Since last Sunday we've been travelling, first to Toronto and then over to British Columbia. Each day is full of images but in this post there's only room for some highlights. It could be 7 different trips!
1. Toronto. The annual Stress Test, with unusual results this time (!?). Staying at a downtown college dorm room for maximum walkability. Beautiful day for the harbourfront --- could we live here? Catching up on movies. The first days of the first-ever month-long Pride event. The City is jumping!
2. North Vancouver. A fun visit with our OzGirl friend. Small apartment, huge views. She has an Australian gum tree growing among the balcony petunias and the hummers sit in it like a koala's BFF. Gathering seaweed for plant fertilizer (pre-salted tomatoes!). And a chance to be creative in the kitchen.
3. Nanaimo/Victoria. Jaw-dropping scenery on the ferry over to Nanaimo, pickup car and cruise down to picturesque Victoria. Postcard-perfect harbour. Remnants of historic Chinatown. Mile Zero of the 5000 mile Trans-Canada Highway, with a tribute to national hero Terry Fox. Cruise ships surrounded by walking breakwall, buzzy seaplanes, street buskers, and so much more.
4.Duncan, pop. 2000. This former mining town has rejuvenated itself with the world's biggest display of authentic totem poles, carved by native Haida and other artists. A walking trail past 42 magnificent symbols and cedar stories. Intricate detail and a comment that there are no mistakes, just the evolution of the tree. Example? A carver cut his fingers while creating, so he just added his bandaged hand to the pole (can you spot it?).
5. Chemainus. Still a logging town but not by much because they have painted the town with over 40 huge murals depicting local/native/nature history. Shameful treatment of the immigrant Chinese labourers that built the place. Lifelike scenes in concrete and rock. Shops with scenes. And on top of all that, locals enjoying their awesome shore, parks, and snowcaps. Hmmm, could we live here??
6.Cedar Grove. Somehow these magnificent 800 year-old trees were spared from felling and now you can meander among the giants. Huge hemlocks, mossy maples, ceremonial cedars. Makes you want to hug them all for another millenium.
7. Port Alberni. So this morning we're in another gob-smacking logging and scene-stealing town on clear tidal waters and fantastic fiords. Natural beauty in every direction from the Sunset Motel. And there's another week to come --- hmmm, could we live here??
1. Toronto. The annual Stress Test, with unusual results this time (!?). Staying at a downtown college dorm room for maximum walkability. Beautiful day for the harbourfront --- could we live here? Catching up on movies. The first days of the first-ever month-long Pride event. The City is jumping!
2. North Vancouver. A fun visit with our OzGirl friend. Small apartment, huge views. She has an Australian gum tree growing among the balcony petunias and the hummers sit in it like a koala's BFF. Gathering seaweed for plant fertilizer (pre-salted tomatoes!). And a chance to be creative in the kitchen.
3. Nanaimo/Victoria. Jaw-dropping scenery on the ferry over to Nanaimo, pickup car and cruise down to picturesque Victoria. Postcard-perfect harbour. Remnants of historic Chinatown. Mile Zero of the 5000 mile Trans-Canada Highway, with a tribute to national hero Terry Fox. Cruise ships surrounded by walking breakwall, buzzy seaplanes, street buskers, and so much more.
4.Duncan, pop. 2000. This former mining town has rejuvenated itself with the world's biggest display of authentic totem poles, carved by native Haida and other artists. A walking trail past 42 magnificent symbols and cedar stories. Intricate detail and a comment that there are no mistakes, just the evolution of the tree. Example? A carver cut his fingers while creating, so he just added his bandaged hand to the pole (can you spot it?).
5. Chemainus. Still a logging town but not by much because they have painted the town with over 40 huge murals depicting local/native/nature history. Shameful treatment of the immigrant Chinese labourers that built the place. Lifelike scenes in concrete and rock. Shops with scenes. And on top of all that, locals enjoying their awesome shore, parks, and snowcaps. Hmmm, could we live here??
6.Cedar Grove. Somehow these magnificent 800 year-old trees were spared from felling and now you can meander among the giants. Huge hemlocks, mossy maples, ceremonial cedars. Makes you want to hug them all for another millenium.
7. Port Alberni. So this morning we're in another gob-smacking logging and scene-stealing town on clear tidal waters and fantastic fiords. Natural beauty in every direction from the Sunset Motel. And there's another week to come --- hmmm, could we live here??
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