Today is British Columbia Day … and here’s their flag, which
I saw at the Belkin Gallery on the BC campus as I wandered towards the Museum
of Anthropology (MOA) on my recent short introductory visit to Vancouver.
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| Salt Spring Island is just off Vancouver Island, where I am staying; the ferry line from the north is from Nanaimo; while the straight line is the 49th parrallel |
It’s a holiday – but life at the farm doesn’t stop … more
updates anon … for now a Vancouver misadventure by me!
I’d set off earlyish (7.00 am) for a 45 minute drive to the
Nanaimo ferry … I knew there were two – and assumed that they were in the same
place … but no – anyway I walked onto the ferry to Twsawwassen – it was
Vancouver way.
Inadvertently it was probably a wise mistake … it was
longer, but less hassle … got off the ferry onto a bus, and onto the metro straight
to my stop at City Hall.
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| This was day 2 ... not the best photo - but you can just see the skyscrapers appearing from the coast, as Vancouver is built in, around and above various waterways |
When I’d booked my room I’d no idea about the layout of
Vancouver … but it was the perfect place to stay. I looked north over the city, not in the
maelstrom of tourist/cruise ship life – yet was on the metro, the bus and foot
to places I wanted to see or get to.
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| City Hall - art deco style |
I was meeting friends the next day for lunch at a restaurant
by City Hall …another post on that! But
that first day I dropped my bag at the B+B, thankful they were open. Got the bus out to the BC campus …
Then had to walk across the campus to the MOA … it was quite
a long walk … lots of building works going on and I’d no idea of the Uni’s
layout – just knew I was aiming for Point Grey and the museum.
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| BC Campus - Rose Garden ... 'ocean' beyond ... |
I was directed towards the Rose Garden … and carried on
walking past the Morris and Helen Belkin (contemporary) Art Gallery and various
sculptures none of which I could do full justice too: I had a goal and it was
late afternoon …
I got to the Rose Garden area and with relief saw a food set
up … wandered across – I did notice there were no prices, or much advertising
etc – but wasn’t stopped and was longing for a drink and a light snack.
Happily helped myself … a delicious fruit punch, a choice
from lots of Mediterranean style dishes … I ‘ladled’ a few salady spoonfuls into
my bowl … then looked up to ask how I pay … ah …
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| It does look good doesn't it ...? |
… they looked at me, my eyes wandered along the four of them
in the ‘cart’ above … found the boss looking one … he looked at me … I looked
at them … ah! … are you part of the film crew?
That answered that problem … but I had a small dish of
fodder, some delicious looking punch – none of which could be returned whence
it came …
… oooh once again I was embarrassed – they said don’t worry …
first I thanked them profusely … and then said I’d pay it forward … still to do
that … something will turn up … I moved a distance away from the film area – it
was another tv series I gather, but could see no set …
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| I'm sure architecturally it is interesting ... and when well lit per media shots ... it looks stunning - but on 'my day' - it was a little undaunting. It is built on 'unceded Mesqueam territory' ... (First Nations land) |
I did get to the MOA eventually … nearly running down the
Rose Garden steps … and didn’t have much time – still a reason for another
visit in due course. A quick tour around
the grounds of the Museum and a very quick whizz through some of the exhibits …
then it was closing time: 5.00 pm.
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| Definitely not my photo! |
Back to the bus … where do I get off … I said Broadway – the
driver said it’s here … so off I get start to walk – then ask how far to City
Hall (the bit I’d forgotten to mention) … someone said about 20 blocks! By then I was tired and waited for the slow
bus … the wait was slow too!
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| Vancouver skyline - not by me! |
Still … I’d got back to where I recognised and had my
bearings … now for supper as I was fair exhausted … but that is for another day
… tales of Vancouver and some other places I’ve recently visited to follow …
This is becoming my 3rd age misspent youth … a
series of misadventures or perhaps good unintended consequences that can be
written up about …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
55 comments:
Well well well ... this 3rd ager will remember one day to sort this email thing out - this week I hope! So this comment is just for me! I'm now going to tick the email box ...
What an adventure. At least you can say it isn't boring. It sounds like you are enjoying it, even if things don't go according to plan.
Quite a series of adventures! Yes, Nanaimo is confusing with its two different ferry terminals to Vancouver destinations north and south of the city. Not sure what the connections are like from Horseshoe Bay, but getting into downtown from Tsawwassen is very easy.
BTW - the suggestion you forwarded me earlier this summer for sorting out comment notifications worked, you might want to give it a try.
