Victoria – Day 16

I will start this as, this was Carol’s day.  We went to Butchart Gardens.
Coming from Ontario, husband and wife, Robert and Jennie Butchart moved to Vancouver Island to build a cement plant on a rich limestone deposit at Tod Inlet in 1904.  In 1912, as cement production exhausted the limestone deposits, Jennie envisioned a grand garden in its place and began transferring top soil by horse and cart. Little by little, the quarry blossomed into today’s Sunken Garden. Between 1906 and 1929, the Butcharts expanded The Gardens, designing the Japanese Garden on the seaside, the Italian Garden on their former tennis court and the fragrant, overflowing Rose Garden. Gifted The Gardens on his 21st birthday, grandson Ian Ross transformed them into the world-renowned attraction we know today, adding outdoor concerts and night lighting in the summers, and the Magic of Christmas in the winters. Beginning in 1977, great-grandson Christopher began producing a choreographed firework show every year. In 2009, his sister, and current owner of The Gardens, Robin added the Children’s Pavilion and Menagerie Carousel. Two Totem Poles were carved in Classic Coast Salish style by Master Carvers Charles Elliot of the Tsartlip Nation and Doug La Fortune of Tsawout Band, and dedicated on September 9th, 2004 not only to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Butchart Gardens but also in recognition of the rich cultural heritage provided by Indigenous People.  Today, The Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada.
So the following are the images from the gardens.  I am not including the hundreds of individual flowers, but there are still a ton of images here.  You can jump ahead to Chinatown and other Victoria images below if flowers do not interest you.
Carol Chan and his mom   Mikey

OK I lied, but only a little bit.
OK – I’m hungry and we headed off to Chinatown for Dim Sum.  I haven’t had this since I left California.    Our Restaurant –
Chan’s sister joined and helped order for us.  So we got to meet these two important ladies in his life.    It was our pleasure.
Then a walk through China town and down to the wharf area on our own.  Chan walked Carol back to the hotel, so I could go explore.  Thanks Chan.
Fan tan alley.
And though she wasn’t with me on this trip – this is for Becky.


Bastion Square is located in the heart of downtown. The ceremonial entry arch, located at View and Government Streets, welcomes visitors to the original site of old Fort Victoria. The square looks out on the Inner Harbor and boasts some of the finest restaurants, pubs, and cafes in Victoria.
This statue the sailor has a newspaper that declares the end of World War II on his lap.   Celebrating 100 years of the Canadian Navy.
The Empress Hotel   A map showing where we were – Vancouver and where we are Victoria and just across the bay is the USA.

Vancouver – Day 14

Sorry for the delay in posting.  The internet in Vancouver and Victoria was less than desired.  I am home now, and apparently ran myself down, and froze on the flight home – so now I am fighting with my sinuses.

This was the last day of the full group.  We started out with a drive to Chinatown.

We stopped to visit Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Chan made sure we got our steps in as we walked around the entrance a couple of times.  Here Chan is laughing over getting us to the entrance.

The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first Chinese or “scholars” gardenbuilt outside of China, and is located in Chinatown in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It consists of a freely accessible public park and a garden with an admission fee. The mandate of the garden is to “maintain and enhance the bridge of understanding between Chinese and western cultures, promote Chinese culture generally and be an integral part of the local community.”
The garden was built in 1985–1986. The outer park was designed by architects Joe Wai and Donald Vaughan, while the inner garden was conceived by Wang Zu-Xin as the chief architect, with the help of experts from the Landscape Architecture Company of Suzhou, China. It opened on April 24, 1986, in time for Expo 86.

Because the winter climate in Vancouver is similar to that of Suzhou, many of the same plant varieties are found in the garden as in its Suzhou counterparts. The plants were chosen according to their blossom schedules in order to emphasize seasonal changes, especially the “awakening” in spring. They are also selected to invoke the symbolic, historical, and literary meaning of each plant and are used sparingly, in contrast to western gardens, and provide color through all the seasons.

Classical Chinese gardens employ philosophical principles of Feng shui and Taoism, striving to achieve harmony and a balance of opposites. Craggy rocks, for example, are juxtaposed against delicate foliage. Water is also an important element of the garden, and the large pond offers stillness, sound, a reflection of the sky, and helps to unify the other elements. Fish and turtles live in the garden and also serve a symbolic purpose. Bats, dragons, and phoenixes are represented in objects throughout the garden. Numerous large rocks are strategically placed and are intended to represent mountains concealing and revealing park elements.

The garden is named in honor of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a nationalist leader who is considered the “father of modern China.” The attribution is not arbitrary, as it emphasizes his connection with Vancouver. While traveling the world to raise awareness of, and funding for, the Chinese nationalist movement, Sun Yat-Sen stayed in Vancouver on three different occasions for extended periods. At the time, there was a significant presence of Chinese nationalists in British Columbia, who helped finance the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Sun Yat Sen subsequently became the first president of the Republic of China.

