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.... 

Tuesday in Vancouver

The Tuesday of the trip was our own last full day in Vancouver, and truly?  It could not have been more low-key.  I did some walking of my own, then Conrad, Courtney, and Robert all joined me for a stroll.  Yes, that means a few more waterfront photos.  It's a theme, I know.

Courtney and Robert did have enough time before heading to the airport for the five of us (Van was awake by then) to have brunch in the hotel restaurant.  Eggs Benedict for me, and they were fine. 

It was a nice send-off for Courtney and Robert, who made it home smoothly and safely and have, since then, moved from Colorado to Austin, TX.  Expect to see TX blog entries one day, I would suggest.

That left an easy day for the three of us, and we took full advantage by... doing next to nothing.  Napping, reading.  Not much more.  And that was so welcome.  Imagine that:  down time on a vacation.  How novel!

Our evening plan was easy as well:  hop the Canada Line and head to Yaletown to meet my younger brother Mark and his girlfriend Linda for dinner at Provence Marinaside. 

A long time since we last dined there, and also a long time since I last saw Mark and Linda.  I think it may have been a lunch, along with our brother Carlos, in 2022?  That sounds like so long ago, and it was.  I don't have a challenging relationship with that side of the family (I don't think I do, at least), but I also don't stay in touch nearly as well as I should.  Mark and Linda shared some family gossip (our brother Nigel moved to Bolivia?!?!?!), and we otherwise had a tasty meal with oysters

and then halibut for me,

Last Words to start, a nice BC red to share, and a cocktail called the Robert Frost for me

with the clafoutis we shared for dessert.

And that was Tuesday.  A simple, easy day.  I've really come to love my vacations being like that. 

M+M

Before I head to bed, and before the clock ticks over to Sunday, I did want to mark an important date. Today marks 5 years since Conrad and I were delighted a privileged to bear witness to Martin and Mark's wedding in Denver.

Martin and I have roomed together at conferences for ten years now. We met Mark in 2006 while I was in the throes of appendicitis. We cannot say enough good about the two of them - as a couple and individually.

No, not a long blog post, but a sincerely heartfelt one: happy anniversary Martin and Mark. We hope we may raise a glass to you both five years from now, and well beyond.

Strathcona

I'm not really sure what to call the neighbourhood our second home is in. Not quite Chinatown, nor Strathcona. Maybe we're Mount Pleasant? Something-adjacent, perhaps?

There isn't much to this post, mostly some pictures. The evening was grey (as is often the case in Vancouver), but the walk was a fine one. Marie, Conrad, Mark, and I meandered through the very old Strathcona neighbourhood en route home from our dinner at Au Petit Chavignol. Certainly, there are some less-than-pretty homes in the area - it's not the wealthiest of neighbourhoods. Still, there is much character, some genuinely lovely houses, and gardens that were compact, lush, and a source of some small envy to us.