Tuesday, December 3, 2013

late October in Vancouver













I was just reading another blog with beautiful photographs and this made me think that I hadn't written in this blog for awhile. I haven't been out of town since Whistler but part of what I decided retirement needed to be was to be a tourist in your own city. And when you live in Vancouver that can be rather fun...
I have walked and walked through the city, often in my own amazing neighbourhood and in other interesting neighbourhoods. the above photo was taken when a friend and I walked from an event at the Vancouver International Writers' Festival at Granville Island to the Olympic Village Canada Line Station.

The colours were amazing this fall! This is one of my friend's favourite picture snapped that day.











That was a day of great reflections...












The colours have been amazing and the beauty of Vancouver is they last a long time. Apparently more and more varieties of Japanese maples have been well planted and they have brilliant colours.











Many of my walks take place in my own greater neighbourhood between Cambie and Main Street between Queen Elizabeth Park and City Hall. It is an interesting neighbourhood that has interesting nooks and crannies as well as some lovingly restored homes but also some really ugly architecture that I choose to ignore.
Some of my favourite streets are between Ontario and Main between 20th and King Edward. The streets are older and narrower and some of the houses are tiny and often have interesting features.



































This is on the west side on Ontario near me. You can donate or borrow a book!











The neighbourhood seemed to go all out for Halloween as I noted in a previous post. Even that book box was decorated.








Another favourite neighbourhood is Steveston Village that I have written about before and I love the Prickly Pear Garden Shop.




































it may have been almost Halloween but flowers were still blooming at my house and my lawn furniture still out.

















Another fun adventure I had was helping a friend's k/1class with their older buddies carve pumpkins.





I love Halloween and had a happy morning with another friend's first graders and then came home and got ready for Halloween at my house.























I was supposed to leave at 6:30 for Spanish class but hadn't had any trick or treaters yet so I decided to read my Spanish text and go an hour late. Probably 60 kids came before I left.





I left a basket outside for treats and one bar was left on my return.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Whistler in October Part 2


After a swim and an amazing dinner out at the Rimrock Cafe, we returned "home".


I watched the sun coming up


My bedroom had a rather amazing view.


Then I went for another swim. Val decided to read the paper!


Then we checked out but left the car at Intrawest and walked into the Lower Village.









We had fun looking for bargains, having lunch, and of course, we had to sample Moo's ice cream





The Olympic Plaza





Back up the hill-Chateau Whistler





Back at Intrawest it was time to return to Vancouver,but of course had a scenic drive.







but then as we crossed into Vancouver on the Lion's Gate Bridge we had another round of fog.


I took the scenic route home, avoiding downtown at 5:30 and we hit fog again. This was at the Teahouse.


but all was clear back home!


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Whistler Part 2

Whistler Part One












Vancouver mornings had been  foggy and when a friend 

and I left for Whistler last Tuesday, even the 
beginning of the Sea to Sky Highway had a foggy view.








But in Whistler it was clear and beautiful.



We stopped at the beautiful Nitka Lodge and grabbed lunch from their cafe and sat out on the deck and enjoyed the view.



















After lunch we checked into Club Intrawest
in the Upper Village and went for a walk.















 It was such a beautiful clear day and the leaves were beautiful.




 t


                                           

                                                                                   
Beautiful reflections

                                                                                                       





We walked back partly through the Chateau Whistler Golf Course


   

Soon we were back at Club Intrawest and moved into our apartment with its amazing view.


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