They all look the same to me!
And so today we found ourselves at Vancouver's highest point in Queen Elizabeth Park - don't get me started about the royal family!
Ok, maybe just a bit. I have to admit to rather enjoying the deliberate snubs visited upon our future king in Jamaica recently. "Nice to meet you but we are dumping you and your slave trading family as head of state as soon as we can", seemed to be the gist of what was said.
I'm sure William and Kate put a different spin on it but with the various protests and even the diplomatic niceties steamrollered it seems to me their days are numbered. Which of course brings me to ... why oh why Canadians do you still have the mouldy old British royal family as your head of state. Time to grow up and get the old gal off your currency. Just sayin'.
Sorry, I said don't get me started. Anyway despite the outdated name the park is a rather pleasant place with a tri-desic (I think) dome at its apex, housing a tropical garden and bunch of parrots - or whatever they were. And a few mice, at least one rat, a few species of finch (probably) and maybe a pigeon or two. Very nice especially on a drizzly afternoon, but we did decide to go round twice to get our money's worth. 7 bucks for a walkway that couldn't have been more than 50 metres was bit steep, Vancouver. But hey ho, it entertained us for half an hour (by going round twice) and afforded us some excellent views of the city (although they were free), and the opportunity for the daft selfie I know you have all been missing.
While Nareesa got the last value out of our previous Airbnb by working right up to check out time (one of us has to work), I spent the morning sitting in a cafe in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver. The rain had stopped, and it gave me a chance to overindulge my serious coffee habit all on my own. Jet lag is easing (stayed awake till nearly 10 last night and slept till nearly 6 this morning), and, as long as I don't feel too guilty about minor gripes about distinctly average and overpriced Airbnbs while some have no home left after being bombarded by savages, all is good.
This morning, a theme I explored in Norway last year, came to mind; how and why do I feel so at ease in situations like this? I was doing nothing exciting; sitting in a cafe (Waves, a nice little independent since you ask), sipping coffee and watching the world go by. But it's a world that whilst familiar is different to my day to day living. Nothing much was happening, punters coming and going, speaking in funny accents (yes, I know I'll get shit for that), cars driving past on the wrong side of the road and people going about their lives. But I love it! It's not as if the cafe was even new to me - I'd been in it several times. But its away from home and different. And I wrote a bit of this tripe too.
Anyway, back to the journey. We said a temporary good-bye to Michelle after elevenses (we'll be back some time in May), and headed south into the big city, stopped at the aforementioned QE Park and sneaked in a sushi lunch by randomly selecting one from any number on Cambie Street. And of course it was fab. I think I have been told Vancouver & Richmond house the largest Asian populations outside Asia. Or something like that. It is of course possible I simply made that up. But whatever the statistical accuracy there is some bloody good sushi to be had here! And as it turns out the cherry blossom is in full ... well, blossom. So you don't even need to go to Japan!
As I write this bilge we have just arrived in Steveston (anyone ever seen "Once Upon A Time"? Storybrooke is Steveston) at the mouth of the Fraser River, just south of Vancouver, our next destination to see our friends John and Nancy. It's almost wine o'clock and so I think I will sign off while I can. There are more important tings to do. I'm going to post this now as trying to do it later will likely be a challenge too far.
Just one last picture. Nareesa posing with her new friends in QEP.
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