Shelagh's Lens
Bringing Vancouver and the world to inspired travellers
Forest in the Fog
Anyone who’s been to Vancouver’s Stanley Park, or even heard of it, will know that this spot is renowned for its majestic evergreens.
In the fog earlier this month, you’d be hard pressed to recognise the park at all. I drove across Lions Gate Bridge to reach Cypress Mountain but, as you can see here, even the bridge was barely visible.
These are some of the photos I took from atop Cypress Mountain and across the inlet.
The photo immediately above has become one of my favourites of the year, not only for the way these tall trees barely pierce the mists, but also for the timeless feel of the shot.
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On Ice
… ducks on ice, that is.
It’s not been cold enough this winter for ponds to freeze over, but these images from Jericho Park last winter always bring a smile to my face. Hopefully they do the same for you – particularly since, in the image below, it would appear that one of this companionable pair is actually perched upon the other!
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Harbour Lights
As Christmas drew close this year, the skies cleared and we enjoyed some sunny, clear days. This led to a minor dusting of snow, and so I made my way up to another mountain to capture views to the west.
From atop Burnaby Mountain, you can see Vancouver’s harbour at sunset. That’s the Lions Gate Bridge twinkling in front of the North Shore Mountains, and the forest of Stanley Park at its left.
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Into the Mists
After capturing a number of photos from above the fog earlier this month, I made my way down to West Vancouver’s Ambleside Beach. There, you have Stanley Park directly across the waters.
On this particular morning, much of the forested park and its seawall remained shrouded in mists.
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Above It All
… and here’s a look at downtown Vancouver, and its highrises poking through the fog earlier this month.
The early morning skies, touched with a hint of pink, were in stark contrast to the cityscape below. That’s the famed Lions Gate Bridge piercing the fog near the base of the photo, leading to just a hint of the forest of Stanley Park.
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Foggy, Foggy Days
That’s what we had for a few consecutive days here in Vancouver.
I was actually glad that the fog carried through to an early December weekend, because it meant that I could make an early Saturday morning drive up to the mountains and catch some shots of the gorgeous scenery.
In this one, I love the way the fog seems to wrap around the inlets and hills.
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It’s Time to Visit Stock Home
… that would be the Vancouver store known as Stock Home, located at 3060 West Broadway.
The store window of this Kitsilano shop, with its ridiculously sweet Bukowski bears from Sweden, drew me in a few weeks ago.
Principal Elisa Langenstam carries French soaps as well as scarves, glassware and cosy cushions. She also showcases local art and design.
We began discussing the art cards Elisa carries, and … you guessed it.
You Can Find My Cards in Kitsilano, at Stock Home Design
Stock Home now carries some of my Vancouver themed art cards. You can see more about my cards by clicking here – or, if you’re in Vancouver, make your way to Kits and visit Stock Home. I’ll be doing just that this weekend, to pick out a Secret Santa gift for the upcoming office party.
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It’s Pimm’s O’Clock – With Great London Views
I was back in London a few weeks ago, and spent much of my time there exploring the city by foot. It’s not that I had any reservations about taking the Tube; it’s simply that London is a highly walkable city.
After spending the first afternoon walking off any potential jet lag by exploring Covent Garden, I caught up the next day with a friend. Paula lives in the West End, so we settled on Covent Garden as a meeting point to begin explorations of the South Bank and more.
There, on a late September afternoon, Paula introduced me to the tradition of Pimm’s on the South Bank. The drink itself goes back to 1832, and one James Pimm (natch), who owned an oyster bar in the City, near the Bank of England.
Originally from a farm in Kent, Pimm began offering his tonic, which contained herbs, as a digestive aid. The fact that this tonic also featured gin and lemonade no doubt added to its appeal. With garnishes ranging from strawberries to apple slices and/or mint, this strikes me as the Brits’ counterpart to sangria.
… and so we got to enjoy very up close views of not only the London Eye, but also Big Ben and other London landmarks, as we sipped our Pimm’s and soaked up the sunshine. These photos will suggest that it was a cloudy London afternoon, but that’s the city for you; give the weather a minute, and it will change!
