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.