Shelagh's Lens
Bringing Vancouver and the world to inspired travellers
Snow in the Quarry
… in the former quarry, that is. One that we Vancouverites know as Queen Elizabeth Park.
This is a lovely spot for nature lovers, and equally popular with locals wanting to show off our city to visitors.
That’s because, in addition to the conservatory, above, and some impressive plantings, the highest elevations of the park are 152 metres (almost 499 feet) above sea level.
That’s the highest elevation in our city, and makes for a panoramic view encompassing the city, waters and North Shore mountains.
This family of snowmen is popular with visitors, and the park’s usual residents – such as the little birdie below – have been adapting to the unusual weather.
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First Snowfall
While many have perceptions of Canada as a year-round winter wonderland, that’s not the case throughout our country.
Here in Vancouver, snow on the mountains is not uncommon in the winter months. 
Last weekend, many Vancouverites – such as the kayaker above – were out enjoying a gorgeous break from the rain. Sunday was spectacular, and called for sunglasses.
Since it’s a major event when snow falls in the city itself – and even more so if it doesn’t immediately turn to slushy rain – I rushed to capture this image outside our living room window earlier this week.
The trick with snowfalls that last, however small or briefly, is that many people in Metro Vancouver are simply unused to driving in the white stuff. It made for some interesting commutes.
However, it also makes for some beautiful images and enchanting walks once you’re done commuting. More shots to follow!
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Lights at Lafarge: A Bit of Magic to Brighten December Skies
There’s a reason we have an abundance of greenery in Metro Vancouver. While there are hints of snow in next week’s forecast, it’s our rain that’s been on a lot of minds lately. As of three days ago, the official count was that it had rained here for all but five days during the months of October and November.
That’s why it’s an extra special treat, at this time of year, to enjoy seasonal displays of light.
Yesterday, I was in Coquitlam for an afternoon event. As the function wound down, we emerged from the building to dark skies … and a gorgeous spectacle of colour all around Lafarge Lake.
My initial reaction was to pull over and enjoy a quick glimpse, but that was before realising this display had elements of Alice in Wonderland on steroids. We decided to forgo plans to head directly home, and instead enjoyed a leisurely walk around the City’s annual December extravaganza.
We were in good company, too. There was an impressive assortment of people and pooches enjoying the sights, but there’s enough space that you could enjoy the visual treats without feeling crowded or rushed to press forward.
This is an annual event, but yesterday was my first visit to the impressive display. I didn’t have my SLR camera with me, but think these shots will give you a sense of the memories to be made with a walk around the lake. Families in particular will appreciate that this is one holiday light celebration that comes without an admission fee! Kudos to the City of Coquitlam.
Lights at Lafarge extends into January 2017, and you can learn more about special events over the next few weeks by clicking here. You’ll find traditional Christmas displays, as well as a fantasy forest and different themes around practically every bend of the lake.
There’s something for everyone, from the fishing elf above, to displays of Canadiana. Walk on the Wild Side will appeal to any gardener … and any lover of Lewis Carroll’s works. Now, just imagine how amped up the magic of these displays will be if we get any snow that lasts!
Planning To Go: The Lowdown
Getting there: Lafarge Lake is just a couple of minutes’ drive from Coquitlam Centre, at the intersection of Pinetree Way and Guildford.The new Evergreen Line opens December 2nd, and stepping off at the Lafarge Lake – Douglas Station will deposit you lakeside.
When to go: The lights will be on display until January 22, but have a look at the Lights at Lafarge website to check out special events in early December.
Burning off those festive treats: This year marks the first time the display wraps entirely around the lake, covering 1.2 kilometre.
Don’t miss … walking through the caterpillar, or the Alice in Wonderland effect throughout the Walk on the Wild Side section of lights. Little ones will enjoy discovering creatures in the treehouse, and the gnome who lives near its base. The 30′ tall Christmas tree is especially impressive, with more than 2,500 lights.
