Today is British Columbia Day … and here’s their flag, which
I saw at the Belkin Gallery on the BC campus as I wandered towards the Museum
of Anthropology (MOA) on my recent short introductory visit to Vancouver.
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| Salt Spring Island is just off Vancouver Island, where I am staying; the ferry line from the north is from Nanaimo; while the straight line is the 49th parrallel |
It’s a holiday – but life at the farm doesn’t stop … more
updates anon … for now a Vancouver misadventure by me!
I’d set off earlyish (7.00 am) for a 45 minute drive to the
Nanaimo ferry … I knew there were two – and assumed that they were in the same
place … but no – anyway I walked onto the ferry to Twsawwassen – it was
Vancouver way.
Inadvertently it was probably a wise mistake … it was
longer, but less hassle … got off the ferry onto a bus, and onto the metro straight
to my stop at City Hall.
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| This was day 2 ... not the best photo - but you can just see the skyscrapers appearing from the coast, as Vancouver is built in, around and above various waterways |
When I’d booked my room I’d no idea about the layout of
Vancouver … but it was the perfect place to stay. I looked north over the city, not in the
maelstrom of tourist/cruise ship life – yet was on the metro, the bus and foot
to places I wanted to see or get to.
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| City Hall - art deco style |
I was meeting friends the next day for lunch at a restaurant
by City Hall …another post on that! But
that first day I dropped my bag at the B+B, thankful they were open. Got the bus out to the BC campus …
Then had to walk across the campus to the MOA … it was quite
a long walk … lots of building works going on and I’d no idea of the Uni’s
layout – just knew I was aiming for Point Grey and the museum.
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| BC Campus - Rose Garden ... 'ocean' beyond ... |
I was directed towards the Rose Garden … and carried on
walking past the Morris and Helen Belkin (contemporary) Art Gallery and various
sculptures none of which I could do full justice too: I had a goal and it was
late afternoon …
I got to the Rose Garden area and with relief saw a food set
up … wandered across – I did notice there were no prices, or much advertising
etc – but wasn’t stopped and was longing for a drink and a light snack.
Happily helped myself … a delicious fruit punch, a choice
from lots of Mediterranean style dishes … I ‘ladled’ a few salady spoonfuls into
my bowl … then looked up to ask how I pay … ah …
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| It does look good doesn't it ...? |
… they looked at me, my eyes wandered along the four of them
in the ‘cart’ above … found the boss looking one … he looked at me … I looked
at them … ah! … are you part of the film crew?
That answered that problem … but I had a small dish of
fodder, some delicious looking punch – none of which could be returned whence
it came …
… oooh once again I was embarrassed – they said don’t worry …
first I thanked them profusely … and then said I’d pay it forward … still to do
that … something will turn up … I moved a distance away from the film area – it
was another tv series I gather, but could see no set …
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| I'm sure architecturally it is interesting ... and when well lit per media shots ... it looks stunning - but on 'my day' - it was a little undaunting. It is built on 'unceded Mesqueam territory' ... (First Nations land) |
I did get to the MOA eventually … nearly running down the
Rose Garden steps … and didn’t have much time – still a reason for another
visit in due course. A quick tour around
the grounds of the Museum and a very quick whizz through some of the exhibits …
then it was closing time: 5.00 pm.
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| Definitely not my photo! |
Back to the bus … where do I get off … I said Broadway – the
driver said it’s here … so off I get start to walk – then ask how far to City
Hall (the bit I’d forgotten to mention) … someone said about 20 blocks! By then I was tired and waited for the slow
bus … the wait was slow too!
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| Vancouver skyline - not by me! |
Still … I’d got back to where I recognised and had my
bearings … now for supper as I was fair exhausted … but that is for another day
… tales of Vancouver and some other places I’ve recently visited to follow …
This is becoming my 3rd age misspent youth … a
series of misadventures or perhaps good unintended consequences that can be
written up about …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
