Janie's World

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Vancouver 2011 - Part Three

Vancouver's oldest tourist attraction, originally built in 1889, stretches 450 feet (137m) across and 230 feet (70m) above Capilano River. It sways and jiggles just enough to make you feel a little bit unsteady. People of all ages were crossing including a guy with a cane. If he can do it, you can do it! The Bridge crosses the gorge below.

The view is incredible.

Treetop Adventure Walk

This was one of my favorite parts of the experience. It was so fun walking along the treetops, you get a great birds eye view.

There is also a beautiful Natures Edge walk. So calm and serene. You walk along the forested bottom on a wooden trail that winds by a little pond and to the edge of the gorge to look out and down.

This beautiful tree is across the street from the entrance to the park near a cute little restaurant. It is so pretty.

The park was a little expensive to get into $30 CD a person, but we felt it was totally worth it. Be sure to take your time walking through and observing everything.

Down the street is the Capilano Dam. There is a pretty reservoir and park. If you walk to the top of the bridge you see below.

Of course, I can't leave Canada without showing some Totem Poles.

We only had three days but we had such a great time and saw so much.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tablescape Thursday - Mother's Day

Having just arrived home from Vancouver the day before, I did not set an elaborate tablescape. But I did set the table with my favorite Eternal Beau dishes from Johnson Brothers. I think these dishes are so sweet and timeless. They really make me think of spring as well.

The glasses are from Anthropolgie. I use them quite a lot. They weren't that expensive and they are so pretty and delicate. I received them from Delaney and Katie for Christmas.

I couldn't resist showing you a picture of Daisy and Gus. They are sleeping together in this tiny little bed. Shadow never slept with Daisy. Daisy has been such a sweet dog to this puppy. She is so patient with him when he hyper and playfully bites her. Believe me, it's not a hard bite but it is painful. That puppy has super SHARP teeth.

So cute!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Vancouver 2011 - Part Two

We decided to go to BUTCHART GARDENS and VICTORIA on the second Day. This involved taking a FERRY from the downtown over to Vancouver Island. If you plan on doing this, I would advise spending the NIGHT in Victoria as going back and forth in the same day make for VERY LONG day. We were the LAST car on this ferry. Half hour drive from DOWNTOWN, 30 min. to 1 hour WAIT at the ferry and 90 minutes to CROSS. We got there 45 min. early and we were the last car. It wasn't cheap either. $70 Canadian dollars EACH WAY.

The crossing is so picturesque. Lushly forested islands with storybook houses. There was a whale in the bay on our way back, but we were not lucky enough to see him. It took both of us about 3 minutes to figure out what the guy said on the P.A. By the time we got to the other side of the boat, the whale was gone.

Our first stop was the STUNNING BUTCHART GARDENS. I have NEVER seen anything like this. Made from an old QUARRY, it is now a SPECTACULAR garden. As we rounded the corner at the SUNKEN GARDEN

you could hear everyone GASPING IN AWE. Grown men were commenting OUT-LOUD that it was the MOST BEAUTIFUL garden they had ever seen.

The flower beds were jam packed with Tulips, Hyacinth, Forget-me-nots, Daffodils, Rhododendron, little button like flowers. It was the first time I could SMELL a garden. The paths were PERFUMED with a HEAVENLY SWEET smell. I think it was the Hyacinths.

Every COLOR combination you could imagine. Each flower bed layered in depth. Every flower looked like it JUST OPENED.

Not only were the flowers amazing, but the TREES were so peaceful and some colorful.

They had this wonderful DANCING waters fountain.

There were many things to catch your eye.

This moss covered toad had SUCCULENTS for his eyes.

So many tulips from the most SIMPLE to the COMPLEX!

This is a HOG fountain that everyone rubs for GOOD LUCK!

This was the house that is facing the Rose Garden. The Rose Garden was not in bloom. It was only 8 in. sticks with new leaves. I'm glad we arrived at this time of year and were able to see all the bulbs in bloom because we just don't get these beautiful flowers in MASS in California.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Vancouver 2011 - Part One

I took this photo as we were flying over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We have had a very good winter and this is why California has official called off the drought. Look at all that snow!

I flew on WEST JET out of John Wayne Airport and it was only their second flight from JW. My flight only had 21 people on it. Wow, I can't remember every being on a plane that wasn't jam packed full of people. My question is: why is my seat so far back?

We stayed in the DOWNTOWN area of Vancouver next to the Convention Center and the Sea Wall.

This is the OLYMPIC CAULDRON from the 2010 Olympics. Remember Wayne Gretzky lighting it? They still use it for special occasions. I found that the city was nice and clean but had too many GLASS buildings and not enough OLDER BRICK buildings tossed in. But the surrounding NATURAL SCENERY was incredibly beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. The MOUNTAINS coming down and meeting the SEA was a beautiful sight.

On our FIRST day, we made the 2 hour drive to WHISTLER. Whistler itself is not as great as the DRIVE up there. The pictures I took don't begin to do JUSTICE to the pure MAJESTY of the area. The colors, depth, breeze and sounds cannot be CAPTURED by the camera.

Huge GRANITE rock faces with all different colors of GREENERY everywhere.

We stopped at SHANNON FALLS and it was a wonderful little picnic area with a river, huge trees and a STUNNING waterfall. Just to sit there and take in the scenery and HEAR that water was amazing. So PEACEFUL.

Shannon Falls

Here the Handsome Husband is standing by the side of the road with RUGGED PEAKS topped with SNOW and WATER is at the bottom of those MOUNTAINS. Incredible.