June 2017 – Page 2

Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver

5th June

Klaus and Bonnie gave me a lift to Bridgeport bus station at great speed which I really didn’t enjoy. Why is it that nearly every holiday abroad involves a speed merchant at some point? I took the bus to the University of British Columbia which has a massive campus. Asked a chap re correct stop and he offered to point me in north west direction (I love that people use the points of the compass to give directions, must try this at home, ha ha!!) then a woman said I could walk with her. We had a pleasant 7 minute chat/walk about our Virtual Learning Environments! She is a classics teacher and does some of it online. When she went off she said to walk through the parkade, well I didn’t know what to expect, was it a type of park or was it a type of car park? I still don’t know because it was a mini park on top of a car park! Update – Karin says it’s a car park with at least 2 stories.

I spent several hours in MoA, which is excellent and different from the Victoria museum. It’s built on some WW2 concrete defenses. I went straight to the cafe as had not had a coffee. Also had a lunch of quinoa and coconut salad there. Ok, a bit dry.

It took nearly two hours to get back by bus and I managed to spot my stop ok. Popped out for supplies.

Early to bed.

View to North Vancouver mountains from MoA

Bill Reid work for MoA. Raven and the First Men. Haida creation story.

North Vancouver

4th June

Karin and Fred picked me up in the big truck, Nissan V8 Titan! Lovely! We went up to North Vancouver and walked across a suspension bridge (not the Capilano bridge but good for me as not too long and scary and also no charge). A lot of people out on a beautiful Sunday. We walked all around Rice Lake. From one point the drinking water drops down for a mile.

Then to look at the Cleveland dam on Capilano Lake, this is near to the foot of Grouse mountain and the start of the Grouse Grind. The walk is shut until 12th June. From the dam you can see up to the two lions on the top.

We dropped down into the top of Stanley Park crossing over the Lions Gate bridge which is just brilliant, see picture. A lot of people were out in the sun on the beaches.

Out of the park past English Bay which was where we got to on Friday. Over the Burrard bridge, into where the university is and the Museum of Anthropology so I know for tomorrow.

Back to Kitsilano to The Naam restaurant. We had such a good meal. I had a Mexi Dragon Bowl which was rice, veggies, miso gravy. The resto is veggie, organic and open 24 hours and good on prices. Great atmosphere of calm and good food.

K and F took me home, a lovely day out. There is so much more to Vancouver than the downtown area.

Karin and Fred on mini suspension bridge

Vancouver and Tsawwassen

3rd June

Breakfast of pancakes, poached egg and baked beans and maple syrup in the Two Parrots opposite the Ramada. This was a cheap and cheerful cafe. Totally stuffed. It was like being in an American cop show because a policeman came in and arrested a customer. He gave him a good working over outside, to see what he was carrying as opposed to beating him up. Wandered down to the docks and saw Grouse Mountain and enormous cruise ship. Back to hotel and farewells to the rest of the group.

Karin and Fred turned up and off we went. They showed me Gastown and then we went to Commercial Drive, both nice areas, much nicer than Downtown. Fred told me a lot of history of the areas, great tour guide! We went to Havana resto and I had the Havana salad which was great and had everything in it, guacamole, salsa, beans, cheese…

Drove across to the peninsula to look at the area, Ladner village and then Boundary Bay where K and F live. The bottom of the peninsula is below the 49th Parallel so is one of I think 3 parts of the USA not accessible from the USA. I have an urge to stand over the border just to say I have been to the US of A.

Then they kindly took me to my B&B which is a room in a condominium with Bonnie and Klaus. K and F went off.

First got my laundry done then they took me to the supermarket and showed me bus stops and so on. Very welcoming and friendly.

Talking with Bonnie, her sister died from amyloidosis. Strange the cards that fate plays.

They have a lot of birds who visit. A crested jay and a hummingbird have been since I arrived. I can expect to see bald eagles popping in! Expect all I liked, they didn’t.

Site with interesting things about old Vancouver buildings.

Marine Building, Burrard Street. 1930, once the tallest building in the British Empire

Vancouver

2nd June

Up very early. Out and onto 9 a.m. ferry to Tsawwassen. Breakfast on the boat. The port is some way from the city. We arrived at the downtown Ramada and deposited our luggage. For 13 people this takes up a lot of space.

The Ramada is in the centre of things. We took a walk to the beach and bimbled along. Lunch at nice resto on front, the Boathouse. I had noodles and veg. Back to hotel via shops with Jo, Chris and Norman.

All out for last dinner with Mireille. We ended up in an Italian. Nice food but they were very disorganised which spoilt things for us, I think it was called Cibo Trattoria but am not sure. Sally got us a better deal. Farewell to Joy and to Mireille.

With Sally Norman, Heather and Andy to pub where drank a beer quickly, then to goth pub joining hotel. Tried a Jim Beam. Tick.

Inukshuk, these are used to point the way

Victoria

1st June

Slept badly. Up and out to nice coffee in Ucluelet and into bus at 8. Drove back across to the east of Vancouver Island and then south to Victoria. Stopped on the way for Tim Hortons coffee, another for leg stretching and another at Duncan to see the totem poles, there are a great many.

The local community acknowledges that the totem pole collection is located on the traditional lands of the Quw’utsun’ (Cowichan) people. Cowichan Tribes has the largest First Nations population in BC and their oral tradition states they have lived here since time immemorial.

Duncan is in the Cowichan valley, it has a nice little museum. Lunch next to it on the grass. By the time we got to the east side it had stopped raining.

Then dozed the way to Victoria. Into Howard Johnson or hojo which is another tired old place in need of a refit. Quick wash and out again to get into the city. M dropped us off. Joy and I went to the Museum of BC. Excellent First Nation exhibits. I paid a student fee as we had less than an hour. We walked a bit in Beacon Hill Park then around the town.

Met up with our party at Lure. Nice resto, good food but slow service. I had crab, blue cheese, avocado, bacon and egg with lettuce. A beer and then a dark chocolate pot, no berries until I asked for them.