Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Vancouver
Ok... so we are just loving the trees.
I know these are quite similar pics but I just couldnt decide which one to remove... so you are getting both.
We met Michelle at Thierry cafe for coffee and a pastry. A gorgeous cafe but still we have not found what is good coffee to us. Yes! we are spoilt Melbourne coffee loving brats!
From there Michelle headed off to Stanley Park for a big walk and we walked a little before jumping in a cab for Granville Island. Its not too far but it began to rain again so we decided to get there dry. This city at every turn just feels familiar. We realise it is the Imperial influence we didnt realise is also Australia. At every turn we feel Melbourne/ Brisbane/ and even Hong Kong.
Granville Island is a huge Public indoor Market as well and a very diverse arts community. There are many theatres and workshops on the island. For those who know it, it is probably the size of Brisbanes south bank. So a big area. Get a load of these trees across the water....
After a couple of hours wandering and enjoying, we bought some lunch and sat outside to enjoy. It had stopped raining and it was lovely looking across to Vancouver. This very sweet little bird had no qualms landing next to Mark and cheep in hope he would toss a crumb or two. We didnt dare as there were also copious amounts of seagulls (twice the size of ours at home) and pigeons.
Clam Chowder.... and loving it. The bloody seagulls literally swooped between our heads, before landing in front of us. It seemed they were practised in scaring the **** out of people in hope they would drop their food. They nearly succeeded ! FYI - I had some maple glazed dry smoked salmon and a salad. So yummy.
We then caught this tiny Aquabus up False Creek to the Science Centre district. From there we walked to Chinatown. Along the way we passed a football and ice hockey stadium. Mark gazed longingly at them... but alas there were no games on while we are here.
One of my main objectives here was to visit the DR Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. In very recent years National Geographic voted it the worlds best city public garden. They apparently had master craftsmen brought from China to build it in traditonal style.
Check out the laying of stones for the paths. Most have round edges as they are small river rocks and others are small pieces of granite.
There seemed to be a small monastary attached to the garden. Some monks we making a sand mandala. We sat and watched for a while .. enjoying a hot tea. It is painstaking back-breaking work literally laying the sand a grain at a time in the most intricate pattern. It literally means 'a million grains of sand'. It was to be finished within 24 hrs and it looked like they still had a lot of work to do. You can see the outline further out from where they are working, that had to be filled in. It was to be swept up in a ceremony the following day. I know in the past when they are swept up the sands have been distributed to people in little containers or poured into a river. This is to share the energy.
The garden was not large but it was beautiful. It was as much about the buildings as it was about water and plants.
Gorgeous!
We then strolled back up through Gastown. Adam had warned us about a particular area to avoid at night. We had to pass through it and I can see why the warning. Every street corner for about 4 blocks had about 20 people hanging around there. Seemingly homeless but clearly all with drug problems. It was very sad and more than a little disconcerting to see.
Back to the reality of our consumerist life. Here were candy apples in many flavours and coatings.
Mark watching the end of a working day, from our hotel window.
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2 comments:
Mark looks like Donald Trump over seeing his empire.
Vancouver is definitely on the bucket list.
Are you guys trying to put on as many kilo's as you can!!!!!
All sounds bloody terrific,really jealous back here at Burleigh.
Absolutely love those trees and the gardens..the photo through the arch is my new background. I shouldn't worry about the extra kilos with all that beautiful food you are walking enough to keep that in check..have fun take care xx
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