This page (and those that follow) cover the 2nd half our our trip this summer, starting with Vancouver.
By way of background, we've owned a condo in the "west end" section of Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) since January 2005. Here's how one wag describes the neighborhood.
The condo is all of 575 square feet with a great view to the south, and a primo location (two blocks to the beach, two blocks to restaurants and shops). We really lucked-out finding this place, starting with meeting two guys on a cruise ship -- a long story you can read about here if you're really interested.
Last year was sort of "set up" time. I (Scott) was here alone for most of the time (April-September) as a full time student. Kathy came out twice to visit, each time ending up working most of the time to "make our house a home". Now we're back for the first time to reap the rewards. I'm not in classes for six hours a day, Kathy doesn' have to paint the walls for seven hours. The kitchen, tiny as it is, is now fairly well equipped. Don't have to do quite so much improvising -- as one must when moving into a new place.
So, we're here, and we're gunna have a good time.
July 2 onward -- Condo, sweet condo. It's great to be back, and gosh, I don't have to put on "chef's whites" (school uniform) and make the trek to school five days/week like last year (or the year before). What do we do now? Make a list, of course. Or two, or five. We are so predictable...
Scott wants to Party Like It's 1999. Yeah, but we use a lot smaller brush to "paint the town" these days. The opportunity, whether we actually avail ourselves of it, is a treat, and a retreat, relative to life in mundane rural Hudson, NH. I want to eat out. I want to see some shows; maybe a concert or two. I want to buy fresh foods around the corner, and prepare them that day -- without having to get in the car and drive to the market. I want to be "out and about" as Canadians are oft heard saying.
And we've got some shared aspirations for the summer here too, and we're working on them. We both put on a few pounds (this is kind) on our winter cruise and we're bound and determine to lose them. Vancouver is a great city for fitness. We're walking a great deal, using the West End Community Centre fitness center about 3 times/week, and taking Yoga classes together -- one of Kathy's long-time aspirations. We're both enjoying these new activities a great deal, and will expound on this a bit later.
~July 10 -- Long time friend David Beauchesne and his wife Linda, drove up from Scotts Valley, CA -- about 1000 miles (each direction) -- in their very cute Mini Cooper (it looks like this one). They were here just for a couple of days. A visit to Van Dusen gardens was a particular treat, but it was simply great to see the two of them again. It's been several years.
July 25 - July 29, 2006 -- Neighbors (from New Hampshire) Linda & Donna, flew out to the west coast (Seattle) and then came up to see Vancouver (and us... for a few days).
We had a fabulous time, mostly wandering around town -- Stanley Park, Granville Island, tony Robson Street, Gastown, a picnic while enjo ying the HSBC fireworks... there was "bear-ly" an idle moment. More on all this, soon.
August 6 - Today ends Vancouver's Gay Pride Week. The neighborhood has been filled with interesting folks ("we're not in Kansas anymore, thank goodness"). The Pride Parade went from the northwest corner of the city, to practically by our house (Kathy watched from the balcony). I was in the thick of things, and have a sunburn and this slide show to show for it. (You may need Adobe Flash Player to display it)
September (sometime) -- We made a two day trip over to Vancouver Island (the city of Vancouver isn't on Vancouver Island -- and is like a speck of dust in comparison to the size of "the Island".
September 18 -- Time flies. Another month came and went. Yoga. Visits to the gym, alternate days. A jaunt to "the island" (Vancouver island, which is a bazillion times the little land mass that is Vancouver). A some point we realize it isn't going to last forever, and we accept that we will soon leave.
The story continues with The Smile Route (or click the Next button).
