Travel: Stanley Park

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Abril

Oh, how I’m gonna miss you my beloved Stanley Park! I can’t believe my time in Vancouver is almost over, 7 weeks really came and went in the blink of an eye. I am most definitely going to miss all of it, but if you follow me on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, you know how much I’ve come to love Stanley Park. It might very well be my favorite spot in the city, and biking around its seawall my favorite activity this summer.

Stanley Park is Vancouver’s version of Central Park, but bigger and better… whoa, did I just say that?! Oh yes, I did. You guys know how much I love Central Park in NYC, but Stanley Park really captured my whole heart. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s almost in its entirety surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, making its seawall and beaches something you don’t usually find at most urban parks. Then there is the forest with its ancient and tall trees, the lost lagoon with the shooting fountain, the aquarium, the water park, the views, the totem poles, the fact that you can stroll right into the beach at English Bay from the park. I just love it all.

On top of all that, they make sure to have plenty of activities during the summer to bring people together. One of them is playing outdoor movies once a week at Ceperely Meadows, by Second Beach. Last week I went with some friends, and we had a picnic while we waited for Dirty Dancing to start playing in the giant screen. Not too shabby I would say.

The photos I bring you today are from my first visit to the park. It was actually the first place I visited right after I arrived in Vancouver. I went with my friend Norma and her mom, who was visiting at the time. We biked around the seawall, and even though I hadn’t been on a bike since I was 10 years old, I had way too much fun. I had actually been wanting to buy a bike of my own back in Phoenix for a few years now, but now I want it more than ever! I’ll definitely be getting one this fall. All these photos were shot by Norma, and as usual, they turned out amazing; I even included a few shots she took on the stroll we took through English Bay after our ride. We got the most beautiful sunset, and she was able to capture some gorgeous images of it. I hope you like them as much as I do, and remember that if you want to see more of her photography work you can head over to her blog at lapir0.com.

Travel: Queen Elizabeth Park

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Abril

Today I bring you photos from my day spent at the lovely Queen Elizabeth Park here in Vancouver. It is a huge green park, full of trees, flowers and grassy areas, which it’s pretty much the definition of heaven from someone coming from the arid Sonoran desert.

Inside the park you can find the Bloedel Conservatory, a dome full of lively flora and birds. It is located on the highest point of the park, so right outside the conservatory you have a fantastic view of the city. And speaking of views, the aptly named Seasons in the Park restaurant also has wonderful views (since it’s situated really close to the conservatory), which you can enjoy sitting on their deck, sipping a mimosa and nibbling on some yummy food… and that’s exactly what I did!

Of course as you can imagine, being the paradisaical site that this park is, you can also find countless families gathered to share delightful picnics and maybe even an improvised soccer game.

So there you have it, another marvelous sight to see if you ever find yourselves in Vancouver. Wishing you guys a superb week!

P.S. I just recently (and finally!!) started using my Canon EOS 60D camera, so I have a long way to go with photography, but how are you liking the photos?

Travel: Endless Summer Days

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Abril

I’m alive!! Just in case you were wondering due to my recent lack of blogging (of course if you follow me on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter, you are well aware of my latest whereabouts). In fact, I’m not only alive with a pulse, I feel more alive than ever! It’s funny how doing something you’re passionate about takes you from merely existing to actually, fully, blissfully living. The passion of mine that has been giving me this wonderful feeling lately is traveling.

I’ve been in Vancouver for 10 days already (whoa, time flies!) and I’ve been falling deeper and deeper in love with it by the minute. The scenery, the friendliness, the weather… oh, the weather! If you’ve ever been in Arizona, or any desert for that matter, during the summer, you’d surely understand my elation at the fact that the highest average temperature in Vancouver right now is around 73˚F/20˚C.

One thing that had been throwing me slightly off when I first arrived though, was the fact that the sun was setting pass 9:30 P.M., something I definitely wasn’t used to. I mean I’ve heard about endless summer days before, but I had never experienced that expression as close to its literal meaning as now. Not that I’m complaining, it is actually quite nice to have even more time to go out and explore. Although, I gotta say if something I’ve found disappointing during my explorations in this lovely city is the fact that most businesses (except restaurants but definitely including tourist attractions) close around 6 or 7 P.M. What’s that about Vancouver?! Anyway, I’ll let it slide just because I love it here so much.

Of course I have some photos to share with you guys today, and these are from my trip this past weekend to Granville Island. I’m glad I get to bring you virtually along with me on my travels thanks to the blog, but if you ever find yourself in Vancouver doing some exploring of your own, Granville Island is a must-see for sure. It is a small island, kind of in the middle of the city, full of mostly shops and eateries, but there’s also a Theatre Company and the Emily Carr University. However the main attraction, no doubt about it, is the Granville Island Public Market.

Hundreds of vendors gathered inside the market everyday to make this site quite an experience for all the senses. You can find from fresh produce and fish to an Italian grocer, a Mexican restaurant, a pastries stand, as well as a number of artisan products like hand-painted ceramic, one-of-a-kind jewelry or finely crafted leather satchels, to name a few.

I don’t know about you but I love markets. Maybe it’s because I’m from Mexico, where the “mercados” are very common and popular, but I find incomporable charm in the public markets. They are full of life and colors, smells and flavors. I could walk thru them for hours, exploring every stand and delighted in some wonderful people-watching. Of course, I also love enjoying the yummy food they have to offer. So chances are I’ll be paying this little island another visit before I leave.

Since no amount of words could ever do justice to the wonders of this experience, I’ll just let the photos do the rest of the talking.

Hope your summer is going as wonderful as mine!