Ottawa Pics
Oct. 3rd, 2010 02:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rusty_armourIt took me long enough, but I'm finally posting some pictures of my trip to Ottawa - the one I took with my mom last week. I'm going to try to stick to the ones that turned out best and/or seem the most interesting. I'm also going to try to limit the amount of text I include because I have PMS and suffered from a bad bout of insomnia last night. I mean, I did get some sleep. I slept between about 11:00 and 1:30 and then 7:45ish and 11:00. Trust me. Fewer words from me right now is a good thing. *g*
View from our room at the Crowne Plaza
Parliament Buildings
Close up of the Peace Tower
We didn't get any pictures of the inside of the Parliament Buildings because we were only able to make it as far as the gift shop after three different attempts. However, there's an easy way to know exactly what the inside of the Parliament Buildings look like. Just find a strip of red tape. It doesn't matter what kind of tape. It can be any type and any shade of red.
Moving right along...
Eternal Flame
A wonderful shot my mom requested
The following pictures were taken on our third last day in Ottawa, but it seemed fitting to include them among the other photos of the Parliament Buildings. We had arrived at Parliament Hill to see if we could take a tour and found ourselves smack in the middle of a beautiful and moving memorial service for Ontario police officers killed in the line of duty. I think this is when the Parliament Buildings were at their finest.
Another tourist pointed out to us that snipers had
been posted, so I shamelessly snapped some pictures.
Giant spider outside the National Gallery of Canada
A magnificient corridor inside the National Gallery. I absolutely loved
this place -- and not just because it has two Turner paintings in the
Impressionism section. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
Jeanne D'Arc Court
Byward Market
Chateau Laurier
Bytown Museum. Built in 1827, this is
said to be Ottawa's oldest stone building.
Rideau Canal Locks
Mom beside the Rideau Canal Locks
Shot of wedding we could see outside our hotel window. We also saw a
parade of police officers heading for Parliament Hill on the day of the
memorial service, though we didn't realize that was what the parade was
at the time. I joked that I wanted to see some parachutists next, and Mom
said she'd like to see some people abseiling down one of the tall buildings.
Another highlight of the trip was the Ghost & Gallows ghost walk we took on our second night in Ottawa. The following photos were taken at the Ottawa Jail Hostel, which was once the Carleton County Jail. This building is perhaps best known as being the prison where Patrick James Whelan was kept after being convicted (probably falsely) for murdering Thomas D'Arcy McGee on April 7, 1868. He was hanged at the gallows at the rear of the jail on February 11, 1869. He is said to haunt the Ottawa Jail Hostel and a spirit matching his description has been seen several times. The Ottawa Carleton County Jail was eventually closed down in 1972 because of its appalling conditions. My mom and I were both shocked and disgusted that it hadn't been shut down sooner. Yay, Canada.
A cell where a single inmate would be held.
It is only three feet wide and nine feet long.
Seriously creepy stairwell in the hostel. I didn't have the nerve to take
a picture, but there's a beam along the ceiling that has no structural
purpose. Some believe that prisoners may have been hanged from it
unofficially. As this is the one floor of the building that doesn't have
suicide bars on the stairs, it does paint a rather frightening picture...
Bizarre sculpture in the exercise
yard that most of us found disturbing
Stone slab under which Patrick James Whelan might be buried.
He is said to be buried somewhere in the exercise yard.
Although he asked for a Christian burial and his widow pleaded
to have his body buried in Montreal, the authorities were afraid
of the riots that might occur in Montreal if Whelan's body was
moved there. In 2003, two boys on a school trip jumped up and down
on this stone slab and called out to Whelan, demanding that he show
himself. Then the boys froze and both of their noses began bleeding
simultaneously. Since that day, a number of people have experienced
nosebleeds when hearing that story. Our tour guide says it happened
twice in tours he conducted.
Clarendon Court and Courtyard Restaurant
Baby sparrows in Clarendon Court
Crow in Clarendon Court
A window from the second floor of the Courtyard Restaurant.
The spirit of a woman in nineteeth century dress has been
seen in one of the rooms gazing out the window. She may be
the spirit of a woman who died in a fire after rushing back
inside the building (which would have been the McArthur
House Hotel) to retrieve her belongings. Ironically,
there was a fire at the Courtyard Restaurant earlier
this year and the place is still closed down for renovations.
Statue of Laura Secord at the Valiants Memorial
Confederation Square
National War Memorial
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Boat we sailed on for our cruise down the Rideau Canal
Shots along the Rideau Canal
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 06:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 11:17 pm (UTC)One of my friends works for Hostelling International and has spent time working at the Gaol Hostel. Sounds like a great place. And he used to get letters from people who wanted to stay there just to confront the supposed ghost.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 12:07 am (UTC)I hadn't been to Ottawa since I was nine, so it was almost like seeing it for the first time. I'm glad I finally made it back. :-)
If you write to your MP, you can get permission to sit in the visitor's gallery during Parliament.