Sounds like a meander and an amble. A great way to spend a day. From what I understand, there's a lot of filming that goes on in Vancouver, so not surprising that you'd run into a film crew. I wonder what they were shooting.
Ooops. So glad that they didn't make a fuss - and that you are still paying forward.
A lot of walking, and a lot of wonder.
I suspect you were a tired puppy by the end of the day.
Hari OM
We have to laugh at ourselves and record these things. It's the only way to make sense of the 'adventures'!!! YAM xx
Only you could wander into the lunch area of a film crew - and get away with it. I'm sure they were amused. And it gave you a great story to tell. You do know how to find interesting adventures!
I would love to visit Canada one day I have never wondered onto a film set and helped myself to some free food but it would be something to remember and laugh about later
@ Murees - I'm certainly enjoying some of it ... but do love getting away, doing things and seeing places ... yes I certainly had no plan ... first time visit ...
@ Ian - I can't quite get to grips with some things ... but it's mainly lack of communication here - I'm learning to adapt and find out for myself. I was going to go to Horseshoe Bay - may give that a try later when it is out of the season ... but as you say Tsawwassen is very easy, especially for a foot passenger.
Yes - I know I should have edited my email notifications here ... and will do - but as you know life is not sailing along ... It'll happen shortly.
@ Liz - I don't like rushing around ... once my hip really hurt about 10 years I eased up ... and even though I have a new one I still enjoy wandering without the stress of pain. I was tired by the time the evening clocked around.
Yes I've seen filming on the Island at a park there - where in fact they had similar food vans, and now in Vancouver itself ... just wasn't expecting it! They wouldn't tell me ... just it was a tv series ...
@ EC - it was too late to make a fuss ... and I'd seen someone else wander in help themselves and disappear into a tent - which I wasn't going to do ... but ne-er mind a good story!
A lot of walking and wondering what to do next - which lane to stand in, where was the bus, which station to get to etc ... still I explored and was a tired puppy.
@ Yam - exactly ... and I realised as soon as it happened - it was a good story for the blog ... so that made me happy ... and it's here for posterity: whatever that might be!!
@ Alex - yes it was sort of bloggingly fortuitous ... at least everyone can laugh with me. I'm always on the look out for things to post about - so I guess photos, or tales to tell will always come to the fore ...
@ Jo-Anne - this area is wonderful and I imagine Niagara Falls and Quebec would be too ... let alone all the other wonderful places to see. I don't make a habit of wandering into film sets!! I hope ... mind you free food of that calibre would be good ...
Thanks so much to you all - so glad it amused you ... even though it was rushed I was glad I made it out to the MOA ... and know what's involved next time ... cheers Hilary
You for sure are having some interesting adventures! Are you coming south on your travels?
Ha - I had to smile about the food incident. That was such a fun adventure to read. It sounds like you had a wonderful day. I would like the rose garden.
The point is...
ADVENTURES!!
Fun to share - thank you! :-)
You are just so adventurous to go roaming by yourself.
I laughed out loud. I LOVE this tale of misadventure. First kudos to you for all the travel and walking. Your "fitbit" must be tired. And no doubt the film crew had a good chuckle over you - quite amusing and what the heck...they were wasting food. I love the teensy bit I was in Vancouver and I'm jealous of all you saw. Keep roaming...and let us in on the "joke". (Plus your blog writing any day is delightful to read. You make me want to do better) Cheers.
Hilary: Don't feel bad about the film-crew thing. I have a couple of friends who happened to do something similar. They thought it was a fund-raiser for an organization and found out it was a family reunion. The way one of them told it, it was funny. One day you will laugh about it. Peace and Blessings.
@ Inger - yes life seems to follow me around - but it's fun. I rather doubt if I'll get south - I'd love to meet up - but somehow don't think it's on the cards ... sadly: yet who knows!
@ Truedessa - I couldn't believe I'd apparently gatecrashed the film set or food area - I guess they don't advertise, as everyone would be flocking around all the time. But it is stunning - I hope I get to go back ... there's lots to see that I didn't get to ...
@ Diane - gosh from what you do in life ... I do 'not a lot' ... but I take the opportunity and it is an English speaking country ... thankfully! Also the English voice opens doors ...
@ Joanne - I know - another day another 'mess-up - but fun to tell and comment on here. My 'fitbit' (which I don't own) doesn't get much exercise here and needs more ... so a good walk out is fine - I was carrying a heavy back pack til that was offloaded at the B+B. I'm sure the film crew had a good laugh afterwards ... and as you say it was late - but how long they went on filming I don't know ... I got the bus back round instead of walking through the campus.
