Yesterday was a gorgeous day--an immense change from all the 'refreshing' rain we've been having--so we paid a visit to Granville Island in Vancouver. Granville Island is always crowded with tourists, but locals also visit for good bread and fresh produce. Emily Carr College of Art is located there, and there are quite a few local artists and artisans in cute little shops (plus, it is the home of
Granville Island Brewery). The vibe there is always cheerful and artsy.
We saw this
raccoon painting near one of the community gardens on our walk to Granville Island. Even though it's still January, green things are sprouting up already.
We passed by the fisherman's wharf. I love that you can see fishing boats against the background of tall downtown buildings.
Granville Island has great many buildings, so it is pretty easily to get lost. But you always end up somewhere pretty interesting. This building is the Net Loft, which houses a spectacular paper & stationary shop (
Paper Ya), and a postcard store.
In another large building is the market. You can get just about anything here, from really good deli meat, to fluffy donuts, to exceptional produce.
One of my favorite places is the
Granville Island Tea Company, which recently moved to larger and grander digs (right next door to their quaint old cubicle). This is where to get one of the best Marsala
Chai teas in the city. It's sweet, milky, and redolent with warm spices. Yum!
This was the view of Coal Harbour across the water, as we sat and sipped our heavenly
chai. We also saw quite a few sea gulls, begging for a scrap of food.
On our way back, we decided to try out the street car route that started a few days ago for the Olympics. It's a free service connecting Granville Island to the
Athlete's village right at
Cambie street. It was pretty crowded, but we managed to get a seat. The ride was smooth (those borrowed Belgian street cars!) but lasted just a few minutes. Pretty incredible, since it would have taken about 20+ minutes using normal public transportation.
The line up on the other side was huge! We were lucky to have taken it from Granville Island. Hopefully they'll keep this line up after the Olympics. It's pretty convenient.
Overall, a lovely Saturday.
I am a huge fan of Gary's Kettlecorn. It is the best popcorn I've tasted: sweet, slightly salty, and most of all, tasting a lot like corn.
Here are our spoils: cauliflower, organic swiss chard and carrots, beats, heirloom tomatoes.
Green figs, cleverly stored in an egg carton. The inside is beautiful, almost like a pink sea anemone. 
The impeccable classroom.
My favorite, the printer, complete with working letterpress!
The barbershop:
To top it off, they were playing Buster Keaton's 'Balloonatic' and 'Seven Chances' in the old fashioned theatre. I would've stayed for the whole show, but there was lots to see.
We also took short walk in Beacon Hill Park. Although the park is right in the middle of the city, there was a feeling of wildness to it. So many beautiful wildflowers.
We stayed at the magnificent Magnolia Hotel. They upgraded us to a corner room on the top floor and the view was great. They had new robes which were incredibly plush and soft. I love hotel rooms.
Along the trails in Burnaby Lake park grow a whole lot of skunk cabbage. Despite the name, these plants don't smell too badly from a distance. The plant's yellow flowers are very beautiful.
The weather was lovely - sunny and not too warm. Even though we are quite close to the city, these paths make you think you're in a different place.
The lake is immense and still. 
We are quite close to the road here, but it feels very peaceful.
This is a small bridge leading to the Burnaby Sports complex. 
We ran into a lot of public art during our walk, like these two metal eagles near the playing fields. 
And these vibrant mushrooms someone painted on to a concrete barrier just before the pedestrian overpass that leads to Lake City Way skytrain station.
Here is the nifty new pedestrian overpass. The skytrain station is on the other side.
Finally, the stain-glass like effect at the skytrain station. It's very unexpected and beautiful.
Lots of high ceilings and windows make the space a lovely place to spend the afternoon.
Sitting on comfy armchairs...
...as you watch the park goers from its windows.
The cherry blossoms started blooming in February here in Vancouver--a month or two early. These trees line many streets in many neighborhoods in the city. 
Along Lougheed Highway and North Road in my neighborhood, there are these metal electrical boxes which was one of those things in your vision that you never really see, because it becomes just part of the urban landscape. Well, a year or so ago, they covered these green boxes with this rather interesting historical photo collage. It makes me think about the rather young history of BC, and really how much has changed.
We saw this raccoon painting near one of the community gardens on our walk to Granville Island. Even though it's still January, green things are sprouting up already.
We passed by the fisherman's wharf. I love that you can see fishing boats against the background of tall downtown buildings.
Granville Island has great many buildings, so it is pretty easily to get lost. But you always end up somewhere pretty interesting. This building is the Net Loft, which houses a spectacular paper & stationary shop (Paper Ya), and a postcard store.
In another large building is the market. You can get just about anything here, from really good deli meat, to fluffy donuts, to exceptional produce.
One of my favorite places is the Granville Island Tea Company, which recently moved to larger and grander digs (right next door to their quaint old cubicle). This is where to get one of the best Marsala Chai teas in the city. It's sweet, milky, and redolent with warm spices. Yum!
This was the view of Coal Harbour across the water, as we sat and sipped our heavenly chai. We also saw quite a few sea gulls, begging for a scrap of food.
On our way back, we decided to try out the street car route that started a few days ago for the Olympics. It's a free service connecting Granville Island to the Athlete's village right at Cambie street. It was pretty crowded, but we managed to get a seat. The ride was smooth (those borrowed Belgian street cars!) but lasted just a few minutes. Pretty incredible, since it would have taken about 20+ minutes using normal public transportation.
The line up on the other side was huge! We were lucky to have taken it from Granville Island. Hopefully they'll keep this line up after the Olympics. It's pretty convenient.
