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While

velvetpage was in surgery, I took a long walk. The surgical waiting area is inevitably filled with angry people, sad people, irritated people, or worried people, and I was pretty sure I was going to be sitting there for several hours anyway, while she was in recovery.

So. Walking. Up and down the Mountain. I took about 200 photos.

Oh! First stop, though was to the Neonatal Unit, where my oldest and best friend's wife had just given birth to their second child. Both mom and daughter were already set for dischage, after a single day in hospital, and both mom and baby were beautiful.

Then, outside, to walking. It was very cold and clear. The hospital is built into the side of the Hamilton Escarpment, and the area around it is a sort of odd "tiered" district, with houses and streets clinging to different levels of a steep incline.

There are hidden castles, wooded trails, ziggurats, bunkers, and secret cellars, for those with the right eyes to see 'em.

We'll start with the first of the castles, the one that's hidden right in the bones of the city.

Can you see it?

Look closer! That is the roof of an enormous mid-19th century manor home that was once surrounded by gracious parkland. The city grew around it. This is all that can be seen from the street.

Going around the block and cutting through a parking lot and into the back of an apartment built, we find the back of the manor house. Now subdivided into offices and low-rent apartments.

Complete with modern amenities!

The grand entrance runs into the back of a strip mall.

The rest of the building has been consumed by the shabby grey block on the right. It is called, perhaps ironically, "The Castle Building."

Looking down on creation. James Street South, anyway.

Looking north on the James Street hill.

The Medical Arts Building reminds me of a zigurrat temple. Well, sometimes.

Inside... ANALOG ELEVATOR NUMBERS! Like in MOVIES!

Another mansion, just 200 metres from the building with the shabby man peering over a shabby balcony. This is downtown Hamilton for you - rich and poor living cheek by jowl, at least in a broad strip along the base of the Mountain.

Detail of the tower.

Ballinahinch! Bless you!

The front. This is, again, right off the James Street hill.

And this is where Mr. and Mrs. Legoman retired.

Look up from the second "tier", to the third and four "tiers" of neighborhoods.

Across Burlington Bay, 9.2 kms (5.75 miles), the hospital where I was born!

Looking north toward Lake Ontario and the steel mills. Behind you can see the Toronto skyline. The CN Tower is 61 kms (38 miles) from the side of the Mountain, where I took this photo.

Mad prophets! Someone has been posting these around town since I was a kid.

Rock Castle, the front door of which is inacessible from any surface street. The mansion itself is about 150 feet above the lower city, with two "tiers" of houses about 80 feet and 30 feet below it. I took this photo from a trail about 20 feet below.