There'll be more on Vancouver ... probably a mini series ... but I must get back across to the city. I'm not sure there've been other scraps ... but perhaps I can 'dream' up a few. However - thanks so much for the thumbs up re the writing ... really appreciate that seal of approval ... and I seem to have been lucky and settled into my way of doing/writing things ... which appeals and for that I'm grateful.
@ Cecelia - I laugh at myself all the time; but your friends 'debacle' sounds a great little outing ... what fun - and yes she obviously made the most of the story - and I'm sure the time!
Thanks so much to you all ... it's great writing these 'story-posts' up knowing that so many of you will appreciate the telling of them ... I am really grateful - cheers Hilary
You and your travelings are AMAZING! You get to do and go to so many places.
What is British Columbia Day celebrating?
And the movie food - you should have said yes. What movie was it?
sandie
Ah you got to dine in movie star style. :) What a fun thing to get, and paying things forward is always nice too! Travel is fun. We're strapped now for the school year, but that's okay. Summer will come again. :)
I'm thinking you're hatching a book or three, Hilary... Love the tale of the unexpected lunch - hilarious!!
Sounds like quite an adventure! I wonder what they were filming? Funny, what is it about Vancouver? I've only visited there once, but as we were coming back from Granville Island, we got on a boat with a team from one of those adventure shows, who were in the midst of doing their challenge for the day!
Another fantastic adventure! But we're going to have to talk to you about stealing food ;-)
The 3rd age of your misspent youth is being well spent :) While I am not overly-committed to contemporary art, I am very glad that the Fine Arts Gallery was renamed and reopened as the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. The Belkin permanent collection was eventually moved to Vancouver's CBD, but that will give them more space and more flexibility.
My recommendation about feeding the mind and feeding the stomach is thus:
2.5 hours in the galleries/gardens/museums each morning, followed by an hour of food and wine. Then repeat in the afternoon.
How funny!
There are certainly a lot of shows and movies made in Vancouver and BC these days.
What a beautiful city. We spent several days there on each of our three trips to the Island taking the exact same ferry that you did. I remember the beautiful huge city park and especially Chinatown. They said it was the largest one other than San Francisco...:)
@ Sandie - I take my opportunities and enjoy learning new things; Just the start of BC as a Province in Canada. I've no idea what the filming was about - they said tv series ... and did not divulge ...
@ Rosey - well I got to sit on a tree stump and eat my film crew's buffet lunch grub - if that's star style!! Yes, paying it forward needs to be done. I know, not being strapped by school terms helps ... and as you say next year will come around ...
@ Mike - I'd like to get some series together somehow. The lunch scenario was embarrassing ... but I knew it'd make a great blog post! - so thank you ...
@ Deniz - they wouldn't tell me what they were filming except it was for tv. They do a lot of filming in and around Vancouver or over on the Island ... its nickname is "Hollywood North" ... and there's a fantastic range of scenery within easy reach. That must have been interesting to watch the team as you shared a return boat trip with them ...
@ Annalisa - I know ... I'm becoming like the proverbial seagull - can't wait to buy my own, need to go pinching some! Ah well ... it was delicious ...
@ Hels - it seems to be extending itself ... at least I'm in the early days of my misspent 3rd age youth! My knowledge of contemporary art is very poor ... and I found one item that interested me ... which will appear anon. I didn't get to the art gallery in the city - that's for next time ...
Yes, I think you're right on the balance ... but wine for lunch is really a no no for me - I'll save it til the evening! But when you throw in an early start on an unknown journey a few anxiety moments can creep in ... and the balance is slightly out of kilter with not desperately good food on the ferry etc ... However next time I'll be prepared.
@ Mike - oh I was embarrassed. Yes it is a filming centre ... that seems to be apparent - in fact I saw another scene down in Gassy Town ... but watched from afar for a very short time ...
@ Troutbirder - do you know ... I never really found Chinatown - so I really need to go back, especially as I'd wanted to see the Garden there, which I understand is really special. I agree Vancouver was much better than I thought it was going to be ... I knew it'd be good - but the geography and facilities make it stunning and I was blessed with good weather.
Thanks so much to you all - so glad you've enjoyed my inadvertent look in on a film set ... cheers Hilary
Oh, Hilary, what a hoot.
You are so intrepid. I love it and wish I had your sense of adventure.
Cheers,
Your story is funny! Maybe you should see if you can join the film crew so you can have lunches like that all the time. :)
@ Sandra - it was a shock at the time ... but I did realise a blog post a-coming on! Thankfully we're in an English speaking country ... which definitely makes life easier.
@ Sherry - it was just one of those things that happened, quite unintentionally ... and certainly if I see another food van for film crews I'll be calling in to say hello! not have lunch ...