Our interpreter explained the yin yang of objects in each of the areas in the gardens, the significance of certain patterns in the walls, and stone floors.  The Yin, or the dark side, is associated with everything hard, negative, cold, wet, and feminine. The Yang, or the light side, is associated with things soft, positive, warm, dry, and masculine. But contrary to the harsh juxtaposition of their appearances, Yin and Yang are not complete opposites.
  This tapestry panel can be viewed from both sides. The detail in the carving of this tabletop.
the interesting pattern in the stone work in the yards in the central area A couple of the window patterns.  We then sat and had some Jasmine Tea and looked at some of the artwork –   This is hard to see but it is a Chinese character done in charcoal, it is on a mirrored surface, the bars are the ceiling beams.  The orange square is the artist’s signature, which would have been a stamp on paper or fabric.
We then headed over to Granville Island Public Market for us to walk around, have lunch, shop or just relax.  painted silos and interesting buildings. Chan without an ice cream  (yet) and Andy. even a pet store.
And what would a public market be without goodies – We were then off to take a False Creek ferry across. and mussels  that were uncovered by the tide – grow up lil guys.
We then headed to Stanley Park which we missed the day before due to rain.  We were able to see the totem park.   
We had some great views from this park.  – One of the oil tankers sitting waiting  –
And the skyline –   And the statue – which was to be like the Mermaid Sculpture in Copenhagen – but the artist did it as a wetsuit instead of a mermaid to avoid copyright infringement.  Girl in a Wetsuit is a life size 1972 bronze sculpture by Elek Imredy of a woman in a wetsuit, located on a rock in the water along the north side of Stanley Park.
We then drove to Prospect Point.  This is a point at the northern tip of  Stanley Park in Vancouver, located on the south side of the First Narrows of Burrard Inlet. The point, which as its name suggests, is a viewpoint, landmark and tourist attraction in Stanley Park and has a restaurant and other facilities, is just west of the Lions Gate Bridge. 
And Andy being good-natured to pose for us in the crack in the tree.
We headed back to our hotel for our farewell dinner to some of the group.

California – Last Day of Trip – Part II

We are now heading up to Los Angeles, for a short look around before heading off to dinner.  Here is downtown as we approach on the freeway.

Ahh, the old Transamerica building no longer has the T but USC on the side.

My office was on the second floor – it was fun when they were making movies or tv shows below on the first floor.  I remember them standing on this balcony shaking shaved plastic down on Cagney and Lacy with them standing in winter coats in the middle of summer in the heat.  How did they not sweat?

An interesting structure – 

We parked and walked in and around Union Station.

And a piano for you to play – remember I said you not me…..

And a chair to rest waiting for your train.

On to Olvera Street –

Yes it did sort of move on the street – not in my camera.

Becky was surprised to hear that all the time I lived in LA, I never went to Olvera Street.

Lots of stuff to buy …..

And restaurants

Becky told me stories about driving down here and letting someone out of the car to place and get the order from this stand while they drove around the block.  Must have been good.

Becky hanging out with the guys again….

and kitties galore for me

And we must include the statue of Antonio Aguilar before leaving Olvera street. The 18-foot, bronze statue of Aguilar features him sitting on a horse — a fitting depiction of the performer who died in 2007, and was known as “El Charro de Mexico” (the Mexican Cowboy).

Now on to Chinatown and one of my favorite restaurants – Hop Li.

But we parked next to this temple which I don’t remember from years ago when I lived here.

Living in Florida, I do so miss certain foods that I enjoyed living in Los Angeles.  Squid with Spicy Salt, Hop Li Beef, wonderful green beans with garlic, etc.

Of course, we had to introduce Bear and Bearbette to Hop Li

We had a wonderful meal and grand conversations. It was so much fun to be with my friends – my travel buddies, my best friends.

Becky, Carol, Gloria, and Lloyd.  

Thank you Carol, to you and your family, for taking me around Hawaii. and Thank you Besties – for the nicest ending for this trip.

Til our next trip together…….Much Love

 

 

 

 

California – Last Day of Trip – Part I

This was basically the last day of the trip as the Los Angeles weather decided I needed to remember how it is out there when it rains, and I mean really rains.  But we did manage to get in a drive to San Pedro Ports o Call, and to dinner in Chinatown before the sky opened on us. I am breaking this into two posts so you can see the fun we had in San Pedro.

Bear and Bearbette in the car making sure they have some water before walking around.

Becky and Carol checking out the fresh fish.

And just next door is another fish market.

And games for the little ones – or maybe the big ones.

Here I am “Grabbing the Bull by the Horns”

And Becky – well she is hugging it.

Here are the Brigantine Irving Johnson and the Brigantine Exy Johnson.  They are training ships, with a length of 111′ ft, they can hold 30 people.  The twin Brigantines and their youth crews are  “The Official Tall Ships and Maritime Ambassadors of the City of Los Angeles”.

And of course, Carol found flowers.

and we were in Los Angeles’ port.

And another fish market/restaurant.

and the kids must play….

They are supposed to be fixing the area up, and there were some quaint little shops at the end of the walk.

Where of course, Becky had to propose. Hmm what does Louie have to say about this?

Nothing like a best friend.

And more flowers for Carol

Now we see the Welcome sign.

And the squirrel welcomed us

rubbing his paws together – “Oh my lovely”

And Bear and Bearbette were feeling left out – so here are some pictures of them posing by a couple of places.

Back into the backpack for our trip to Los Angeles.