Oh, that's cool. I didn't know that.
One of my friends works for Hostelling International and has spent time working at the Gaol Hostel. Sounds like a great place.
I don't think I could spend a whole night there, especially if it involved sleeping in any of the cells. That place seriously creeped me out. It wasn't a pleasant building to be in. I mean, it's fascinating but scary.
And he used to get letters from people who wanted to stay there just to confront the supposed ghost.
Our tour guide told us this great story about two German tourists who stayed at the hostel, hoping to have a paranormal experience. When they didn't have one, they demanded a refund. The person at the desk tried to explain to them that the hostel is meant to provide accomodation not ghosts, but these men were insistent. Then a coin rose out of the cash register and hovered in the air in front of them before falling back in the drawer. The two men left immediately and didn't get their refund.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 12:27 am (UTC)I must be a better photographer than I thought because the weather wasn't great. It was chilly and rained a lot of the time. *g* All the same, we managed to have fun.
I wish I could afford to travel a bit. This time of year I almost always get depressed because the light is going, and I think that being in a city somehow cancels out that effect.
I hate to break it to you, but I suffer from seasonal affective disorder and I'm pretty sure that living in a city hasn't help me one bit. Unfortunately, lack of sunlight is lack of sunlight, no matter where you live. However, maybe travelling to a new place helps to cancel out the effect a little. It might serve as a distraction.
Anyway, great that you were able to get away for a while and see all those awesome sights!
Thanks,
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 09:49 am (UTC)You saw original Turners - wow!
Your photo of the canal bridge is beautiful.
That sculpture is seriously creepy. I think it was brave of you to go into that jail.
The robins are cute, but they look cold!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 10:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 11:54 am (UTC)Great pics and explanations. I think I get SAD as well and being in a town/city makes it worse sometimes I think. I just want to be by the sea or in the countryside away from people!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 02:52 pm (UTC)I have lived in and around Ottawa for my whole life and it's nice to see it through a tourist's eyes. You have made it a lot more interesting.
There was a time anyone could sit in the visitors' gallery of Parliament, but I think now you have to be "invited". Of course, you can just request an invitation from your MP, but it just separates us that much more from our government. I vaguely remember sitting the gallery with my grandfather. I must have been pre-school age.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 03:30 pm (UTC)Thank you very much,
You saw original Turners - wow!
I KNOW! I absolutely love Turner! He's my favourite painter! :-) I think the best art exhibit I ever saw was one on Impressionism at the Art Gallery of Ontario. I can't remember how many Turner paintings were there, but it was a lot more than two! It was awesome! :-D
Your photo of the canal bridge is beautiful.
Thanks again! :-)
That sculpture is seriously creepy.
I'm not sure who made it or why, but it's truly bizarre, especially as it's in the exercise yard of a former jail!
I think it was brave of you to go into that jail.
Well, I'm a ghost walk junkie, so I had to go in. Still, it was creepier than I expected and I pride myself on having a good imagination when it comes to things like that. *g*
The robins are cute, but they look cold!
Those poor baby birds probably were cold. I think it was pretty chilly that day.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 03:41 pm (UTC)Yeah that spider, I am terrified of the real ones, but I do like that sculpture. Just as long as they never start coming in the size in real life. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 04:55 pm (UTC)You're absolutely right,
Great pics and explanations.
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed both! :-)
I think I get SAD as well and being in a town/city makes it worse sometimes I think. I just want to be by the sea or in the countryside away from people!
Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel. Of course, whenever I feel depressed and/or lousy, I usually want to get away from people. *g*
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 05:00 pm (UTC)Thank you very much,
I have lived in and around Ottawa for my whole life and it's nice to see it through a tourist's eyes. You have made it a lot more interesting.
I thought you might find this boring because you've lived in and around Ottawa your whole life, so I'm happy that you found the tourist POV interesting. :-)
There was a time anyone could sit in the visitors' gallery of Parliament, but I think now you have to be "invited". Of course, you can just request an invitation from your MP, but it just separates us that much more from our government. I vaguely remember sitting the gallery with my grandfather. I must have been pre-school age.
I get the feeling that you do need to be invited to the vistors' gallery by your MP. As it was, I think we needed our MP just to get in the building. *g* Anywaaaaay, it's great that you were able to sit in the gallery with your grandfather when you were a little kid. It obviously left an impression with you if it's something you're able to remember. :-)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 05:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 07:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 07:26 pm (UTC)I'm glad the entry was interesting. I was afraid that you and
You have included some lovely shots.
Thank you very much,
Yeah that spider, I am terrified of the real ones, but I do like that sculpture. Just as long as they never start coming in the size in real life. :)
It's great that you can still appreciate the sculpture despite being afraid of real spiders. And I think if spiders started coming in that size, we'd all be terrified! ;-)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 03:47 pm (UTC)Great pics! It looks like you had a fun time with your mom, and you really captured the feeling of early fall in your photos.