Thanks to you both - cheers Hilary
haha when you're hungry and free food, why not? Could be an honorary film crew member.
Sounds like a wonderful day, Hilary! The food thing sounds like something I would do, too! Cheers, D
I think the food from the film shoot was probably better than you might find anywhere else on campus. I do like the architectural features you photoed.
Love that you ate courtesy of the film crew. If you ever find out what they were filming you can claim to be part of it LOL. How very brave of you to go wandering around a strange city like that.
Fascinating building the MOA. Certainly you had lots to see. That walking would have done me in.
That was very fun, Hilary. I can only imagine how you felt! But one of the things I love about your blog is how adventurous you are. I'm not, more of a homebody. So this was great fun.
Oooops! Still, the film crew probably had food to spare so won't have suffered from you taking a small helping and maybe you'll pay it forward to someone it'll make a big difference to?
LOL! I love misadventures. They always make for the best stories. We just got back from our own little adventure...or not so little--including 3000+ miles of travel and visiting about 15 historical sites. It was epic.
@ Pat - it certainly wasn't an intended drop in ... I felt awful - still too late once I'd helped myself! I'll ask them next time ... who knows!
@ Denise - it was the start of a couple of days away - so was just lovely being free and able to do what I wanted. Just 'silly me' re the food cart ... still I'm not complaining ...
@ Rhonda - I never saw another food place on the campus, or down at the Museum ... and I agree the food was really interesting and delicious.
Oh good - I'm glad you appreciate the Museum's architecture ... and I'm sure it is appropriate; as too City Hall - it stands out, but is not as bold as brutalist architecture. I'll probably do another MOA post - so I'll give a little more detail then re the architecture ...
@ Jo - I know ... I did feel pretty awful, but there was nothing I could do about it - except enjoy the food ... and slink away! well if I ever find out what they were filming, or for that matter what they were filming over on the Island when I walked through another set ... that's two shows I can claim to have featured in!
The Museum deserves another good look around - I was there such a short time ...and I was tired by then ... 7.00am leaving home, ferry, bus, tube, b+b book-in, then bus and then find my way across campus ... and then back to City Hall - I was weary ... but exercised.
@ Jacqui - as I'm on my own ... I make my own way about - so can always drop in or drop off at places ... and this was an exploratory visit - as I really want to see more and go again. Also if there are places to see ... I go and check them out ... but am really happy you enjoyed the 'tour' ...
@ Patsy - it happens ... and as you say = the food was going to go spare ... and I will at some suitable time pay it forward, where it'll make a difference to their lives ... Still it was a good 'ooops'!!
@ Crystal - me too ... always good for the nerves and blog posts!
I saw you were out and about ... all of you - that's some undertaking ... and 3,000 miles is no small distance and historical sites as you went - it sounds epic, with a capital E for EPIC!!
Thanks so much to you all ... so pleased you enjoyed my 'free food' outing!! - I knew I could turn the event to a good blog cause as it would amuse ... cheers and see you all soon - Hilary
The food situation would have confused me, too.
Love,
Janie
That food area is called the 'crafty' per my daughter. She used to work in the industry as an extra, a photo double and stand-in, and hand model. I think it's great that you had a misadventure like that one, and most people in Vancouver are forgiving (unless you're driving. . .).
Let me know if and when you decide to take on Vancouver again. . .hope all is well on the 'farm'.
This entire piece would make an excellent TV programme! What a fun day.
Misspent youth! Indeed! -though you didn't spend a penny for the delicious food! I enjoyed this Hilary thank you ... sounds like great fun - and what a beautiful city! That Rose Garden ...
It's so exciting. Your post, the photos, the feel of everything. Thanks. :-)
Greetings from London.
@ Janie - I was bemused by the time I came to 'pay' ... but I was glad to see the display as I was in dire need of a drink ...
@ DG - good to see you ... oh thanks re the note on the 'craft' - I'll remember that when I see another one - which I'm sure I will ...I think most people in Canada are forgiving ... and have been re driving thankfully! I'll be in touch and all well here ...
@ Keith - it probably would warrant a brief chapter in a tv series with some embellishment ... but yes I can see it happening ...
@ Susan - I know ... no monetary outlet - lucky me! It gave me something to laugh about as I went on to the Museum. Vancouver is amazing ... an absolutely stunning city ... and the Rose Garden I didn't have time to do full justice to it ... on my next visit ...
@ ACIL - it was a happy day - albeit it was all new ...
