Day 11. Nanaimo to Vancouver. Tuesday 28 April 2015
After a robust start to the day discussing the function – or disfunction – of our ‘Ghost’ blog while we tried to shower and pack – we moved on – literally and metaphorically.
About keeping our blog. We will write and do the best we can, with what we have got.
Learnings
– Next time learn early, before leaving and not on the road.
– Oh and maybe don’t be an early adopter of a start up when you don’t really understand!
About moving on physically- we got the ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay – not quite the luxury feel of the ferry over to Vancouver Island – no extensive buffet – but pleasant. Again despite concerns, the transport connections were seamless and easy.
On the bus from Horshoe Bay to Vancouver city got chatting to a man from Horseshoe Bay. His first step was to move the young people off the seat so opposite him so I could sit. A history buff, so the trip was dotted with historical facts such as the Stanley cup and Stanley Park named after Lord Stanley an early governor. As part of this conversation we discovered that apparently the last time a West Coast hockey team won the finals was 1915. One of those “This is why I love travel” moments.
Along with historical information he also added local knowledge including when to get off the bus and the direction to take when we did.
Once off the bus went hunting for Finches Café which had been a regular haunt for Holly. Did not disappoint – cute little café with organic food and drinks and a strong recycle policy. Including serving the baguettes in brown paper – not plates, which was then composted.
Vancouver is an amazing GREEN place. Household food scraps are collected and composted for the city. No idling policy for traffic. Electric buses. Etc etc.
Made our way to Anns – a trip made very easy with great transport- comparisons to Myki!! The population is less than Melbourne but the transport and fare system far and away better and easier to navigate.
Ann and Emily greeted us – odd to meet both of them in the home Holly stayed in a few years before.
And to be even staying in the room Holly had lived in.
Ann had put the little paper origami cranes Holly made along the window for us.
Ann had an art class so we wondered up the the Van Dusen Gardens. Chris had discovered these gardens were rated higher than the more famous Sun Yat Sen Gardens and they were walking distance from the house.
The gardens were a photographer’s delight. And a beautiful walk through a range of gardens.
Our first Bill Reid artwork in the flesh! This decorated Black Eagle canoe was one of the first Haida style we had seen.
Ann and Emily picked us up at the gardens and we headed into the city for dinner.
Talking Talking Talking.
So much we had to talk about.
Tonight a lovely night together at a favourite pizza restaurant Nicli Antica of Ann and Emily’s.
Fun and delicious.