The Jail Hostel looks very creepy. I don't think it's somewhere I'd want to spend the night.
Those poor bridesmaids look to be freezing to death! I guess they were hoping for Indian Summer when they planned the outdoor ceremony.
I really like your shot of the police motorcycles all lined up so precisely and also the one of the reflections under the bridges. Great composition!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 04:53 pm (UTC)Great pics! It looks like you had a fun time with your mom, and you really captured the feeling of early fall in your photos.
Thanks,
The Jail Hostel looks very creepy. I don't think it's somewhere I'd want to spend the night.
No, it's not somewhere I'd want to spend the night either. Even if I had a proper room, I think I'd still be creeped out.
Those poor bridesmaids look to be freezing to death! I guess they were hoping for Indian Summer when they planned the outdoor ceremony.
It was a really chilly and windy day. They were spared from any rain, but I'm sure everyone was happy to get back indoors again. I think you might be right about the couple hoping for an Indian Summer. I'm guessing it's either that or they weren't able to book any earlier.
I really like your shot of the police motorcycles all lined up so precisely and also the one of the reflections under the bridges. Great composition!
It figures. My mom was the one who suggested the shot of the police motorcycles all lined up (as she was having problems with her camera). And that shot of the bridge was an idea I stole from her. I saw her taking a picture of it and decided to do likewise. *Sigh* Well, as she's the one who belonged to a camera club and actually knows something about photography, I guess I shouldn't be too jealous. *g*
no subject
Date: 2010-10-06 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-06 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 03:00 pm (UTC)Hee! Of course you found ghosts in Ottawa!
Holy cow! That is one creepy claustrophobic cell! It looks like a coffin! I don't blame you for not taking a photograph of the beam. I wouldn't want the image in my camera. I was reading your post to my mother over the phone. We were both appalled that it was operating until 1972.
You took some glorious photographs! It brought back some nice memories of the trip my mother and I took there.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 04:12 pm (UTC)And a Happy Tofurkey weekend to you! :-)
Hee! Of course you found ghosts in Ottawa!
Well, technically, I didn't find any -- none that I'm aware of, anyway. However, I did go looking. *g*
Holy cow! That is one creepy claustrophobic cell! It looks like a coffin!
Hey, you're right. It does look like a coffin. *shiver* The sad thing is that such cells were thought to be at the height of sophistication when they were built.
I don't blame you for not taking a photograph of the beam. I wouldn't want the image in my camera.
I was afraid of what I might see hanging from the beam if I took a picture...
I was reading your post to my mother over the phone. We were both appalled that it was operating until 1972.
I discovered something even worse last night. I was doing some research on the Old Don Jail and learned that it was open until 1977 -- five years after Carleton County Jail! And I'm ashamed to say that the conditions sound like they were even worse. Believe it or not, I think the cells were actually smaller. However, what really gets me is that they're building a medical centre over the Don Jail and keeping parts of the old building, such as some of the cells and the gallows! I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be treated next door to a place like that. Hell, the newer Don Jail would have seen it's fair share of misery as well considering all of the prisoners who were killed or committed suicide.
Uh...sorry. Got a bit carried away there. I might be setting my "novel" (*snort*) at the Don Jail (before it's converted into a medical centre) or create a fictional jail (that's been converted into a museum) based on the Old Don Jail and the Carleton County Jail.
You took some glorious photographs! It brought back some nice memories of the trip my mother and I took there.
Thank you very much! I'm so glad the pictures brought back happy memories of your own trip to Ottawa! :-D
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 06:45 pm (UTC)Hee!
"The sad thing is that such cells were thought to be at the height of sophistication when they were built."
Seriously? Shudders. I wonder what they were replacing?
"I was afraid of what I might see hanging from the beam if I took a picture..."
Eeeeee!
"I discovered something even worse last night. I was doing some research on the Old Don Jail and learned that it was open until 1977 -- five years after Carleton County Jail! And I'm ashamed to say that the conditions sound like they were even worse. Believe it or not, I think the cells were actually smaller."
"Seriously?"
However, what really gets me is that they're building a medical centre over the Don Jail and keeping parts of the old building, such as some of the cells and the gallows! I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be treated next door to a place like that. Hell, the newer Don Jail would have seen it's fair share of misery as well considering all of the prisoners who were killed or committed suicide."
Very true. They are violent miserable places in modern times as well. No, I can't say that I'd like one of parents for example to visit a medical centre over a former jail. I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be the right healing vibes. Too Stephen King for me.
"Uh...sorry. Got a bit carried away there. I might be setting my "novel" (*snort*) at the Don Jail (before it's converted into a medical centre) or create a fictional jail (that's been converted into a museum) based on the Old Don Jail and the Carleton County Jail."
Hey, no snorting! My first hint about the novel! Yay! That sounds awesome! If it's high enough resolution you could use the cell photograph for the cover! Creepy!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-12 04:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-12 03:21 pm (UTC)