What I'm doing on my summer vacation - Calaway Park

Flew to Airdrie yesterday to visit my brother, nephews and dad. After an interesting night attempting to sleep on the futon with an 8-year old who somehow managed to use my arm, stomach and shin as a pillow at various points, we were up bright and early to go to Calaway Park. After an hour and a half in a minivan and five hours in the blazing sun with two brothers being brothers, I actually managed to arrive back in Airfrie feeling semi-cheerful. Do have a headache, but that's because I require shade and lots of cool drinks in the summer, which was in short supply at the amusement park.

Boys have just left for a vacation to Victoria with their mother (boo, hiss) so we'll have a much more low key day tomorrow, and then I'm flying home Sunday. Ready to be going home. Or back to Vancouver!

What I'm doing on my summer vacation - Culture Overload!

We started our Tuesday with the most Vancouver thing possible... a walk/run on the sea wall. Followed by another amazing breakfast courtesy of Karen, then off to see Brideshead Revisited. Movie review in a nutshell... first half great, second half thin, looked gorgeous, overall far too long.

This was followed by a walk through the Ayden Gallery, a pop-surrealist/graffiti/urban art gallery, where I became smitten with a painting called "Red Cap." Karen and the owner bartered, so we're heading back there today to pick it up for a good price, and no tax if I pay cash.

Then a walk to Cafe Artigiano for the most amazing coffe in the world. The Spanish Latte... espresso, steamed milk and condensed milk. I got the largest cup possible and savoured it.

And finally, to the Vancouver Art Gallery, for donation night (aka cheap night), where we took in some amazing art, became completely overwhelmed by the Anime exhibit, and saw a live mouse in the gift shop.

Evening was another round of tapas and Little Britain.

Today... having dinner with my old friend Andrea, and getting ready to fly to Calgary tomorrow.

What I'm doing on my summer vacation - Ladies, doing lady things

Monday, we went to Jericho Beach with two of Karen's friends to see the bunnies and pick blackberries. We were all appropriately dressed, had we been living in Victorian England. High heels, chiffon dresses and silk shirts, it turns out, are not the best for rambling through brambles.




Late afternoon included cupcakes and tea at Karen's condo, just the three of us. Though Monty had neither cupcakes nor tea. Poor puss.






Evening was spent watching Little Britain, drinking lovely white wine, and eating a gorgeous spread of olives, dates, cheeses, pickled beans, tomato and crackers. Basically, this trip is all about the food!

What I'm doing on my summer vacation - VIA to Vancouver

Left Friday evening, two hours late. The usual Via schedule. Flew across Manitoba, through Saskatchewan overnight.



Alberta Saturday morning (yes, that is a gorgeous lake, boats, cottages, swimmers... and a massive coal burning power plant on the opposite shore).



Into British Columbia early Saturday evening.



And arrived at Karen's for a good breakfast late Sunday morning. Fresh tomato and avacado on toast. Rich, dark coffee. OJ. Completely revived.