Wednesday 11 September 2013

Celebration Time in Vancouver!....Day 3 The End!

Sunday September 1st, 2013

Just another day in paradise!  Good morning Vancouver!








I just can't get enough of this view!

But, we can't linger....we're off to Sophie's Cosmic Cafe for a yummy breakfast.  Jordan said this is THE place to go for brekkies.  Just a short drive over to West 4th...quick!  Get in line!!!!  Yes, it's a very busy, popular place!
Sophie's Cosmic Cafe


Luckily there is only a short wait and we get to enjoy the eclectic scenery while we wait.....








Our turn!  We get our little booth and take a look at the menu.....



I decide on waffles and bacon while Vince gets an uber rich and yummy treat.....eggs benedict with smoked salmon.  Truly decadent and oh so delicious!  He let me have a little bite!


My waffles were great....light and crispy!



Ready and eager to dig in!




It was an absolutely wonderful breakfast and we will definitely add that to our 'go back to' list next time we're in Vancouver.  Thanks for the great suggestion Jordan!

Next we're off to Granville Island Public Market.  Way back when we lived here, we'd go to Granville Island every Sunday to get fresh produce, baked goods and seafood.  We could usually find a parking spot right close by and it was never crazy busy.  Fast forward 32 years!  Can you say crazy busy!!!  There isn't a lot of parking so you pretty much have to watch someone walking back to their car and follow them to snap it up right away!  We finally find one.....next time we'll park a few blocks away and walk in.  Under the Granville Street Bridge.....



Looking back towards Burrard Street Bridge which leads to downtown Vancouver....




Perfect day for stand up paddle...








There's a nice outdoor sitting area....



I'll take one of everything!


The crowds are huge and after picking up a few treats, we are ready to go.  Back to our condo paradise to pack up, clean up and enjoy a little more view.  I could so live here!





Goodbye Patina.....it was an awesome weekend!


When we lived here I worked at Royal Bank at 2700 Kingsway.  We haven't driven by the area for quite a few years.  We decide to visit a few of our old haunts.  Driving to the bank, so much has changed!  Hardly recognize the area!  And then....there's my bank.  Oh how sad!  :(    Apparently there is no more 'Kingsway & Rhodes' branch anymore!  I worked here for a little over 3 years and experienced 9 robberies...several of them violent and had to go through a court trial for 3 of them.  Scary times!  A lot of memories....good and bad...



Next stop just a few miles further up Kingsway and onto Jersey Avenue....the very first place we moved into when we came to Vancouver.  There was a negative vacancy rate in Vancouver at the time and it was very hard to find anything!  We had half of the lower half of this house.  It looked a lot nicer 32 years ago!  It was a tiny little place but it was really cute....at one time!


Those 3 windows were our kitchen, dining room and living room.  Our bed was a fold out sofa that was so uncomfortable I don't think either of us slept for the 9 months we lived there!


Reminiscing over....it's time to head home and see if our house is still standing after leaving 2 kids there for the weekend!  A super quick stop at Ikea.....shouldn't even go near there on a Sunday afternoon!  Back on the freeway and over the Port Mann Bridge once again.  Our toll bill should be arriving any day now!


A few more miles and we enjoy a nice view of Mt. Baker.  We used to hike up there in the summers and slide down snowy slopes on green garbage bags!



On the Coquihalla freeway, my rock face mountain looks majestic in the clear skies.



We make it home in record time, thanks to Vince's lead foot.  House is still standing and even tidy!  Yeah!  We had an awesome weekend....what a wonderful treat!  Thanks to my mom for making it possible and thank you to the boys for the great dinner gift!  We're ready to do it again!
Here's to Year 33!





























Tuesday 10 September 2013

Celebration Time in Vancouver!....Day 2

Saturday, August 31st, 2013

Lucky us!  We wake up to beautiful sunny skies!




We have a few nibblies for breakfast and then it's time to get out in the glorious day!

The front view of our building, The Patina....


Just a block away at Nelson Park, there is a farmer's market in full swing.  We came back before they finished up and bought some organic flavoured feta cheeses, and some pasta noodles.  It was a busy place with people lined up to buy all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies.



Vince waiting for his morning cup of java....



Next stop is just a few blocks away near the corner of Denman and Davie.....we're renting bikes and tooling around Stanley Park!  Just like we did a few days after we got married in 1981!

Near English Bay....


So we hop on our cruiser bikes and begin the trek....do we go super fast in order to get the bikes back in an hour or take our time and enjoy the view?  We decide to enjoy the view......mainly because, holy crap, it's a long ride!  About 12km!  What was I thinking!  I won't be able to walk the rest of the day....or maybe even for days!

We find swans in Lost Lagoon.  When we lived in Vancouver we often came to Stanley Park to feed the ducks and swans here, all year round.




We continue along and the next view is the amazing city scape of downtown Vancouver and the marina....







On a sunny day like this, there is no better place to be than Vancouver.....truly a beautiful city!



We continue on our way, rounding the point and coming around to see Lions Gate Bridge.....it connects Vancouver and North and West Vancouver...



Sort of a replica of the Little Mermaid in Denmark....



Right underneath the Lions Gate...



A few more kilometres later.....yes, my butt and knees are starting to feel it!  But the pretty vistas keep me pedalling!....




And then there's a beach!!  With sand!!!...Vince!  Time for a break!  We sit on one of the many logs and enjoy the views.....


So it's not Isla Mujeres sand, but right now, it feels great!  Ahhhh....


Heading back towards English Bay, we find numerous cairns on the shore....our son Jason loves to build these and we have a few in our yard...


English Bay area...




We hop off our bikes with legs like jelly and sweat dripping from our brows!  It took us 1 3/4 hours.  Very fun to repeat something we did 32 years ago on our honeymoon, but boy, do I ever feel 32 years older!

And now we have to walk uphill back to our condo....luckily we found a Starbucks on the way and guzzled a passion tea lemonade.  Huge hydrangeas....





 Taking a break at the condo, we enjoy the spectacular views once again.  Look at all those sailboats!





And then it's off to Granville Street to check out the TawainFest.  Lots of tents set up with delicious looking food, information about various things like how to grow an orchid, and even a Pepsi challenge booth.  Music and tons of people...


This fellow was amazing.....on Robson Street right by the Vancouver Art Gallery....



Robson Street....


Since we haven't had a lot to eat today, we head to where else, Simpatico's for an early dinner.  We want to enjoy the sunset from our balcony.  Tonight we have lamb souvlaki...I have the small order which comes with pita bread, tzatziki and Greek salad....




Vince had the large order which also came with some delicious roasted potatoes and rice...



We sat at our favourite table right by the open windows....a fun place to sit and people watch while enjoying another wonderful dinner.  Thank you Simpatico for all the delicious dinners over the past 32 years!


There's still time to catch a view from the beach.....Vancouver in the sunshine.....



As soon as we're back home, the cork is popped on a superb bottle of Quinta Ferreira wine and we sit on the balcony to savour the moments...... Our favourite wine....Quinta Ferreira



Life is good.....




 To be continued......