I didn’t plan to leave the blog alone for over 2 weeks, but here we are. I don’t have any tea or book stuff to talk about today, just some photos of what my life has been like lately.
So where have I been? Well, last weekend I took a trip to Vancouver! I was attending the annual conference for Editors Canada, a professional association that I’m part of. The conference moves from city to city each year, so a trip to Vancouver sounded like a great way to start the summer.
I got some nice swag while I was at there; the conference bag included a sample of tea called “Editors Blend” and there was an Etsy vendor there named Crafted Van who sold a book-and-tea-themed mug that was so perfect I couldn’t say no. I mean, look at this!
Books and tea really are all I need!
However, I was so busy with attending the conference that I didn’t get a chance to enjoy Vancouver’s tea culture — no trips to Murchie’s or The Chinese Tea Shop for me!
But really, there’s more to the city than just tea. So here’s a nice little treat for you: a look at some of the photos I took while my husband and I were on our trip to Vancouver. The conference hotel was near Stanley Park, so Mr. BooksandTea and I stayed mostly in the downtown core. Just click on each thumbnail image to see the full-sized version and any captions.
-
- The view from our hotel balcony onto the courtyard below.
-
- The sky in Vancouver seemed so big compared to Toronto.
-
- English Bay on a Friday evening.
-
- A friend told me when she visited Toronto that the gulls are different in BC. She’s right!
-
- Yet more of English Bay.
-
- Further down English Bay.
-
- There’s a giant inukshuk in English Bay. We tried to hug it, but it was too big.
-
- The crows in Vancouver seemed bigger than the ones you normally see in Toronto. Less afraid of people, too.
-
- This is a piece of public art called A-maze-ing Laughter. It’s composed of several statues modeled after the sculptor.
-
- I joked to Mr. BooksandTea that this statue looks like it’s doing some epic karaoke.
-
- This inscription is missing a comma, and that bugs me. Sigh.
-
- This, is a heron. I was told there’s a nesting ground close by.
-
- This is a part of Stanley Park called Lost Lagoon. Beavers live here!
-
- Of course, as soon as this beaver noticed me, it swam away. Bye bye, little beaver!
-
- This appears to be a Yellow Flag Iris, an invasive species in BC. Oops.
-
- There were morning glories in Stanley Park. This white one is entwined with white roses. Lovely.
-
- I have no idea what this purple, spiky plant is. Any help?
-
- A glimpse of downtown Vancouver as seen from the far side of Lost Lagoon.
-
- This low light is what happens when you aim your camera right at the sun.
-
- More dramatic low lighting!
-
- A final shot of Lost Lagoon.
