Photography tour

I recently bought a new fancy-for-me camera and am slowly learning all the neat things it can do! When I met Suzanne at the Tourism Vancouver Expo and heard about her phototours I knew I had to check it out. So earlier this month, I had the wonderful opportunity to experience the evening photowalk tour through Gastown (http://www.vancouverphotowalks.ca/).

We started out at Canada Place with a brief introduction to camera basics and got some really nice shots of North Vancouver from the water ad Canada Place with 'twinkling star' effect at just the perfect time of dusk. Right away, I learned how to use my manual settings at night! This alone was worth going on the tour but it was just the beginning.

While it started to sprinkle during the first hour we managed to set up our cameras under Vancouver’s various rain hideouts and stay dry.

The beauty of the tour is that you bring your own camera, so you get more experience with how to get the most from your own equipment and can replicate great photos in the future to impress your friends.

Suzanne is a lovely guide, on the tour there was every level of photographer from beginner to expert and she was able to accommodate everyone's knowledge with ease and humour while even managing to teach us more than and thing or two. During the two hour adventure that ended in picturesque Gastown the basics of exposure, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and composition were covered, as well as more advanced party tricks such as writing with lights!

This tour was a great help in learning how to use my new camera and no comparison for endless YouTube videos that I had previously been relying on to learn what it is capable of doing.

Tours are a great way to see the sights of Vancouver, meet new people, improve your camera skills, and capture some great shots. They are offered at various times of day in many of the city's popular stunning

settings: Granville Island, Canada Place, Olympic Village, Coal Harbour, Fisherman's Wharf, Gastown, Vanier Park, and Chinatown.

Car Free Day

In June each year we have a car free day on Denman Street.  The Street becomes a fair with loads of kiosks of food and drink and idea counters, business sign ups like the Zip Cars and Cars 2-go, pet parades, music and dancing, hop scotch for the kiddies, sit down counters for lunches for Seniors, things to buy like Air Plants in glass goblets, tea cozies made by the West End Seniors Network.  It is always a little mind blowing how much activity there is and how many participants there.  It is the one event, other than the Pride Parade that really makes a statement about the West End being a community of people who care for each other.

After the walk along the street Ron and I went to the SeaWall for a walk to Second and Third Beaches.  We walked past the man you stacks rocks on bigger rocks on the waters edge - I can't imagine what the specific talent is that he has to be able to do that.  Is it patience, luck, some kinetic understanding that only 1 in a million posses?  I don't know but we stopped to watch along with a small crowd of people.  At the successful nesting of each rock on another there was a round of applause.  I tipped him a couple of dollars as I felt this is street...SeaWall....entertainment at its finest.

Each year Stanley Park seems to change.  The walk back from Third Beach is best, in my opinion, along the trails rather than back along the SeaWall.  In 2006 we had a huge winter wind storm and much of the park was damaged.  It is in full swing growth now - places we looked for interesting pieces of wood for a garden we made years ago isn't even accessible anymore.  And new things are being made like a wood bridge path at Cathedral Trail and Ron pointed out the Face in the Wood - I don't know what it is called but it is really interesting - see the photo.

The Rhodos are done for the season but I still think the it is the prettiest path is through the Ted and Mary Grieg Rhododendron Garden which is along side of the Miniature Gold Course which is rustic and reminiscent of a simpler time.

Raincity Grill offering Fish and Chips during the Car- Free Day. June 16, 2013

Vancouver version of a Persian Bazaar! I'd really like to straighten those table clothes. Oh well, it looks homely.

English Bay. Some of it anyway. The buildings you see are on the a) edge of the beach and b) edge of the park. Superb.

Standing rocks like this along the beach from English Bay to Second Beach

Ah....I "heart" you....in the sand.

This corner of Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park is a 12 minute walk from the house.

Signs in the Park...we don't want to get you lost!

Cap Bridge and Espana

Cuddle up close to the computer because what I am going to tell you is very important.     IF YOU VISIT VANCOUVER YOU NEED TO GO TO ESPANA FOR A MEAL - I'd call it a feast.  Here's what happened earlier today...

Capilano Suspension Bridge held a party for tourism people.  Cap Bridge is a terrific place to visit.  The proximity to nature is second to none - Absolutely.  What has been created there is definitely worth the price of admission.  It is like a symphony of nature and architecture high above a river.  It does cost to get in but if you appreciate the efforts of man and the accomplishments of nature you will feel that the cost is worth it.

