November 30, 2004
Van Pan
This is a panorama of Vancouver from the North Shore. Also available as a QuickTimeVR.
And this is the opposite view, from Vancouver looking at the North Shore. QuickTimeVR also available.
Posted by Samer at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)
Transportation
I came into Canada by train, and I love this shot of the tracks as I headed down the Waterfront Station ramp toward what must be the coolest public transport around.
The SeaBus is a catamaran that takes you from Vancouver to North Vancouver, across Burrard Inlet. It is a cool 15 minute ride, and your transfer ticket is good for any of the public transportation, including the monorail. Just try not to sing.
Posted by Samer at 10:41 PM | Comments (0)
View from Above
Step off the elevator at the Vancouver Lookout and you have directions to a bunch of world cities.
You walk over to the glass and look down and you see this really cool city laid out below you (that's the Delta Hotel right up front).
I love this view of two of the coolest looking buildings in Vancouver. The domed building at the top right is the Sun Tower, and it was once the tallest building in the British Empire. The red and tan terra cotta building in the foreground is a beautiful old building.
Looking out at the boat-like Canada Place, you notice the building towering over it has a flight control tower. I believe this is the tallest control tower in the world, and the air controllers there cover the seaplanes and helicopters that are everywhere in this shore area.
Posted by Samer at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)
Granville Island
Took the bus to Granville Island, a small community in Vancouver. It seems the defining feature here is the bridge that runs over the island.
The boats at the marina as you walk under the bridge toward the Granville Island Brewery.
A nice side road leads to a neat little area where the water runs and the ducks frolic. And with all the rain, it is good to have a duck's back.
Posted by Samer at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)
Art?
As I wander around Granville Island, I come to an art "gallery". The display is a laundry room.
Now, I just don't get "modern" art most of the time, but this seemed to be a display of a room with laundry facilities and anyone who wanted to could make an appointment to come and do their laundry. Right. I still don't get it.
Posted by Samer at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)
Monorail
Every time I set foot on the SkyTrain, I wanted to sing the "Monorail" song from the Simpsons.
Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail! ...
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!
Luckily I managed not embarrass myself. The SkyTrain is really nice, and most of the public transport in Vancouver runs pretty well.
Posted by Samer at 09:46 PM | Comments (0)
Vancouver
Standing on the "deck" at Canada Place, the convention facilities built to look like a ship, you can look out towards North Vancouver. What a great view, even when it was raining.
I didn't get to go out to Stanley Park, but I did see it from Canada Place. It looks pretty cool, and I think it has official rain forest status. Imagine waking up and going for hike in the rain forest, then stopping off at a great restaurant for lunch, picking up a six pack a the brewery and trundling off for a skiing session in the evening.
Seagulls everywhere. I just like this picture, for no real reason.
I really love the Vancouver skyline and the architecture here. It reminds me a good deal of London, with some cutting edge buildings mixed in with older, more stately ones.
Did I mention that they made Canada Place look like a ship? Here are the "sails". It is a very nifty idea, and it os well executed.
Posted by Samer at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2004
Pike Place Market
Another beautiful day in Seattle, and this time down to the market. I like this market: it is almost like Portabello Road Market, but it is smaller and a little more touristy.
The fish market is one of the best things about the Pike. Really fresh fish and a circus atmosphere as workers throw fish around, or rig up fish on string to scare the tourists.
There's plenty of neon at this market. I love the look of neon, especially at twilight.
Posted by Samer at 02:22 PM | Comments (0)
Space Needle
The Space Needle towers over the very cool architecture of the Experience Music Project.
You can see the Space Needle reflected in the EMP's pink-hued building. The EMP is just a simply cool looking building. I wish I had the time to go in and visit the exhibits, but it takes over two hours and they closed early on Sunday.
This is the best of the views from the Space Needle. I gotta say, it just isn't worth the $13 ticket ($17 for you to get a night view as well). The Needle's webcam is probably a better value, and it lets you see previous days if the weather is bad.
The problem with the view from the top of the Space Needle is that the Needle itself is largely responsible for Seattle's skyline. Obviously, when you are inside, you can't see it. The view from below, on the other hand, is pretty amazing.
Posted by Samer at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2004
Bridgeport
Portland is sometimes referred to as Bridgeport, because of all its bridges. This is the most striking of those, I think. The Hawthorne bridge has a section which lifts straight up to allow tall ships through.
That's the bridge control building and the two towers that jack it up to allow taller ships through. I've never seen it opened, but I'll bet it is a cool sight.
Posted by Samer at 01:46 AM | Comments (0)
Snow!
Driving around what's called the Fruit Loop, the long scenic way back to Portland from Multnomah Falls. We went up and around Mt. Hood. And there was snow. I love the snow, and absolutely loved every minute. Even when AB was sure we'd be killed in an oncoming blizzard.
We drove into this little town to get some coffee, but there was nothing open. But there was this cool, funky house that's probably has snowboarders living there getting ready for the ski season.
Did I mention I love snow? I can't wait for the first batch to hit Washington.
Posted by Samer at 01:42 AM | Comments (0)
Multnomah Falls
On the way to Multnomah Falls, AB pulled off to a view point overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. It was a very beautiful day, and the scenery was incredible.
