necessarily be true to life!)
 


 


 


Found an interesting hole in the ice...
 

What could be down there?!
 


...more ice...
 


...and an interesting view
 


 

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Road Trip along the St Lawrence River

One sunny winter afternoon we all got in the car and drove...

First to Gananoque, where we saw the town hall:
 



A mischievous woodpecker:



And Andy tested the ice...





We continued to the mighty St Lawrence


Ian decided that the far bank looked more appealing



and Marty joined his effort to cross the St Lawrence on foot



Meanwhile, Andy and Sara sat on the river bank soaking up some rays







Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Out and about in Ottawa

Risking frostbite to take a few photos from Nepean Point, above the Ottawa River










A tour around the Museum of Civilization:





Some details from West Coast artist Bill Reid's sculpture, "Spirit of Haida Gwaii":
 



 The domed ceiling of the grand hall is painted by Alex Janvier; "Morning Star"