Thanks so much - good to see you all ... every time I read your comments it takes me back to the day - which provided amusement for me ... cheers Hilary
I love how crisp, clean, and colorful everything looks. Although I'm sure it was warm, it still looks like it wasn't brutally hot either. Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
Elsie
We spent one night in Vancouver before going to Alaska. We promised ourselves we would go back to spend more time.
What a great time you had. And eating at the actors' buffet makes it even better!
Too bad you didn't get to see the TV series being filmed.
Cheers,
Oh Hilary this was fun. I can just imagine you making your way into the TV mess hall. What a Kodak moment that had to be! LOL :) x
Ah, Hilary, those misspent adventures are fun in the retellling. I love that buffet lunch! Go you! I'm glad you had such a great time in Vancouver.
Denise x
I love that you had a happy accident with the food. Sounds like you got to eat some great food and have a much needed drink. I love that they thought you were part of the film crew at first. A nice thing to pay forward. :)
Love the garden and the other pictures from your adventure.
About comments- I was having the same problem and it was driving me crazy. I was able to recently fix it and it has been working beautifully. Here is what I did:
-I clicked on New Post in the upper right hand corner of my blog.
-I closed the post that opens up- since I didn't need to write anything.
-The left panel has comments, earning, etc. I scrolled down to SETTINGS.
-Under SETTINGS I clicked EMAIL
-Now- in the center of the page it says COMMENT NOTIFICATION EMAIL and my email and Stephanie's have always been listed. But- I DELETED our names and clicked SAVE SETTINGS.
-Then, after saving I put our email addresses back in and clicked SAVE SETTINGS.
After that- we both have been getting emails again. I hope the directions were clear enough and that they work for you. :)
~Jess
@ Elsie - I suspect those crisp photos are not mine - but at least I get the ambience. It was warm, but not overly unless I was walking - which I was doing a lot of - still the exercise was good ...
@ Susan - it is a wonderful city ... I was glad I was out of downtown's melange ... and there is so much to see. I hope you can get back for a while - the lunch was good!!
@ Sandra - well no worries ... if the filming had been going on I'd have avoided it as I needed to get to the Museum ...
@ Debby - well if I'd gone through the darkened tent entrance then I'd have collapsed with embarrassment ... I was happy to disappear quietly some distance and quietly munch my delicious lunch. I didn't see a hidden camera around ... I'm very glad to say!
@ Denise - it's that 3rd age thing ... leading to misspent little episodes. But it was fun ... and yes, Vancouver is well worth visiting ...
@ DMS - the food was delicious - love that sort of mix and match buffet. While the fruit punch was to die for ... it was so good. Well no-one challenged me - and I didn't think any more about it - I'm glad I didn't ask ... otherwise I'd have had to go on without this wonderful snack stop.
The rose garden would have been a wonderful place to wander around - but I had to rush through ... next time I'll have a closer look.
Thanks so much for the comment instructions - I'll go and do them shortly ... I've known how to do it - just haven't got down to doing it ... but now I will!
Thanks everyone - it is a beautiful city ... and I hope you can all make a plan to visit ... and this was an added bonus as a blog post - enjoy the weekend ... cheers Hilary
What an adventure. I especially loved the lunch story.....
I loved your account of your day - certainly sounded like a lot of walking. I visited Vancouver for the first time last October and it appeared to have lot's of interesting places to visit.
My friends who hosted me also took me to the MoA and we also had only a short visit before closing.
Look forward to hearing more about your Canadian adventure!
@ Paula - it was a lovely start to my 2 days in Vancouver ... the lunch gave me some time to laugh at myself ...
@ Coral - yes I did walk a lot that day; isn't it a wonderful city - and I'm so glad you had a chance to visit with lots of interesting places; I hope you'll be able to get back and see more ...
Ah so you can understand how I was 'time limited' with my visit ... the MOA is rather on its own ... but essential to visit ...
Lovely to see you here ...
Thanks to you both for visiting - cheers Hilary
I like misadventures - you never know where they take you! often lead to sumptuous places. Love that your posts are so full of farms and gardens. All caught up now on the ones I'd missed.
Your misadventures are so fun! I like seeing peeks of Vancouver with you. I lived there way back in 1990, so it's been a while. I used to work in the Waterfront Centre, and I loved going up to the roof to look over the city and the bay.
@ Nila - well this was completely unintended ... but I enjoyed my walks around etc - and well done for catching up and thanks for your visits here ...
@ Christine - the Waterfront has definitely changed ... but it's an area I need to spend more time in and around, as too other areas. I went up the Lookout Harbour Centre ... which was fun to see the city in the 'round' so to speak ...
Good to see you both - cheers Hilary
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