Walking on Mont-Royal

A perfect day for a walk - with the sun shining and the temperature rising.



While the city sidewalks are fairly bare, snow still lingers on Mont-Royal.



You could hear water rushing as the melting snow found its way down the hill. Sounds of chickadees, a woodpecker and the call of a crow accompanied our walk.




You could smell the arrival of spring




Under a perfect blue sky. Joggers in shorts, walkers, cyclists and even a cross-country skier - all were out enjoying the sunshine.



These Montreal policemen were patrolling the mountain. Not a bad assignment - a slow ride on a sunny day seeing all the smiling faces enjoying the spring weather.

Horses in the City

Horses in the City, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I really wanted to find out who the artist is who created these horses. I wanted to have a closer look. BUT... I was not allowed to approach. They are located next to the circular driveway which goes to the entrance to the National Art Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Pedestrians have to stay on the sidewalk on the other side of the driveway.



So if there is a plaque naming the artist, I could not even try to find it. I did like these prancing equines, but could only get closer with the zoom on my camera :-(

24/08/12
A friend just let me know that these are by Joe Fafard - a wonderful artist from Saskatchewan. One of his cows can be found here.

Snacking

Snacking, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A crisp day with many people out enjoying the winter possibilities. I went up to Mount Royal. Skaters, toboganners, walkers were all out enjoying winter. This horse was taking a snack while waiting for customers who wanted to tour the mountain in a less aerobic fashion. In summer the horses pull caleches (buggies) around Old Montreal. Some of them spend time on the mountain in winter, pulling these sleighs.

He's off with some customers

The camera pushes me to walk more, to search out interesting spots to share. Photography can be a challenge in this weather with fingers feeling frosty after a few photos without gloves. I spend time alternating between snapping photos and thawing my finger tips. But the air is invigorating, the festive spirit and sense of fun is contagious. Walking on the mountain always brings me peace.

Sept 11/10: Cavorting Horse

Sept 11/10: Cavorting Horse, originally uploaded by susanvg.

As a city person, I enjoy driving through the countryside and gawking at all those things we don't see regularly in the city. I pulled over by the side of the road to snap this horse cavorting in the sunshine. It struck me that for the people there this was just a mundane scene, but for me it was special.

When country people find themselves in a city they gawk at all I consider normal - the buildings, the traffic and all the other features of city life. Unique to one is mundane to another.

Sometimes it is fun to look at things afresh from another person's eyes such as when you have visitors to your city - showing the city makes you look afresh. Sometimes it is better to look through your own eyes and discover all that makes you wonder and enjoy.

Day 158: Meandering

Day 158: Meandering, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Another long drive - Toronto to Casselman. What a difference once we got off the 401. The country road meandered through farmland and little towns, some more picturesque than others. We could slow down and admire the scenery, open a window and hear a bird, not just the hum of traffic and whoosh of the air at high speeds. And we could stop a moment to photograph this horse.

The sun was setting and though it was sometimes in our eyes, as we turned we were caught by the ever-changing light as it turned from yellow, to gold to orange. When we stepped out of the car we were aware of the fresh smell of the air. Sometimes it's good to get out of the city - but tomorrow I will be back in Montreal.

Day 138: Water for Horses

Day 138: Water for Horses, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A water trough for horses with fresh water spewing out can be found as you walk through Mount Royal Park. A plaque dedicates it to someone who was a lover of horses. The only horses you see on the mountain are those ridden by the police. They patrol the mountain on horseback. Their stable is located just off the road that cuts through the mountain.

Occasionally the caleche drivers come up to the mountain to offer tours. Perhaps their horses take advantage of this ready supply of water.

Day 9: Horses

Day 9: Horses, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I'm a city girl, but because of my relationship, I spend time in a small town in rural Ontario. It was a cold crisp day - one of those beautiful days after a snowfall when the snow is perfectly white and the sun shines, showing every nuance of the windswept snow. I took a drive from Casselman to the next town, Embrun to get some groceries. My newly focused eyes, always on the lookout for something to capture saw these horses. Even they needed winter coats. But the sun was bright. I stopped by the road and took this from my car window - focus isn't great, but for a city girl, it's a novelty to see horses. Sometimes the picture is not about the great shot, but about the story behind it.