Vancouver, BC, Canada - 7th June 2009
By: AbbyB
Next, it was time for some sight-seeing downtown.
This is Victory Square, Vancouver's war memorial. It used to be overrun with homeless people (being on the infamous Downtown East Side), but the area has cleaned up somewhat in recent years.
This is the Dominion Building. When it was built it was the tallest building in Canada. Apparently it is haunted by the architect, who died falling down the big spiral staircase in the centre of the building becore it was completed. The building is trangular.
That tall building you can see in the background is the new Woodwards building. Woodwards was a department store that went bankrupt in 1993. It was vacant until it was purchased by Simon Fraser University a few years ago to become part of its Vancouver campus. The building will be the new home of all of the fine arts programs, as well as a community centre for the Downtown East Side, student residences and low-income housing. Part of the original facade was kept, and once construction is complete they will restore the old, neon Woodwards 'W' that sat atop the old building.
This is the Gastown Steamclock, the first clock of its kind to run solely on steam power. It is a huge tourist attraction. It chimes every quarter hour and releases a lot of steam in the process. Unfortunately we just missed one of those moments, as it would have made a good photo.
This is not a great photo, but down the street you can see the district of Gastown, the oldest business district in Vancouver.
In the distance you can see Canada Place. It has many large halls and is used for conventions and parties. The sails are lit up at night.
This is Waterfront Station, which is the terminus station for many different modes of transportation. The commuter train West Coast Express stops here, as well as the Skytrain, Seabus and many buses.
This is the Marine Building. It is the best example of art deco architecture on the West Coast of North America. The interior was used in the Fantastic Four movies. It was built right at the beginning of the Depression, and because the contractors went bankrupt, the interiors were not completed as they were originally meant to be until recently.
Here is a close up of some of the detailing.
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Posted Jun 8, 2009, 8:44 pm
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Maple Ridge, BC, Canada - 14th June 2009
By: AbbyB
Today is the public opening of the new Goldenears Bridge. No cars yet, just people.
These eagles (at the top of the towers) are in a few different places on the bridge.
There was a show of vintage cars.
Look! We cut the ribbon! (or, rather, a bumper sticker off a line of bumper stickers)
On the North stage was a group called Kutapira, who describe themselves as a percussion marimba band.
Some people from a local First Nations group were performing.
The bridge crosses the Fraser River. This is the view down-river. The, ahem, suicide guard was decigned to look like fish traps.
We had to get our picture taken with Mounties.
On the South stage was the Langley Ukulele Ensemble, who are a bunch of very talented youth if I do say so myself.
Along the length of the bridge were passport stations, where you could get your 'passport' stamped. When you visited all six stations you could enter to win a prize. All of ours are stamped!
I hope these cables hold...
This is the view up-river.
Back on the North stage, a group called Aché Brasil, who were performing Capoeira, a form of martial arts started by Afro-Brazilian slaves.
After this the crowds were too much and they had to stop letting people onto the bridge so that we could get off, so we decided to leave.
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Posted Jun 16, 2009, 4:22 am
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Maple Ridge, BC, Canada - 18th June 2009
By: AbbyB
Today Pepita and Noelle are leaving. We all gathered tgether for a goodbye, then it was off to the post office for them.
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Posted Jun 19, 2009, 1:49 pm
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Vancouver, BC, Canada - 19th June 2009
By: AbbyB
This morning we got up very early and travelled to Vancouver for breakfast.
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Posted Jun 22, 2009, 10:20 pm
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On a plane to Victoria, BC, Canada - 19th June 2009
By: AbbyB
Abby says we are going to fly on a float plane. We arrived a bit early, so We decided to have a look around.
This is our boarding pass.
From here you can see the planes; you can't really see the one we will take because it is hidden behind another
one, but it is identical to the one in the centre with the yellow on the tail. It holds fourteen passengers.
Behind the docks you can see part of Stanley Park.
This is the 'green roof' part of the new convention centre, which will be the media centre during the Olympics.
Now we are inside the plane! This is the view so far from the window.
Here is the view from the inside. Everyone else on the plane seemed to be a Norwegian tourist.
We are starting to move now!
On the right you can see the convention centre, next to it is where all of the cruise ships leave near Canada
Place, and next to that is the Vancouver shipyards.
Taking off!
That city over there is North Vancouver.
This is a map of the flight plan. We are going from Vancouver to Victoria, about a 35 minute trip (it takes
about two hours, plus an hour's drive if you go by ferry).
In the distance you can see a barge. The red ship to the right of it is called a pilot ship, which must be
present if the large ship does not have a Canadian pilot.
During our flight we read The Peak, which is Abby's and Erin's school newspaper.
This is Galliano Island
This narrow waterway is called Active Pass, named after the USS Active, which was the first ship to travel
through is (as opposed to the HMCS Plumper, which travelled through shortly after). It is fairly narrow and
curvy, so boats have to be careful travelling through it. You can see a ferry on its way to Vancouver right
now.
This is Saltspring Island. Rock legend Randy Bachman live here.
Now we are over the Saanich Peninsula, part of Vancouver Island. Nearly there!
Look, we are right under the clouds.
Coming into Victoria Harbour now...
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Posted Jun 22, 2009, 10:21 pm
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Victoria, BC, Canada - 19th June 2009
By: AbbyB
We are staying at the Robin Hood Motel. Pop singer Nelly Furtado used to work here.
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Posted Jun 22, 2009, 10:23 pm
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Knockan Hill Park, Saanich, Canada - 20th June 2009
By: AbbyB
Knockan Hill Park is a garry oak preserve. Garry oaks are an engangered tree that are only found in this area.
The view from here is rather good.
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Posted Jun 23, 2009, 3:49 am Last edited Jun 23, 2009, 3:51 am by AbbyB
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