Sunday, January 23, 2005
Outside the conference: between the pages
Vancouver, there it was. Lush and green and inviting. Who were we not to explore? A few notes on what happened when there were no breakout sessions or visioning meetings to attend...
First, there was a lot of walking. A lot of walking in the rain. A lot of walking in the rain resulting in a lot of wet socks. Six pairs in two days. Thanks Jen N for letting me borrow a pair, even if they were rugby socks. A short list of the sights that I saw thanks to those wet feet, usually with company: Stanley Park, the yacht club, the hollow tree, Robson, Davie and Denman streets, Death by Chocolate, the poverty-stricken downtown east-side, the pot haven Amsterdam Cafe, Gastown, the Cambie "hostel," English Bay beach, Granville Island, Lion's Gate bridge, Lonsdale Quay, the Seabus...
Next, no shortage of beauty. There was the natural beauty: Stanley Park's rich and deep old growth forest, the sparkling shores of English Bay and Coal Harbor, the towering mountains of Seymour, Grouse and Cypress off to the north. The amazing red sunsets, courtesy of the Pacific rim. The kind of beauty one would expect in super, natural British Columbia.
Then there was the human-wrought beauty: the alluring shops of Robson Street, the turn-of-the-century roman architecture of the Art Gallery, the glitter of a thousand lights in downtown. Of course, the law courts' atrium was no less astounding - a humble tribute to what must once have been the hanging gardens of Babylon.
There were also environs which showed a decent balance between the two worlds: the tourist friendly Vancouver Aquarium, complete with mock-Amazon rainforest and baby beluga whales; the uber-west-coast organic food store Capers; the amazing views from many towering apartments in Vancouver.
Death by Chocolate made an appearance, as did the Cambie. Mmmm, the Cambie - a spot I did not miss this trip. For those who know Waterloo, the Cambie is like the Phil's of Vancouver - the most eclectic gathering of expressive party-goers who manage to quaff some fine, inexpensive ales and still all get along by 2am. All served by that tough lady with the big tattoo on her arm - she's surely as old as the Cambie itself. Thanks Jen M for the company!
First, there was a lot of walking. A lot of walking in the rain. A lot of walking in the rain resulting in a lot of wet socks. Six pairs in two days. Thanks Jen N for letting me borrow a pair, even if they were rugby socks. A short list of the sights that I saw thanks to those wet feet, usually with company: Stanley Park, the yacht club, the hollow tree, Robson, Davie and Denman streets, Death by Chocolate, the poverty-stricken downtown east-side, the pot haven Amsterdam Cafe, Gastown, the Cambie "hostel," English Bay beach, Granville Island, Lion's Gate bridge, Lonsdale Quay, the Seabus...
Next, no shortage of beauty. There was the natural beauty: Stanley Park's rich and deep old growth forest, the sparkling shores of English Bay and Coal Harbor, the towering mountains of Seymour, Grouse and Cypress off to the north. The amazing red sunsets, courtesy of the Pacific rim. The kind of beauty one would expect in super, natural British Columbia.
Then there was the human-wrought beauty: the alluring shops of Robson Street, the turn-of-the-century roman architecture of the Art Gallery, the glitter of a thousand lights in downtown. Of course, the law courts' atrium was no less astounding - a humble tribute to what must once have been the hanging gardens of Babylon.
There were also environs which showed a decent balance between the two worlds: the tourist friendly Vancouver Aquarium, complete with mock-Amazon rainforest and baby beluga whales; the uber-west-coast organic food store Capers; the amazing views from many towering apartments in Vancouver.
Death by Chocolate made an appearance, as did the Cambie. Mmmm, the Cambie - a spot I did not miss this trip. For those who know Waterloo, the Cambie is like the Phil's of Vancouver - the most eclectic gathering of expressive party-goers who manage to quaff some fine, inexpensive ales and still all get along by 2am. All served by that tough lady with the big tattoo on her arm - she's surely as old as the Cambie itself. Thanks Jen M for the company!
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