Saturday 27th June
A somewhat relaxing if not totally lazy day. As might be expected slept in a little and had a late breakfast at a coffee shop and then spent several delightful hours at Granville Island. Granville island is one of those redeveloped former port sites which has become a mixed food craft and art market all with permanent premises, with a few restaurants, pubs and bistros. On Saturdays it appears to be very popular with locals and tourists alike, the sun was shining, and we really enjoyed the experience.
Dinner at a very respectable and pricey steak house where Michele instructed them on the making of an affagato. We were next to the pianist who over-heard this and asked if we were Australian. He also was and It turned out that as apparently Canadians did not know of affagato’s and he on previous occasions had tried to instruct them on its delights and therefore his ears had pricked up. He played a couple of Peter Allen tunes to mark the occasion. The instructions must have been spot on as the result was determined first class by she who should know.
The evening finished with a fire alarm, which turned out to be a false one and fortunately the announcement came just as we were about (or aboot as they pronounce it here) to lock our selves in the fire stairs, 16 stories up. It would have been a long walk down!
One of the real features in Vancouver this time of the year at least is the hanging baskets full of colourful perennials hanging in pairs from almost every light pole and complemented by others on buildings and also planter boxes in front of some shops and private houses. Everybody seems to join in on the concept and the overall effect is quite spectacular. At least we think so.