East Hastings and Main

I’ve finally had time to sit down and read a book I bought in Vancouver. “Hope in Shadows, Stories and photographs of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.”  The texts are written by people who live in the area and the texts have given me a more profound understanding of issues I’ve already touched on. How will people living there be affected when the gentrification taking place in other parts of the city arrives in this area?

The Carnegie Public Library has been turned into a Community Centre and just looking at this board outside impressed me greatly. Even if you live in a room with a hotplate or on the street, you need a place to meet your friends, read or play sports.

Hotel Balmoral was probably a hotel of some class at one time…

… as was the Empress Hotel. Notice the signs above the doors – one entrance for Ladies and one for Men… This goes back to the days when Canadian liquor laws stated that women could only enter a bar in male company. They were then allowed to a special part of the pub, while men on their own were allowed into the rowdier part. I can remember a few places in Winnipeg where they still had the room divided like that as late as in the mid 70’s, even if the liqour laws had changed quite a few years earlier.

Tomorrow I’m planning on visiting my friends in their cottage far off the main roads. This time I’ll remember to bring the USB-cable though – believe it or not, but they have access to the Net even if they are off off the grid! Mobile communication is pretty wonderful you can use it when you want AND turn it off when you don’t want to be in touch or available to others.

Starfish

When you stand there looking at starfish in a tank it’s easy to think “Nah, let’s find something else to watch. These guys don’t do much of anything.”

Wrong!

We watched a video (somewhat speeded up, can’t remember the technical term for it!) of the tank where a clock was visible and some of them were surprisingly agile!  Admittedly, others barely budged but since they do need to find food they must all be somewhat mobile.

Sea Otter

This post is dedicated to my blogger friends from all over who have commented and tried to bolster my spirits the last 24 hours! What did I do before I knew you all???

I don’t know how many documentaries with otters I’ve seen over the years – sea otters and the smaller variety that can be found in lakes and streams. They always come across as fun-loving animals that always seem to find time to slide down a hill or entertain anyone who takes the time to watch them. This one at the Vancouver Aquarium was no exception.

He was doing all kinds of tricks with a piece of plastic…

… almost as if he pretended that it was a shell of some kind he had to open.

Then it was time for some serious beauty treatment for his glistening fur coat.

I could’ve stayed there watching him/her for hours – even that it was quite cold that day!

Speaking about which – I was reading on CBC News today that Vancouver is preparing for another snow storm…. What is happening?

Jellyfish

The staff at the Vancouver Aquarium know how to display all species in ways that make them look spectacular.  The blue background really made the jellyfish stand out. I’m just sorry I didn’t take a lot more pictures of them!

Back from a gruelling trip to the coast again today. Same decision as the one received last week, but it feels as if -H- may stand a chance to get another answer on appeal. I just marvel at how he could still smile and laugh a few hours later when we returned to town… Myself – I feel run over, drug out and as if my head is wrapped in cotton. Time to go to bed with N*ocitran, clad in military issue long underwear. Good thing no one else need to behold that!

About Parrots and Wannabies

This was almost the first animal we met in the tropical section at the Vancouver Aquarium. Not knowing the gender, I’ll call it a “he” to make it easy for myself.  The moment he set eyes on us, some serious preening commenced. He was paying special attention to the side facing us before he shook his plumage a final time. Then he arranged his head in such a way that he could peer at us almost coyly. When I looked at the pictures later on the same day, I thought the pose reminded me of someone…

It finally struck me – it’s the same pose as all the wannabies outside the hot bars in Stockholm strike the moment they see a camera. Or – whenever they see a camera. The entertainment rags feature them every week – the blonde tresses, head downturned and eyes appearing bigger because of the angle. Oh – and lips pouting…

I think the parrot is by far much better looking striking that pose!

Just A Few More…

…. before I start packing. The plane doesn’t leave until 3 PM but as you all know, there are a few hoops to be jumped through before I get that far.

There has been no snowfall to speak of since before Christmas, but the sidestreets still look like this. The temperature is below freezing during the nights, which means that it’ll take some time before all this is gone. Makes me appreciate how the snowclearing is handled in Sweden much more than what I have previously! 

This is the only Orca left at the Vancouver Aquarium these days. Too bad – but I did get some nice pictures of the beluga whales that I’ll post later.

The Sea Nettles were a lot easier to photgraph than most other species. Fish dart around like there’s no tomorrow and the Sea Otter put on such a show that half the pictures are just a blur.

Downtown Vancouver. Prime real estate, no telling how much you would have to pay for a lease in this neighbourhood. Beautiful building. The most impressive fact is that this is the Vancouver Public Library!

My next post will be from Sweden. Anyone who has the ear of the deity in charge of luggage- put in a good word for me, will you?

Whistler

One day early on in the fall I got the idea to start looking for some old friends on Facebook. I had a general idea in what area they had been/were living and it didn’t even take me 10 minutes to find them. I spent a few days thinking about it, then I sent off an e-mail. The answer came back just a few days later and we could sort of catch up on events during the last 12-14 years or so. Some time later, we talked on the phone and I mentioned that I was thinking about visiting my son over his birthday and Christmas. When Donna said they would be in Whistler, BC. during the same time to visit THEIR sons, it gave me the final nudge to book my own tickets. 

A lot of the Winter Olympics in 2010 will take place in the Whistler area, so they are busy widening the road going there. The scenery is fantastic, and I even saw two bald eagles in the midst of a territorial fight.

Whistler and the surrounding area looks like any other ski resort – loads of people in stylish clothing, lots of bars and restaurants – and the slopes of course!

Teriyaki Salmon was a real hit – but have a look at the amount of cole slaw! 

We couldn’t determine if these birds were grackles or blackbirds… Any guesses out there?

BTW. Should the name of birds be capitalized?

Where Else…

…but in Calgary woud a luggage carousel be this interesting to look at?

Then compare that to the sight that met us in Vancouver when we returned yesterday.

I do feel sorry for everyone who has had to spend Christmas in the same clothing as they travelled in and !whose presents are somewhere in this mess

Palms in Snow and Oysters on Ice

Anyone seen a better illustration of the word ‘oxymoron’ lately?

Didn’t think so!

This is however two thing that go together very well. Add a glass of white wine and it’s perfect!

BTW – is there anyone out there doubting that I’m enjoying myself?

Inuit Carvings

I own a few smaller pieces of Inuit Art, but none as big (or expensive) as these. They were displayed at a gallery in Gastown, not too far from the place of Samiches-fame…

 The top one is made from soapstone, wood and I suspect bone (the spear) and the bottom one is one piece of soapstone