Across the bridge

Alexandra Bridge from the Ontario side, January 2012

Yesterday being a fine day I decided to walk to a friend's apartment on the Quebec side of the Ottawa river. She lives at 175 ave. Laurier and to get there on foot, it's best to pass the National Gallery and cross the oldest interprovincial bridge in town, the Alexandra Bridge. It was built at the turn of the (19th-20th) century and opened in 1901 as a Canadian-Pacific railway bridge; it was used for that purpose until 1966. The Ontario-to-Quebec lane for motor traffic overhangs the river to the right of the main cantilever bridge and its metal surface vibrates with a terrible rumbling noise when you drive across it. On the other side is the pathway of wooden planks for cyclists and pedestrians. Traffic driving from Quebec to Ontario use the original part.

Alexandra Bridge seen from a window of the Great Hall
at the Musée des Civilisations in Gatineau

On the Quebec side of the Ottawa River the Museum of Civilisation (Musée des Civilisations, plural, in French, which in my opinion is a better description of what the museum offers) stands on the shore to the west of the bridge and from its windows a fine view of the river, the bridge and, indeed, most of Ottawa's famous landmarks. Yesterday was a particularly good day for views, the sky being crisp and clear and the Gatineau Hills on the horizon covered in snow.

In the afternoon after visiting the museum as well as my friend I walked all the way back home as well.