Wednesday, March 30, 2011

CANADA 10/10

OK, so it's not Canada, but a shot of Greenland as we flew over...probably the closest I'll ever get to it. Don't worry, the photos get a bit better later.












these three photos should have been included in the photos of the Butchart Gardens (further down in the blog), but I forgot to include them...well, I am in my senior years after all (where am I now...Vietnam, Canada??). The range of fuschias was amazing - these are just a small sample


















































this is a garden/park in China Town, Vancouver. Why do all big cities have a China Town? Don't recall ever seeing an Australia Town anywhere??











































































Vancouver deserves its title of the world's most liveable city, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have its share of "tat"shops, although this one catered for the outdoor, hunting types that Canada certainly has its share of. Gun laws aren't as lax as the US but hunting is very popular





























the steam clock in Vancouver (see the video - needs sound -at the end of the Canada section). Not many of these around now






































































































although Vancouver's very modern and clean with many "glass towers", it's not sterile and cold like some modern cities - has a very vibrant and "lived in" atmosphere















































































a park in Vancouver where the original inhabitants practice their graffiti










































these little Racoon critters are quite common and are regarded as a bit of a pest
















































































































































Granville Island, Vancouver ( a peninsula really) where we stayed in a very comfortable hotel for a couple of nights. Granville used to be an industrial area, but is now an interesting and trendy art/craft area, complete with a university of art and design. Great hotel, we all gorged ourselves on very good food...(it's amazing how one's appetite improves when the food is included in the tour cost - like going to a wedding and ensuring that the food and drink imbibed at least equals the cost of the wedding present)











































































































no. it's not parallax lens error, the architect had been on something fairly powerful when he designed this...
























































floating houses, Granville Island. Very individualistic (including the letter boxes), with well tended hanging basket gardens



























































































































































































































































yes, the Canadians have the same love of sweet things that their southern cousins below the border enjoy!



































































Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island. Originally a limestone quarry established in 1888; as the limestone became exhausted the owner's wife trucked in soil and built up the gardens. The garden are still Butchart family owned ( the great granddaughter now owns and manages them).



































































































































































































































































































































































a chainsaw wood carving competition in a small town in BC






































































Delta Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops. Built along Austrian "European" lines, it looks pretty kitch in BC. But great for skiing- runs can be seen in the background






































































polishing my Porsche...the American Porsche Owners' Club was staying here...the owner (in the background) looked a bit stunned when I asked if I could "polish" his pride and joy for my photo to be taken






































































Spahats Falls, BC













































































































































had to include the little Juniper berry (grows wild) thats claim to fame is giving gin its unique taste






































































Jasper National Park






































































view from the Icefields Parkway (road running through Banff and Jasper National Parks)






































































Athabasca Glacier






































































Scott of the Antarctic surveying the Athabasca Glacier (Alberta, between Jasper and Banff)






































































impressive "bus" used to drive tourists onto the Athabasca Glacier - the descent is very steep, hence the 4WD and impressive tyres. There's a video at the end of the photos - not much film of the descent onto the glacier, but the tour guide's accent is worth a listen!!






































































original vehicle that was used to take sightseers onto the glacier






































































end (or beginning??) of the Athabasca Glacier






































































this must have been taken before we commenced the walk to the top of Beehive Mtn - we were bent and stooped afterwards






































































on the way to the Beehive Mtn






































































view of Lake Louise from the summit of Big Beehive






































































walking to the Big Beehive mountain













































































































































Lake Louise - on the way up to the Beehive






































































Lake Louise, Beehive in the distance






































































not supposed to feed the wildlife, but this little fella was very appealing - and it is wholemeal...






































































Railway tunnel, Kicking Horse Pass, BC. Prior to 1906, there had been so many accidents with trains out of control in the steep descents, that a spiral tunnel was built to lower the gradients. The tunnel actually passes under itself as it doubles back. Here, the train is still entering the first entrance and also emerging out of the second. The tunnel's about one km long






































































walking back from Takakkaw Falls, BC (my favourite photo)






































































Bear deterrent, stops the critters from nicking food. The food is hoisted up out out of reach (but I'm sure you'd worked that out, but just in case...)






































































stayed in some pleasant hotels; this was Baker Creek Lodge, near Lake Louise






































































very comfortable, spa in one corner - great after a day's hiking!






































































two below - autumn colours in the Kootenay National Park, BC













































































































































two below: near Banff, walking in a canyon













































































































































Banff Springs Hotel- several hundred rooms and an interesting history going back over 100 years






































































Lake Johnson






































































we decided to walk to the top where the Banff Gondola commences, assuming we'd reach the summit in about an hour...three hours later we struggled to the top, but it was worth the effort. Snow covered firs and great scenery...






































































view from the top






































































coming down in the gondola - the others thought we were nuts (but we had the last laugh; didn't cost us anything)






































































there were several deer on the path on the way back to our hotel, quite timid






































































the closest we got to a grizzly; Banff: very interesting natural history museum - and a funny guy who could imitate bird calls.






























































































Main street, Banff. Has one of the best steak house I've been to (Bumpers) - very North American - every type of steak between 8 & 16ounces from a variety of animals


















































































waterfall

















































































electronic bear locator- many bears attempt to hang around hotels etc scrounging for easy meals from "trash" bins, but obviously they are a hazard for tourists .(Our tour leader carried pepper spray and explosive "caps" to frighten off any marauding grizzlies while we were on the mountain trails...)


once located, this Karelian dog (Norwegian origin) is one of the few breeds that isn't terrified of the bears. Didn't see one operating, but apparently the bears are frightened off by them






























Lunch in the Kananakis Valley. Note my deeply pensive demeanor, immersed in the beauty and grandeur of the mountainous terrain, or more probably, concentrating on chewing the nuts and raisins in the lunch pack Kanakis Valley


































me getting horny









































moose - taken with zoom at a considerable distance; these guys can be quite unpleasant






































































Delta Lodge morning snow, Kananakis


















speaks for itself











view of Calgary
























Calgary.









"Famous Five" (no, not Enid Blyton - go to the bottom of the class). Lynne proudly associating herself with the early feminists in Canada (she's dreaming of chaining herself to the railings in Perth in protest about something or other...price of eggs, unreliabilty of steam & dry irons...?).




In 1927, five women asked the Canadian Supreme Court whether the reference to "persons" in the Canadian Constitution included women...(bet some thought went into resolving that one). Supreme Court said no, but overturned by the British Privy Council in 1928









































Family of Man statues, Calgary (first built for Britain's pavilion at Expo '67). Depicting friendship and goodwill, they stand 21 feet high


















-Steam clock video, needs sound to hear the clock - er, yes, I guess that's stating the obvious .





-Second video is the Glacier commentary...