The London Eye, installed in 1999, is 135 meters or 443 feet tall. It’s Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, and the fourth tallest in existence.
(If you want your city views from even higher perches, three Ferris wheels built after the London Eye will offer just that. There’s the Star of Nanchang, topping out at 160 meters and built in 2006 in China’s Jiangxi Province. Singapore’s Singapore Flyer is 165 meters high and opened in 2008. Not to be outdone, Las Vegas came up with its High Roller ferris wheel in 2014. It rises to 168 meters, or 550 feet!)
Back to the Eye: It was, for some time, the most elevated viewing point in London. That changed with the 2013 opening of The Shard’s observation deck. At 244.3 meters or 804 feet, it also offers sweeping views. The fact that it’s no longer the highest public viewing point doesn’t change the fact, though, that the Eye is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions … it’s said to attract 3.75 million riders a year!
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Penthouse Living for Visitors to Budapest
I recently travelled to Hungary for the first time, for an all-too-brief stay in Budapest.
It doesn’t bother me, though, that I left wanting to see more of the city; that’s always the sign of a good stay.
If you’ve been contemplating a visit to this city on the banks of the Danube River, you’ll want to take a look at my story about last month’s visit to the city, and the Kapital Inn.
I stayed in the penthouse suite in this elegant 19th century building, situated in the 6th District. The hosts have done an impressive job of refurbishing the property while respecting it history, and it’s little wonder that Trip Advisor gives this property five stars – or that it’s the top rated of all 191 B&B properties in the city.
If you’re contemplating European travel in the next few months, have a look at my photos and story on this first (but not last!) visit to Budapest, and to Kapital Inn.
… and enjoy planning your own visit to the banks of the Danube!
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We Remember: The 11th Hour on the 11th Day of the 11th Month
Canadians of all ages gathered at Vancouver’s Victory Square once again yesterday, just across the street from the Dominion Trust Building, below.
There wasn’t merely diversity of ages. In addition to the usual cast of politicians, there were people of all stripes at hand to show their respect. Victory Square is an iconic spot in Vancouver, but this is typically the only day of the year you’ll see this diverse a crowd near the cenotaph.
I know I’m not alone in admiring the square’s lighting fixtures, which were fashioned to replicate WWI Brodie helmets.
Bagpipers and drummers are very much a part of these occasions. The bagpipes always provoke a visceral reaction in me, but I find The Sands of Kuwait particularly touching. Click below to listen to, and feel, this piece.
At one point in the proceedings, I paused to think about recent attacks upon the unarmed – including those most recently gathered at concerts in Manchester and Las Vegas – and how we were among hundreds of people gathered together in the space of a city block, literally corralled in with temporary fencing. It’s a sad state of affairs to say that I breathed a bit easier on realising that, in addition to the trumpeters, there were also snipers on balconies and rooftops around us.
Not that I needed a reminder, but seeing one of the snipers made me think of my Uncle Bill. A sniper in World War II, he never discussed his war, let alone whether his keen vision and steady hands were blessings or strengths he might have wished on others. Uncle Bill was born in Cork, Ireland and grew up in Toronto, Canada; he was still very young when he shipped off to Europe and WWII. The closest that this quiet spoken bachelor came to discussing his time during the war was to reflect a couple of times on the young Dutch woman he met while abroad; he kept her photo to his dying day.
In addition to snipers, drummers and pipers, we had a pair of trumpeters at Victory Square – including one poised above the crowd; you’ll see him in my video below. When the trumpeters played The Last Post, the only sounds to be heard were a barking dog and the birds scattering around the nearby buildings. I was struck by a relatively young veteran two or three rows in front of us. He raised his right hand in salute while The Last Post was played, and it didn’t vibrate a fraction of an inch throughout the two minutes of silence.
As the ceremonies concluded, and the vets paraded off to reminisce and perhaps have a drink or a few, locals lined along Hastings and Cambie to applaud and honour those still with us.
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