Today Kate and I had a fabulous day at the natural history museum where we visited the new shark exhibit. Kate loves to go to the museum! Her favorite part (and mine) is the Butterfly Rainforest where the prettiest butterflies flutter freely around you.
It's hard to believe that it was already 2 years ago that Hurricane Katrina, the Category 5 hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast, wiped out New Orleans. Watching the news in total disbelief at the size of the storm and the catastrophic damages it was causing along the entire coast, I will never forget the terror in a news anchor's voice who was reporting live in the middle of the storm. A man came up to her on air hysterically crying a
nd was looking for his wife that had been swept away in the rushing water. It instantly brought tears to my eyes witnessing their lives being helplessly destroyed. I was fortunate enough to experience the Big Easy in high school and it is such a great place. While much of the city was destroyed, no storm could wipe away the culture and eccentric vibe that makes NOLA so unique!
We spent one afternoon hiking across the Capilano Suspension Bridge 230 feet above the Capilano River. There was a tree top boardwalk where we could hike high up in the trees 100 feet above the forest floor. K and Grams indulged in some homemade fudge after surviving the trek!
We also got the opportunity to take a ferry boat ride from Granville Island. Although it was not a "tour" and our captain "was not a tour guide", we got a neat look at the city from the water. I loved the houseboat neighborhood. While in Granville Island, we shopped in the fresh market and looked in the fun shops.
Inukshuk (pronounced IN-OOK-SHOOK), meaning "likeness of a person" in Inuktitut (the Inuit language) is a stone figure made by the Inuit. The plural is inuksuit. The Inuit make inuksuit in different forms and for different purposes: to show directions to travellers, to warn of impending danger, to mark a place of respect, or to act as helpers in the hunting of caribou. Similar stone figures were made all over the world in ancient times, but the Arctic is one of the few places where they still stand. An inukshuk can be small or large, a single rock, several rocks balanced on each other, round boulders or flat. Inuit tradition forbids the destruction of inuksuit.
Capilano State Park, Vancouver
Downtown, Stanley Park and W. Van
Hollow Tree Trunk, Stanley Park
Whistler, B.C.
Gastown, Vancouver
Her dreams gave her wings...
Weathervane
Lion's Gate Bridge
While in Vancouver, it was fabulous being only 4 blocks from the sea wall. I quickly established a routine of running in the morning and stopping by the local coffee shop "Beaners" (as the locals call it) on the way back to get Grams and I a cup of joe.. it was a lovely start to each day! I fit right in Vancouver and cannot wait to reinstate this morning ritual next summer when Grams retires here...
The city at night from the top of Mt. Grouse
The ladies enjoying scones and high tea
One of many great conversations on the patio
Revolving Restaurant with 360 degree view
The Lift, a fabulous choice by Kim with great drinks, food and view
