Sunday in Vancouver

Alright, then.  Weeks later, let's tackle the February Vancouver trip again.  

I did a lot of walking in Vancouver.  Up early in the morning, then setting out to stroll and take photos of local art

and scenery and buildings.  I would head to a nearby Starbucks first and fortify,

then get going.  On the Sunday morning of the trip, I headed (post-Starbucks) through Robson Plaza,

then down around the Vancouver Public Library,

past BC Place Stadium,

and on into Gastown

before returning to the hotel. 

A good walk.

I was able to relax a bit, then it was time to make myself pretty

and catch a bus to meet up with Remi

at Chez Celine.  Nice to get to a neighbourhood I pretty much have never visited before, and nicer still to catch up with a former grad school classmate and friend whom I hadn't seen in far far too long. 

We each had a breakfast sandwich with an all-too generous serving of fries,

and when the meal was done, we strolled in the neighbourhood before he got in his car to return home and I caught the bus back to the hotel.

I don't think I napped before dinner.  I am pretty sure I read a bit.  As dinnertime approached, I made myself pretty again (ha!), and took a leisurely amble, indirectly heading to the restaurant. 

Dahlia was where Mark had chosen for a family meal.  It seems that he and Linda go there regularly for the oysters and are known to the staff.  It's a handsome space in a hotel lobby. 

I did like the oysters,

and I thought the scallop crudo was also good. 

My chicken milanese was fine enough. 

The two Gibsons I had were great. 

The service was alright.  Verdict:  Lovely space, maybe great for a cocktail and oysters at the bar.  But no matter.  Here's the embarrassing thing:  I had not seen Bella since before the pandemic.  No, nothing bad between us at all.  It was really happy seeing her at long last and catching up, sitting next to her at dinner.  We were missing Nigel (who is thriving in Bolivia, it seems) and Marie (who really should have been there, but ah well), but it was a nice family dinner just the same.

And that was Sunday!  Another fine day in Vancouver, and another full day ahead.... 

Happy birthday, Dad!

You would have been 83 today, Dad.  Happy birthday.  Gone for almost 14 years now - far too young a man to have died when you did.

No moroseness on my part.  Just a celebration for Dad, simple as that.

15 things (and one bonus)

15 things that made for such an amazing, wonderful, memorable, delightful Olympics week in Vancouver. And an honourable mention.

1. My sister. Hostess to many MKs over the course of the weekend (and an MK herself, oddly). Shopping companion. Dining mate. Hockey connoisseur. I don't think I show her enough appreciation.

2. Other family - a nice lunch of dim sum with my brother Carlos. I'm sorry Mark couldn't make it. I'm sorry we didn't get up the coast. I apologize a lot for something that was a good time, I know. Sorry.

3. Chris. Read his blog already! Also, he'll kill me, but I will set him up with anyone who meets my exacting standards for awesome enough to be his match.

4. Brian and Giuseppe. We love these guys no end, and we're glad we get Chicago and Vancouver time with them. Bonus points to Brian for his past Olympics experiences to share with us. Bonus points to Giuseppe for introducing me to Dan Mangan's stuff and then for being so adorkably tongue tied around the man.

5. Dan Mangan.
OK, I wasn't wild about the woman who was on before him (OK, I was so unenthralled as to sit reading the Globe and Mail - a TORONTO newspaper, for crying out loud! - on my iPhone while I prayed for her to be done her set), but the man put on an awesome show. Among many wonderful moments, I loved that he halted "Pine for Cedars" to tell us how, when he was touring Australia, he had to explain the lyric about winning a home in a hospital lottery. So BC. Love him.

6. This sweater on me. I never said I wasn't shallow.

7. This scarf on me. In fact, I'm very very shallow.

8. Coffee at Safari. If I can't have a flat white, then this will do nicely, though I realize I forgot to go to the place Janet recommended. In May, when we return.

9. Seeing Canada's first gold medal on home soil - EVER! - draped around Alexandre Bilodeau's neck, and having tears running down my cheeks during O Canada.

10. Getting to dress in Swedish drag and be a Svenska fan for one hockey game.

11. The First Nations presence around the Games (photo from the Coast Salish carvers in a house at the Art Gallery). Wonderful, special. I've commented already. Conrad and I ended up buying a print from the Edzerza Gallery to keep in our Vancouver home. I'm stunned that Alano Edzerza designed the really cool Netherlands uniforms. Wow.

12. Curling. Never really played it, still love it. How can you not love a sport that opens sessions with a round of bagpipes?




13. The houses and pavilions. Best by far was Canada's Northern House, but I think I actually liked Maison du Quebec most for its entertainment and proximity, its' blue glow at night.

14. Vancouver in the spring sunshine. Yes, it was spring. Yes, I am still bitter about being back in wintry Chicago.

15. Sharing in it all with this man. My Valentine the night of the photo, but so much more, and every single day. Thanks SB!


Honourable mention (no photo): meeting Mark and Maureen, even fleetingly. Marie may be the one hosting people, but I felt more than a little pleased at having been able to lend our condo for one night to the brother and sister-in-law of a good friend. I hope they enjoyed their Olympics experience and greatly!