The function was fine;  we wandered around before getting to the actual function.  I love the suspension bridge.  I always have this feeling that I might jump or somehow fall and I am always so glad that I get across without succumbing to my secret desire.  Then we walked the paths in the forest, and on/over the Tree Tops Walk which I don't think I have truly appreciated till now.  What an amazing feat of engineering....and so stable.  We stopped to take a picture of some trout.  It is so weird but they were all swimming in the same direction, round and round - clockwise.  What would happen if one of them went the wrong way?  Would he/she get a ticket?

Then more walking along the Nature Trail - you'll have to go there to get the correct names because I don't remember them but it was very enjoyable - one is a couple of hundred metres above the River.  Yup, it is quite a drop.

The reception was next and it was fine.  Bunch of tourism professionals smoozing.  But I got pretty hungry and needed to find some din dins.

We went to "Espana" at 1118 Denman Street.  Spanish Tapas.  And OMG was it GOOD!  Nothing I ordered was short of a kitchen miracle.  Flavours fresh crisp, clean and plentiful.  (If this was the old days the restaurant could be named "House of Flavours")  We had 6 tapas and one dessert, a bottle of Bobal and some sherry - which went so well with my dessert I was having trouble keeping still.  Our server, Holly took some photos of the restuarant for me - she was very helpful with the menu choices, but really if you like food I'm sure you could have picked anything blindfolded and been happy.  So my advice!  Go to Espana one night in Vancouver - you'll love it!  No reservations, so either go early or be prepared to wait because this is a place worth waiting for.

That dessert was awesome....................................Oh, I should tell you one more thing.  It is a small restaurant, and one of the owners used to work out of Bin 941 which is a little bit the same - cheek by jowl.  You might meet your neighbour and you might not.  The first couple next to us didn't talk to us at all, the next couple did - I think we are going to visit each others places in Vancouver and Yucatan, Mexico.  That's the type of place Espana is, people are friendly and the food is fantastic.

Let me see....there is that thread of a bridge, the water below and a lot of air between. Don't rock the boat.

Espana - okay, my iPhone doesn't take the best of photos. And I don't like photos of people in a public setting without getting permission. (This photo is darkened to protect the innocent.)

Espana with a little art wall showing. I saw near the window and it wasn't quite so dark. The decor is quite secondary to the flavour....

Lush

Yesterday friends of mine and I walked to PAL - the Performance Arts Lodge - to see and hear a concert put on by PAL singers.  It was a fundraiser and just a chance for retired performance artists to get out and perform again.  Obviously it is great to support something like this but it seemed my walk there and back was different for me than the rest of the group.  I kept hearing exclamations of how lovely it is, how beautiful the little mini park - Barclay Heritage Square is - the interesting flowers growing, the glory of the fully leafed out trees.  (We didn't know the name of one of the flowers so everyone got out their camera to take a photo to do research later.)  Then coming back to the Guest House we lingered under the Styrax japonica which is in full bloom.  The scent is heavenly - tropic and sensual.   Every year it produces this euphoria for a couple of weeks and then goes back to just being a tree.

I guess the thing is; when you live in a place you get used to it.  But when you are experiencing it for the first time or in this case not experiencing the neighbourhood on a regular basis you notice AND appreciate so much more.  For the tourist just coming to Vancouver our neighbourhood might seem like a little bit of heaven.   It does to me, now, a little bit more.  Thanks then to those other sets of eyes which help me appreciate all the glory that is the West End.

In the lobby of the PAL lodge I saw an advert. for my friend Gillian Campbell - she is known as Klondike Kate and is doing a show this weekend.  www.gilliancampbellshow.com I'm going and she still has tickets. Gillian is a very warm hearted woman, she's a little sassy, puts on a great English Music Hall show with the Klondike Kate twist of feathers and diamonds.  She's quite camp and quite the show lady.  I can hardly wait!

A little bit of street scape in the next block from the guest house.

Local residents can plant their own "island" garden in the roundabouts. This one is just at the corner of Broughton and Haro. Someone nearby planted it and tends to it. Each Roundabout in the West End is different.

This is Gillian Campbell - Klondike Kate. I'm dying to see her on stage again - June 15th!!! Check her website (in the post) for tickets.

The Hotel Package

Here's a cute video which shows the difference between my place and the place with an elevator!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixSw1lSrlvQ

BC Ferries

Well, it's true, Vancouver Island is definitely an island!  And to get there you need to either fly or go by ferry.  www.bcferries.com is the place to find out more information on traveling to Vancouver Island but basically there are two main routes to the Island.  If you are heading to Victoria, then you want to go via Tswassen and if it is Tofino/Ucluelet, Nanaimo, Comox, Campbell River orPort Hardy, then you want to take the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo run.

