August 7, 2016 – Vancouver, B.C.

Our plan today is to go to the Queen Elizabeth Park to see the gardens and to see the Bloedel Conservatory. The park is at the highest point in Vancouver and there are panoramic views.

View of downtown Vancouver from Queen Elizabeth Park
View of downtown Vancouver from Queen Elizabeth Park

The first place we visit is the Bloedel Conservatory. It is full of tropical plants and birds.  There is a helpful brochure that refers to numbered sites in the conservatory.

John in front of Bloedel Conservatory
John in front of Bloedel Conservatory
Tropical plants
Tropical plants
Koi
Koi
Tropical birds
Tropical birds
Weird tree
Weird tree
Bird eating seeds
Bird eating seeds
Colorful birds
Colorful birds

After spending a good deal of time in the Conservatory we decide to get lunch at the restaurant at the park, Seasons in the Park. It is a lovely restaurant with beautiful views of the park out the windows. The restaurant hosted a meeting between President Clinton and President Yeltsin in 1993. And the food is good too!

Delicious salmon and salad at Seasons in the Park
Delicious salmon and salad at Seasons in the Park
Plaque commemorating the meeting between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin
Plaque commemorating the meeting between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin

After our late lunch we walk around the garden some more. Part of the garden is in quarries that are no longer in use.  It is a dramatic setting where you can look at the overall garden from above and then walk among the plantings.

Looking down into the Little Quarry Garden
Looking down into the Little Quarry Garden
Another view
Another view
Plantings
Plantings
Mary hiding behind a giant leaf
Mary hiding behind a giant leaf

In the early evening we head over to Granville Island which is the happening place in Vancouver. There are music venues, shops, and restaurants. We decide to dine at Edible Canada, a restaurant that showcases Canadian products. Our dinner starts out well but goes down hill at the entree course.  John didn’t like his and didn’t eat some of it.  John usually likes everything!

YUKON ARCTIC CHAR GRAVLAX gin cured char, Vancouver Island sea salt, lemon crema, fresh dill, crusty bread, pickled onion YUM!
YUKON ARCTIC CHAR GRAVLAX
gin cured char, Vancouver Island sea salt, lemon crema, fresh dill, crusty bread, pickled onion YUM!
These are french fries that are cooked in duck fat. They are soggy and not great. BOO!
These are french fries that are cooked in duck fat. They are soggy and not great. BOO!
Three kinds of salt - the bacon salt is especially delicious
Three kinds of salt – the bacon salt is especially delicious
FARMERS HARVEST daily selection of organic farm fresh vegetables, Canadian grain hummus, pickled vegetables - This was not so good. John had his with smoked sturgeon which he wouldn't even eat it was so rubbery and off-putting plus the grain hummus was just regular chickpea hummus
FARMERS HARVEST
daily selection of organic farm fresh vegetables, Canadian grain hummus, pickled vegetables – This was not so good. John had his with smoked sturgeon which he wouldn’t even eat it was so rubbery and off-putting plus the grain hummus was just regular chickpea hummus

Lastly we take a walk around Granville Island and look at the shops.  The view of downtown Vancouver is pretty spectacular.

Downtown Vancouver from Granville Island
Downtown Vancouver from Granville Island

 

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