Curiosity

Oftentimes, people ask me what I like photographing the most. Then too, when the topic of my blogging comes up, they ask what do you write about? Both questions I find difficult to answer with any certainty. I tell them it is not really a photography blog, nor a true diary, not even a space filled with tutorials. What is it anyway?

Probably what drives most of my endeavors is curiosity. Of course, "curiosity killed the cat", or so they say. Perhaps having as much curiosity as I do isn't necessarily a good thing, but it is the only way I know how to behave, so I carry on, writing and photographing everything interesting I encounter. And you, dear reader, feel free to pick and choose what you find interesting in this bit of space on the web. Maybe one of you might think of a snappy reply to that question? Suggestions most welcome!

Without further ado......

I don't know about you, but I find it hard to comprehend a rainforest this far north. Of course, coming from someone who lives nearer the equator, I'm not sure I even knew there was such a thing as a temperate rainforest. Well, now that I have lived in British Columbia for nearly a year, I now have a greater understanding of how it all works. Here is a condensed version, should you be interested. Although I do spend quite a bit of time photographing the beautiful flowers in Stanley Park,

I like the massive trees nearly as much. I am particularly fond of that yellow-green pictured tree. Can you believe the size of those rose bushes, as tall, or taller than the tourists? And to think he uses no fertilizer is mind boggling. Trying to get the hang of my camera, I walked back to SP because it was another cloudy day and I had a notion that there was something I was going to go crazy for in the park. Specifically, Beaver Lake. Not a pretty lake, by any means, but when I took Bruce there about a month ago, I saw something on the lake, and knowing what I no know about how everything here grows so rapidly, I wanted to check it out.

Finally, I figured out a better way to walk there through the forest,

where the same scene is repeated over and over again. So is this crazy phenom.

And that folks is what a temperate rainforest looks like, where the trees start growing all over again, heading skyward towards the sunlight. My lens will not allow me to get the whole tree (s) in but I'd say, conservatively, that those two new trees are 50 feet tall.

Although I've yet to see a beaver there, the evidence is clear, it is called Beaver Lake for a reason!

Pretty remarkable isn't it? Maybe that is a bad choice of descriptor because isn't that what regularly happens where beavers are found? Anyway, coming onto the circular path around the lake from the rose garden side, all I saw was what looked like wetlands, that is until I saw this.

That, friends was just the beginning because a little further along the path, holy cow!!

I couldn't help but think of a something our Mom used to say....they are thick as thieves! There were only a few areas along the shoreline suitable for taking a photograph, but believe me when I tell you, they stretched as far as the eye could see!

How do you top that? You don't!

I took the bus from the Park to Granville and Pender, walked a block over to Seymour, and began the trek home. Something that local folks, and I'm talking about those from Orlando, might find surprising is the evening local newscast. Very little crime for one thing, but what is curious to me is how what appear to be happenings that affect a lot of people are not even reported. As I walked along Seymour, I saw people filling the sidewalks on either side of the Orpheum Theater, with multiple firetrucks there, while others came screaming down the street.  Standing on the corner of Smithe and Seymour, I felt sure it would be on the news, especially, as I learned from the cashier at Nesters that high school graduations were happening there.

Rarely do I actually watch the news, but on that day, when the time came, I turned it on expecting to find out something. Not a word.

People are looking up in our little corner of Vancouver and that is because this 45 story tower artwork was unveiled last week. Oh my. For the longest time, there was a tarp over that area and who knew what was underneath? Not anyone I've met.

People say that all the skyscrapers look alike in Vancouver, but not anymore! We are happy because finally we can walk on that side of the street which had been filled with construction since our arrival.

Bruce felt the need to work on Saturday, having been out of the office for so many days, what with our trip and then nearly a week for work. Fine by me, I will walk over and we'll have lunch on that side of town. It was the weekend of the Dragon Boat Festival on False Creek and I was anxious to see what I could see. 

Along the way, it won't surprise you to see that I found some new and interesting things, including these fantastic flowering bushes! What an awesome little flower face.

I made my way past Urban Fare and onto the seawall,

and no, I didn't eat there, but it sure was cute to see. Having the dogwoods still blooming has been a treat.

While the above will have to suffice as far as the racing is concerned, let's meet Greg,

who had raced earlier in the morning. Plus, he was having his 27th birthday! Not only did he explain a bunch about dragon boat racing, he seemed quite proud to tell me that he convinced his Mom to join their team. Don't ask me how we began chatting because that is a mystery to me too.

Parting ways, he on his way to a birthday lunch with his family, and me on my way to meet my beloved in front of his office. We walked a few blocks to a place in Chinatown that I'd been told was good, and they were not kidding!

The thing about walking everywhere is you just never know what you might encounter, such as these two fellows using a chain saw to cut big blocks of ice into pieces.

This is a prime example of curiosity at work! Although I wanted to know more, fried chicken awaited. And it was so, so, good.

As was that slaw...fantastic! Plus some little fritters. Go there when you visit Vancouver! You won't be disappointed!

Another young woman sleeping on the street...

Disturbing Google street view of the rising tide of homelessness in Vancouver. 

Sunday turned out to be SundayFunday, wait, is that really a phrase? Anyway, following church and lunch, we walked home the usual way hoping to see what was happening around the gallery. We were not disappointed as there were actually two concerts going on, one in front of the gallery on Georgia, and one on Robson. We stopped to hear the Robson set, however, it became too screechy and improv for us, so we walked around the building and stumbled upon pure joy. The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is happening with over 300 performances all over the city. We arrived on the plaza when one act was finishing setting up.

Because we were a little early not many folks had assembled affording us a great place to view the action. Once they began playing it was such fun watching both old and young grooving to the tunes.

Once you love to dance, you never stop loving it even when you grow old as was demonstrated by those on the impromptu dance floor. My heart soared watching the woman in the straw hat, (in the middle of the picture) having such a good time.

She was moving so much at one point she shed the outer blouse, perhaps because she was warm. A tiny bit of rain fell as we walked home. Oh, the city life!

Walking along Howe Street, this great water feature has only recently been put back into action.

It is behind the Supreme Court building where only this week, the court handed down a sentence of six months for two men who faced charges of polygamy, one of whom has fathered 149 children!! 14 wives, oh my!

Giovanni and Pina were at it again, treating us like gold. This time we drove to their home in Steveston and what a home it is. Our former home would fit into theirs at least four times.

Everywhere you look there are delightful things to see from their world travels. And the feast they put together was a wonder, including pizza made in this outdoor oven.

There were meatballs, sausages, cheeses, lamb, beef, salad and the list goes on. Suzi, one of their daughters helped out, rolling dough and preparing toppings.

There is an indoor swimming pool, as well as a tennis court used to play field hockey by their grandchildren. They are in an area that at one time was primarily agricultural and next door to them it still is.

At least it is for the short term; we learned from another daughter, Anna, that folks are selling to developers at a rapid pace.

There were plans for a walk following dinner,  however that did not happen because it actually rained. A real rain, not the drizzly stuff we've become used to. Seriously, it is the first time since we've been here that it rained like a Florida rain, minus the thunder and lightening, which we've not seen since we left Florida. And while the rain was welcome for the trees and plants, it was very unwelcome for our drive back to downtown. Yikes! Nighttime driving is just not our cup of tea anymore. Bruce managed just fine and we were all snuggled up by 11:15, way past our bedtime!
Oh what a night it was!

Was there enough new things to satisfy your curiosity? I hope so!

yours truly,

Gail