I was crossing from Nanaimo to Vancouver and reading my Grandfather's story about his "boat" trip to Canada from England.  He was born in England in 1889 and came to Canada the first time in March of 1905.  His story includes a letter written by his sister Maud to their sister Polly back in Eccles.  It appears they left Liverpool on the SS Victorian on a Monday and arrived in Halifax on Saturday.  It was the maiden crossing for the Victorian but it didn't go so well.  Most of the passengers, including my Grandfather and his family of 7 were sea sick because it was so rough.  She comments "the ship is in such a bad condition we can't get a drink of water because it has so much sea water in it(there was 2 feet of water in the hold)....we have not had any ship's food yet, the smell of it makes us nearly sick (but) we keep getting fresh milk off the stewards.  It seems by Thursday they were having tea, however on Friday the first food they had was poached eggs and toast. 


Crossing for my family back in 1905 is nothing like a BC Ferry trip to Vancouver Island or any of the smaller islands, it is pretty much an organized adventure which, at times, does require a bit of planning - I'm happy to help if you need it.  A century later the travel industry for relaxation, (safe) exploration, meeting new cultures and new people is very well established.  I've been in this business for 35 years, 22 owning the West End Guest House.  It is still as exciting to me as my Papa's first trip to Canada.

View from a porthole on the lower car deck. The bigger ferries take over 350 cars and a dozen or so semi trailers too.

Vancouver - the West End from a distance. The West End Guest House is just to the left of the tallest building - the Shangrila Hotel.

Approaching Horseshoe Bay terminal. Notice the roof on the right side of the frame. This is the Boat House Restaurant - a great spot for an excellent seafood dinner and a superb view.

The Brochure Rack will help you make decisions on what to do and where to stay.

Pick up a BC Bed & Breakfast Guide.

The Gift Shop has all sorts of interesting bits and pieces - things to eat - Rogers Chocolates, things to wear, souvenir things, things to read and things to listen to. It is worth a stop.

Dark

Our SSAG group met again on Saturday for an event.  We were told to dress oddly - I think the group photo confirms that!  We didn't know what the event was other than it was going to involve eating.  The natural conclusion would be that you go to a restaurant that has a). a great view b). renowned Chef creating exotic mouth watering temptations c). music or some type of entertainment d). perhaps some type of ethnic dining not ever experienced.  But why should we dress so oddly - two different pairs of socks - I carried this a little further by wearing two different shoes, a Versace inspired scarf, a trench coat or a long coat, Sun glasses.  The SSAG organizer was Cathie Borrie, author of The Long Hello and Looking into your Voice - among other things about her experience with her mother who had Alzheimers.  All of us like a little craziness and thankfully, despite the stares from a few passerbys we managed to get to our location on time and a little early.  Once there we were blind folded and then lead to our dining location.

Cat and I helped march our little 'odd' group to the restaurant door where we had to wait for them to open - I'm so seldom early!  The menu was posted at the door and we had to pre-order our dinner - 4 of them still with blind folds on.  After a few minutes of waiting we were introduced to our waiter Dustin and he escorted us to our table at which point the 4 blindfoldees were told they could remove their blindfolds.  And guest what?  It was still pitch black!  The entire restaurant was completely in the dark.  No flashlights, no (annoying) cell phones.  No light except the occasional glow from an opening here or there.  We ate in the dark - we found the food, found our mouth.  It went from a to b and it was enjoyed.

The restaurant is called "Dark", about 70 per cent of the staff are blind or near blind - our waiter Dustin has no sight and yet he took very good care of us.  I'll quickly tell you the food was very good.  I had beef and it was brilliant - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, the Surprise courses were delish as well - the first course was a salad and the last our a lemon cake.  We drank two bottles of wine between the 6 of us, didn't spill anything, didn't drop anything.  After a few minutes, when we could understand the concept and the limitations and finding that some usual expectations were quite possible we quite enjoyed ourselves.

I'm sure everyone has a different experience when they go to Dark on West 4th Avenue in Vancouver.  For me - I LOVED IT and would definitely go again.  I loved that it was a surprise and I loved that the room was filled with people having their own joy in dining - and they were, everyone and I have no idea how many people there were in the restaurant, were laughing, talking and enjoying each others company.  And I have to say I have so much more respect for someone who is vision impaired.  But I don't feel sorry for them - Dustin was one in a million, we couldn't have had a nicer waiter. 

It's a popular place so if you want to go it is best to make a reservation.  Or let me do it for you if you are a guest with us....it would be a big pleasure to do this for YOU and for THEM.

Here's our odd little group standing in front of "Dark Table". With these crazy clothes on we had no problem finding a photographer from the sidewalk.

This is Penny standing in front of the letter "P"