Stay classy Vancouver

I'm sure you've heard all about the riots that took place after game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver. If you haven't, then:

The Canucks lost.

People rioted.

Please note that I don't think the latter happened because of the former. I think the winds of a riot were in the air no matter what the outcome of the game. It was so palatable, I could feel it all the way down here in Texas. Let's review:

There was a huge gathering of people in the streets.

There was alcohol.

Probably drugs.

Testosterone.

Stupid teenagers with no supervision and nary a brain cell in sight.

And I'm guessing there wasn't enough police presence to keep people in line. Because let's face it... mix all the above ingredients together and something is going to happen.

I actually got caught up in the riot that happened in '94. At the beginning, the whole gathering was rather positive. It all turned ugly when some jerkwad decided to climb up and traverse the overhead bus wires. He fell, and as the police tried to escort the paramedics into the crowd, the shoving began and the rest is history.

At least my 16 year old brain had the good sense to get the hell out of there.

I was very sad to read about the riots. Disgusted. I feel for all the store owners and businesses that were damaged that night.

But unlike some people, this incident did not make me want to revoke my Canadian citizenship. Nor am I ashamed about being from Vancouver. I recognize that a few (hundred) incredibly, stupid, horrible eggs does not a city or country make.

Did you know that the night of the riots, a facebook group was started? Its aim was to get people out to clean up the city the next day. There are reports that over 13,000 people signed up to help (although the actual number of people who showed up is not known), and almost all the damage was cleaned up by 11:00 am the day after the riots.

That's the Vancouver I know and love. Let's hope the people that tried to destroy it get exactly what they deserve.

Things I love and miss about Vancouver

I guess this post brings an end to our Vancouver adventure. I can't believe it's already been a month since we were there. These are just a few of the many, many things I miss about my hometown:

• How late it stays light in the summer. Yeah, it's hard to argue with your two year old when you're trying to put her to bed at 9:30, and she says to you, "but it's still daytime!" But I love those extra hours of sunlight at night. I have some very fond memories of playing softball at 10:00 pm, and it's still light out.
  
  
• Vinegar with french fries... YUM! And you don't even have to ask the waiter/ess for it and endure the strange looks you get. It's just sitting there RIGHT ON THE TABLE!
  

• How much it rains. Yes, I miss the rain, and I will take it over 100+ degree Texas weather any day. You won't feel sick (or even perhaps die) from playing out too long in the rain.

• How much I love the outdoors. This one is hard for me. I feel happiest when I am surrounded by trees, oceans, rivers and mountains. At one point on our hike to Narin Falls, Elise asked me why I was smiling, and I told her that the sound of a rushing river makes me happy. She thought for a moment and said, "it makes me happy too." I think my soul dies a little more each day that I spend in Texas
  

• Nanaimo Bars... oh yum these are so good. The funny thing is, people from other parts of Canada don't even know what they are... they are truly a West Coast thing. I make these at home from time to time, but there's nothing like walking into a bakery and being able to buy one.
  
  
• People and their dogs. Wym, you should never go to Vancouver. As I like to say, everybody and their dog has a dog. Elise was in heaven with all the new furry friends she made.
  
  
• Different languages/accents. I love being able to walk down the street and hearing so many different languages spoken, or hearing accents from all over the world. It was all I could do to stop myself from running up to people and asking them where they were from. Yes, I am such a nerd.
  

We had such an amazing time in Vancouver, and I am counting the days until I get to go back.

Here's one last pic I found on our other camera. In the village up in Whistler, we found this cool little playground with a very interesting swing. I totally wanted to take a turn!

Vancouver - Day 8

Whistler/Narin Falls

Prepare yourselves for a whole lotta pictures. Pretty pictures, but there's quite a few. On this day, we drove up past Whistler to Narin Falls (told you I have a thing about waterfalls)... This hike was Fred's and my first date back in '96.

♫ Meeeeeemories, like the corners of my mind... ♫

Sorry, I'm back. Anyway... Enjoy!

Elise and Poppa in front of Green Lake

Green Lake. You can see cabins with float planes parked in front of them across the lake. I would like to live there

View overlooking the top of Narin Falls

A hiking we will go...

Our one and only family picture of the trip

Elise is not used to so much walking!

Glad it's him and not me

Fred took some great pictures on the hike

This one cracks me up for some reason

How beautiful

Fred getting funky with the camera again

Hiking buddies

Elise and Momma

Narin Falls is actually two falls, this is a shot of the first fall

She makes me laugh... I love this little girl and her many, many faces

Bottom drop of Narin Falls. See that wet rock that is sticking out? I used to scale the fence and go sit on that rock. And I have the picture to prove it...

Obviously, this picture was taken at a time when the water volume coming through the falls wasn't as high as it was this last time... still, if I could go back and kick my 21 year old ass for being so stupid, I would.

Vancouver - Day 7

Drive up to Whistler

It was a pretty rainy day when we took the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway up to Whistler, so we didn't get out of the car a whole lot. I did insist we stop at Shannon Falls, though. I have this thing about waterfalls. I love them. I could sit at stare at a waterfall for hours. Especially one in a setting this beautiful.

On a side note, I once hiked to the top of these falls. Sigh, those were the days...

Elise and Poppa at the bottom of the falls, by Shannon Creek

You can sort of see the falls through the trees

Are her rain boots not adorable?

Oh yeah, Shannon Falls in the background

Vancouver - Day 6

Back to the ol' stomping grounds and dinner at Gramma's house.

Love this place... it's called Finn Slough. Click on the name to read about it. A truly unique place that's tucked away in the city I grew up in. This picture was taken at low tide.

The first house I lived in after we moved from Montreal when I was a year old.

I lived here from the age of 10 until I moved out

Hanging with Gramma and Sage

Lovin' the great outdoors

And this is why we call Uncle Stefan, "Uncle Turkey". His hand (plastic eyeballs included) is the turkey and Elise is in love with it.

Posing with Uncle Turkey and the turkey

Vancouver - Day 5

Stanley Park - miniature train and farm yard

Elise sporting her new dress from India (and a bit of a 'tude)

Stopping to smell the flowers

Wheeeeeee!

Love the miniature train!

Poppa and the beans

Posing with the train

Why, hello little sheep!

Take me to your leader

Elise on the tractor

Vancouver - Day 4

The Vancouver Aquarium with Uncle Turkey

Checking out the dolphins from below ground

Elise thought it was pretty cool

What a fun job

My one good picture of the dolphin

Elise wanted to go swimming!

Ohhhh, fishies (Elise and her cute backpack from India; a present from Uncle Turkey)

Elise and Uncle Turkey checking out the shark tank

Vancouver - Day 3

Cruisin' on the Water Taxi in False Creek with Uncle Stefan (aka Uncle Turkey) and Uncle Marc

We actually did more than that on this day, but failed to take any pictures. Oh well...

Me, Uncle Stefan, Elise and Uncle Marc... we're on a boat!

Elise was quite thrilled with the whole experience

Lovely False Creek

More False Creek

Vancouver - Day 2

Granville Island & Lynn Canyon Suspension Brige. Plus the meeting of Uncle Marc

Snack time at Granville Island

Hanging out at Granville Island


Harassing the pigeons

Some of the best entertainment is free

Elise and Poppa at Lynn Canyon

Elise and Momma

Walking through a tree

Playing in the river

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Sigh... how pretty is that?

Elise and Momma on the bridge

Why I miss this city (Kits Beach)

Hanging with Uncle Marc at Kits Beach

Throwing rocks

Elise and Uncle Marc

Elise comtemplating life