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Under the Bridge
… you’ll find boaters soaking up the gorgeous setting. You’ll also find people admiring the Bow Bridge itself from across the lake in New York’s Central Park. It’s a striking piece of cast iron beauty, and only the second cast iron bridge built in the US. Construction began in 1859 and was completed in 1862.
Here, you see great Fall floral displays in four of the bridge’s eight cast iron urns. They’re relatively recent (2008) additions, courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy. The original urns had gone astray by the 1920s, and the eight current urns were crafted based on images of the originals.
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Hôtel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square: Boutique Style In the Heart of Toronto
We’ve just spent a great weekend in Toronto, and are delighted that we tried a property new to us: Hôtel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square.
Readers will know I was highly impressed with my first stay with Hôtel Le Germain, in Québec City late this Spring. It was that experience that had us weighing two Hôtel Le Germain options in Toronto for this weekend visit.
It was a tough choice but, in the end, we went with the newer of the two properties for this visit. This 167-room luxury hotel is part of the Maple Leaf Square, which is home to the Air Canada Centre. While Sia performed there last night, the venue is also home to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Raptors, the city’s pro hockey and basketball teams. Now you’ll understand the prints over the headboards.
This city loves its hockey, and we were also a short stroll from Canada’s Hockey Hall of Fame.
Speaking of our national sport, I was delighted to spot our own Don Cherry just seconds after we stepping off our plane in Toronto. While known for his colourful attire on television, Mr. Cherry was likely the most elegantly dressed man in the airport.
Our room also offered us an unobstructed view of the landmark CN Tower, seen here from one of our walks, just behind the Roy Thomson Hall.
Hotel Concierge Tatiana was helpful with directions, and we also joined family to make our way to more than a few great locales, including High Park, above and below.
Fall colours were on great display, as you can see.
We were literally across the square from the entrance to the massive Union Station, home to trains and subway lines.
The hotel is also in walking distance of Bay Street and the business district, as well as fine examples of older architecture.
Between subway lines, street cars and hoofing it, we saw many other great sights.
Most will wait for another post, but here’s a preview at some particularly striking properties – in the Annex, on our way to the St. Lawrence Market, and at the University of Toronto.
Pampering
Be prepared to be impressed with this property’s showers. As was the case when I stayed with this brand in Québec City, the oversized rain shower is exposed to the general living area – but you have the option of capturing privacy with wooden blinds on the shower’s outer walls.
I love Molton Brown toiletries, and we both appreciated the his-and-hers closets and ample storage.
Style and Great Little Touches
The brand also offers some of the healthier Continental breakfasts you might find on offer and, yes, those are three rows of apples adjacent to our elevator. We appreciated stellar service from Karyl for breakfasts over the weekend, and Concierge Tatiana was very helpful with directions and suggestions.
I find Le Germain to be big on little touches. Turndown service includes water and boxed chocolates, and there are urns in the hallways for those who would like to top up their carafes. We’re off to the Big Apple next, but are already looking forward to returning to this property on our next visit to Toronto.
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Hotel Eldorado: A Lakefront Postcard from Kelowna
If you’ve not yet been to British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, you’re in for a treat.
I popped up to Kelowna yesterday for a Friday night catch up with the gals. Where better to get together than at our old haunt, Hotel Eldorado?
After a scenic drive up from the coast, I checked into the El, and then we were utterly spoiled with great service from Kate, Chris and more.
With gorgeous end-of-September weather, we started outdoors and eventually made our way to the indoor lounge.
The hotel is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and has done so with with a recent refurbishment.
This boutique waterfront property has retained its character while adding elements such as the gorgeous copper ceilings you’ll see here.
I didn’t spend the entire afternoon and evening soaking up wine and the El’s famous Crantinis, however. Before meeting up with the gals, I was given a tour of the property and some of the renewal. How would you like to soak your cares away in this lakeview tub?
Or, you can soak up the views of Okanagan Lake from this pool and hot tub.
I’m off now to enjoy some Okanagan sunshine, but will leave you with a some glimpses of the expansive rooftop views I woke up to this morning.
