Let's get on the Aquabus and motor over from downtown to one of the most colourful, entertaining and exhausting places Vancouver has to offer, Granville Island.
On my visits "home" to Vancouver, I usually get over to this busy shopping/eating/entertainment mecca at least once. This time I visited the place on three separate occasions, each time with a different friend (I feel so blessed!) and loved every minute.
Here we are, docked and looking back at the highrise apartment buildings on Beach Avenue. While I wouldn't particularly want to live in a glass tower (even if I could afford it), the view from up there must be mesmerizing.
A little further to the left of the previous view we can see the Burrard Street bridge and a bit of the beach that gives Beach Avenue its name. Back in the day, I used to ride my bike over this bridge to pick up some groceries or have a meal at a funky little shop called
Lifestream, which was pretty much the only natural foods store in town at the time. My, how things have changed! Vegetarian is almost the rule of the day out in Lotus Land now.
Same bridge, different day where the weather provides an alternate mood. I was greatly amused by these two young women enjoying their own photo shoot, the model posing to look as if she was leaning on the seawall in the background.
Looking back at the shoreline from the aquabus on a cloudy day, marks on the boat window look like raindrops, which is often enough the norm for Vancouver. Not this summer, though, when rain was for the most part a distant memory.
I'll have to leave the tour here for today as I must admit I've been toying with the images for an embarrassingly long time this morning/noon/afternoon...which is why I avoided blogging while I was away in Lotus Land this summer.
Back soon to continue our tour of Granville Island!
Hold that pose.
Wow.. that first shot is so vivid after the previous post! I love how the girls are playing with photography magic. You so must have enjoyed watching them. Great photos all around.
ReplyDeleteI was delighted to capture those girls in action, you're right. I was impatiently waiting for them to get out of my shot of the bridge when I realized what they were up to, which changed my whole attitude and intention. Gotta love it when that happens!
DeleteO my, your excursions sound and look delightful, spending so much time on the water... Those glass highrises are beautiful. But I imagine quite pricey. So there must be well-to-do "Lotus Eaters" in Vancouver as well! ;)
ReplyDeleteReal estate prices in Vancouver are insane. Impossible and insane. Either you have to be very rich or have worked your way up the market from the time before prices sky-rocketed, starting in the early 1980s (just after we left Vancouver, which made it virtually impossible to ever buy our way back in to owning a home there). A lot of very well-to-do Lotus Landers, yes, and a lot of very down-and-out ones as well, with the middle class squeezed hard in between. But it's a lovely setting!
DeleteThink I'd go on that water bus just because of how it looks - so bright and cheerful.And I always like to hear of your excursions.
ReplyDeleteThere are 3 or 4 different routes and two waterbus companies that ply the harbour. I've only ever been to Granville Island on them. It's a very short ride but really quite fun...much more pleasant and quicker than going by bus. When my friend and I stepped off we were asked by a tourist if it was worth taking the ride and we assured her it was, especially as it led to another fun destination...walking along the seawall with the possibility of stopping for fish and chips!
Deletewith so many bridges and so much water (i am a Fish, if one believes the stars :-), it is impossible for me not to like this post :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that you dived in here and left a bubbly comment!
Delete:)
It must be hard to be away from a place that you love so much. Landscape and environment have such powerful draws on us. I understand and appreciate your connection.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, landscape and environment really do make up one's roots. Even though it's gorgeous here in so many areas of the maritimes, it has never truly felt like home. I've always felt like a visitor. Ideally, I'd split the year between both coasts, but if I have to choose...
DeleteViewing the gorgeous scenes you've photographed around your own heartland I know that you certainly do understand the connection to environment.
Good to see you back on your blog! Love these shots - looks like you had a good time.
ReplyDeleteI did indeed have a good time--all two months' worth! It's good to be back in Blogland, though, to share the sights and view what others have been up to (you've been rather far afield!) Thanks for the welcome back!
DeleteI wonder if "in the day" our paths ever unknowingly crossed at Lifestream. I walked across the Burrard Bridge on my first night in Vancouver in 1957. Very interesting for a denizen of a small English village.
ReplyDeleteIn this instance, "the day" would have had to have been around the time we were at SFU... Our paths must have crossed up on the mountain as well...
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