Sandie's Memories Revisited: October 2012

VANCOUVER & VICTORIA

Vancouver! Have always heard what a lovely city it is, and the reports were not wrong. Actually it felt a bit like Melbourne – except that we don’t have huge mountains rearing up right at the back of the city. They say you can swim, surf and ski all on the same day in Vancouver.

Rae and Graham, an absolutely delightful couple (friends of a friend of mine in Sunbury) picked me up from the hotel on Tuesday and proceeded to show me the sights of their beautiful city. We drove around Stanley Park, stopping at various points of interest, and the trees were just bursting into their autumn colours. The harbour at Vancouver could easily rival Sydney, and we took a small ferry over to Granville Island where there is a big food market and also lots of arts and craft stalls. We lunched outside on a terrace overlooking the harbour, with the mountains ringing the city behind us, in glorious sunshine.

Rae and Graham live in a lovely residential area, with wide streets lined with colourful trees. We went for a walk along the edge of the Fraser river and it was interesting to see the river almost as it runs into the harbour, having followed it all the way from up in the Rockies.

The next morning I took a tour over to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia which is located on Vancouver Island, a 90 minute ferry trip away. Vancouver Island is about the same size as Ireland, only a different shape. The ferry was called The Spirit of British Columbia – and was very similar to our Spirit of Tasmania. Wonder if they were made by the same company.

The ship threaded its way through the Gulf Islands and docked at a harbour about an hour’s drive from Victoria, and on the way to the capital we stopped off for a tour of the world famous Butchart Gardens. Over 100 years ago Mr Butchart made his fortune from cement, which he manufactured from the limestone quarry on his property, and his wife decided to turn the quarry into a garden. Wow! What a garden they made. It is absolutely breathtaking and photos don’t do it justice. It must take an army of gardeners to keep it in such immaculate condition.

Driving on to Victoria, we had enough time to wander around the city area and admire the lovely old buildings, wide streets, and modern marina. Was hoping to get a photo of one of those elusive sunsets, as the ferry headed back to Vancouver, but – no show for sunset!!

The next morning I saw Vancouver from the top of the Observation Deck and although still a bit hazy (hence the “foggy” photos!), you still had a fabulous view of the skyscrapers lining the streets of downtown Vancouver. Because they are cramped for room to expand, thanks to the mountains circling the city, “up” is the way to go and this area has more people per square kilometre than downtown New York! In spite of this large population in a small area, you don’t feel crowded in the streets. I think Vancouver as a city has about 2 million people, so not too large over all.

Keeping up my culture, I looked in on the Matisse art exhibition and then met up with Rae to wander around the Van Dusen gardens, which are beautiful in a completely different way to the Butchart Gardens. They had an exhibition of “Green Dresses (made from natural materials) and they were very innovative!

Graham and Rae took me out for dinner on my last night here in Vancouver to a restaurant high up on the hills in Vancouver with the most magical view of the sparkling lights of the city below. You could also see the string of lights up on the peak of Grouse Mountain.

This has brought my epic journey to an end, and although I have had the most wonderful time, with more than wonderful people, I was very glad to board the Air New Zealand flight for the long, boring flight back to Melbourne. Bruce and Brittney met me at the airport and whisked me off to Christine’s (after a quick stop at my home for a welcome shower!!) where the whole family gathered for a BBQ lunch. Several of the girls had made me lovely Welcome Home cards, and Katarina had made me a banner saying Welcome Home Oma (in the photo you can see the banner but the wording can’t be seen). As it was Kata’s birthday the next day, we celebrated with a birthday cake for her, and singing Happy Birthday.

Life is almost back to normal now but I am left with a host of memories which will last me for ever. A huge thank you to all the family and friends overseas for making this trip such a wonderful journey - and I look forward to seeing you ALL in Melbourne before too long!!!