All was quiet when I took these shots at sunrise today …
… but it won’t stay that way long, as there’ll be an afternoon wedding under this pergola today. What a gorgeous setting in which to start a new life together!
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History Meets Luxury in NYC: The InterContinental Barclay
If you like a bit of history with very comfortable travel, you’ll be interested in our summer stay at the InterContinental Barclay New York, which is one of NYC’s grand old railroad hotels. Click here to see more.
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People Hurtling Themselves Through the Air
… or, to be more accurate, paying to be hurtled through the air by assorted mechanical devices.
That’s just what these people, and many more, were doing yesterday at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition, also known as the PNE.
We weren’t on any of the rides yesterday, but the good old wooden roller coaster (below) is a favourite from my teen years. It’s just a little bit older than me, and is aging well.
With gorgeous views of Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains for those who might not be entirely consumed by the lifts and drops, this roller coaster reaches speeds of 72 km/45 miles per hour.
Labour Day Monday is the traditional close of the fair, before local students return to school Tuesday.
This past Sunday, we joined what seemed like tens of thousands of other people on the sun drenched fair grounds.
Sunday at the PNE, there was a healthy lineup for a 50th (can you believe it?) anniversary tour of The Monkees. I’ve written here about Bette Graham, mother of Michael Nesmith. The show featured two of the three remaining Monkees, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. If none of these names mean nothing to you, ask your parents or a friendly aunt or uncle … or just click here.
The crowd pictured here, though, wasn’t part of the Monkee’s audience. It was just part of the full house you can consistently see for perennial favourite, the SuperDogs show.
What else do fair goers do other than trust the engineering and mechanics of rides that had them flying hundreds of feet through the air? Well, if you’re like us, you stop for a sausage on a bun at Hunky Bill’s. Bill Konyk, his son and a third generation and great staff run what amounts to the longest running food stand at the PNE. Konyk first started selling his perogies at the 1967 PNE.
Others chose Curry in a Hurry or Wok This Way, if they hadn’t already given in to the barbecued chicken. For us, after Hunky Bill’s it was off to the lemonade stand where people wash down all manner of decadent, deep-fried indulgences. For us – and tens of thousands of others – dessert at the PNE means just one thing: a stop at the Those Little Donuts stand, where you’ll enjoy tiny, but piping hot doughnuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
There are also loads of tamer rides for younger visitors, games through which you toss down money for the chance of a plush prize (or not), and a tour of the 2016 PNE prize home. During my elementary school years, we lived in a neighbourhood of such prize homes, and every visitor who buys tickets dreams of being the lucky winner.
Then there’s the Agrodome, which is a big hit with the 4H crowd as well as those who want to learn about (or, in this case, cuddle) animals.
That’s a day at the PNE. Do you have any similar end-of-summer traditions?
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Windsurfing: Postcard from Vancouver
Here are some more shots from one of my favourite places in Vancouver, Spanish Banks.
Technically, we still have just over a couple of weeks left of summer, and so I’m thinking of shots – the end of a full day of windsurfing, and the subsequent sunset – as a celebration of that season on the west coast.
I like the shot above not only for its colours, but also because we have the moon rising over the mountains even as the sun is sinking behind them just a bit further west.
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A Different Kind of Bread Line
Lineups such as this are typical alongside the Pure Bread stall at the Kitsilano (Kits) Farmers’ Market in Vancouver.
Here are some of the reasons.
We usually go for the Drunken Apple Blondies, above.
One square cut in half nicely takes care of two people’s desserts.
Bear in mind that I took these shots through the glass counter yesterday, but you’ll get a sense of just why it’s not uncommon to see a lineup that’s two dozen deep.
It’s not all about the desserts at the Kits Farmers’ Market, though.
As you’ll see here, I usually walk home with bags overflowing with berries, kale, lettuce, and assorted fruits and veggies that are in season.
Eggplant was on our dinner menu last evening, and we enjoyed market-fresh peaches and cherries at brunch.
We’re happy to have imported strawberries when they’re not in season locally, but nothing beats homegrown – see how the variety typically grown in BC is red through and through?
Hungry, anyone?
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