As incredible as the drive there was, nothing really prepared me of the awesome view of the falls. The top falls barreling down over the cliff and pooling below before dropping a little ways further.
The lower falls with the bridge framing them. It is a nice walk up to the bridge, where you can really see how powerful the falls are.
There's the lovely AB. Thanks for the company and the great views.
From the bridge looking at this big boulder in the pool. Apparently, several years ago, a big chunk of rock (possibly this one) fell from the cliff and killed a few people who were swimming in the pool near the falls.
The lower falls from above. The sounds of the falls as the water rushes by and goes under the bridge is pretty loud.
The view from the bridge looking back out toward the Columbia river and Washington state.
Posted by Samer at 01:31 AM | Comments (0)
Doug Fir
AB took me to this really cool place called the Doug Fir. The Douglas fir is Oregon's state tree, and this place makes use of a lot of Douglas fir wood. It is really stunning on the inside, and quite quirky. Pretty much like the city it is in.
The bar is just a spectacular display of what a good woodworker can do with a lot of wood. It is made, as is the hanging top, from small pieces of wood placed to look like a tree trunk. Not only is the atmosphere here great, but the food is quite good, too.
Posted by Samer at 01:18 AM | Comments (0)
Skinner Butte
I took this panorama from the top of Skinner Butte. A QuickTime VR version is also available (2MB).
Posted by Samer at 12:44 AM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2004
Eugene
The rain that greeted me on arrival gave way to a beautiful day. Some of the trees had already shed their leaves, but it was still a great view.
I love bridges, they evoke the image of travel: getting from one point to another. They are supposed to be utilitarian, but they are often well designed and very beautiful. This is a pedestrian bridge over the Willamette in Eugene.
I saw this VW bug at the top of Skinner Butte. It looked so cool there with the transmission tower and shack and the blue sky.
Fall is still in force (or was) down here. The leaves were all sorts of pretty colors. By the time I got to Portland a day later, all the leaves had fallen down.
Posted by Samer at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2004
The Golden Gate
This is one of the most amazing pieces of architecture on the face of the planet. Beautiful, yet very very functional, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of my favorite places on Earth. This is the view from the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate.
The shadow of the bridge over the Golden Gate is very imposing. The Gate is the break between the cliffs that leads into the bay.
Container ships are huge. Completely huge. This one dwarfed the pleasure boats in the bay as it headed under the bridge and out to the Pacific.
The bridge from the other side. I hiked up to the Marin County Headlands and from there, the deck of the bridge is below you. It is a fantastic site.
Looking from Marin back through the cables of the bridge at San Francisco.
I just love this picture. Evening was setting in as I walked back from Marin to San Francisco. What a great sunset.
Posted by Samer at 12:51 AM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2004
Light Speed
I love the cable cars. Took a couple of rides on them, and while waiting for the return trip I took this eight second exposure. These things fly.
Posted by Samer at 12:31 PM | Comments (2)
November 16, 2004
Union Square
The weather was perfect in San Francisco after the first day. Union Square provided a nice place to stop for a moment and enjoy the scene.
They were already putting up the Christmas tree. It was more than a bit ironic that it was in the mid-sixties that day.
Saturday morning and the square gets transformed into an art show. Lots of mediocre stuff, but some good art, too.
Posted by Samer at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
Art?
Apparently this is what passes for fine art in this day and age. I saw this as I was meandering on Market St in San Francisco. The window does say "Contemporary Fine Art". And yes, it is the hood of a Trans Am. And there were two of them.
Posted by Samer at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2004
Magnolia
After a long walk around Golden Gate Park, I headed down Haight to find this wonderful brewpub. Just a short skip from the fabled intersection of Haight and Ashbury, Magnolia is one of the best pubs I've ever been to.
Ben, the brewer at Magnolia, was kind enough to show me around their cramped brewing facilities. It is always great to meet the guy who brewed the beer you just drank. There's a real camaraderie between brewers and anyone who takes an interest in what they do. Ben was no different, showing me around and giving me a sample of one of their beers.
There's this great mural that wraps around most of the bar at Magnolia. This is just one small bit of it.
Posted by Samer at 08:41 PM | Comments (0)
Golden Gate Park
One of the prettiest TV towers in the country stands tall over Golden Gate Park.
It was a most wonderfully pretty day in San Francisco. Some people were out flying kites in the fields between the trees.
There was this very beautiful carousel house tucked away in the park. Very pretty and enclosed so that the kids could enjoy it even when it rains.
Yes, it is a working carousel with all sorts of little people riding it.
The Conservatory of Flowers is a very beautiful building in the park. It is a bit of a hot house, and I was already warm from walking all over the place, so I didn't go in.
Posted by Samer at 08:32 PM | Comments (1)
November 12, 2004
Toronado
Outside Toronado on Haight. This is a great beer bar that serves some phenomenal brews. The atmosphere is kinda dive-ish, but it is a lot of fun. An excellent spot for a drink or three.
This is part of a long wall of opened and, presumable, consumed three liter bottles of Duvel. That's a lot of really high octane beers.
The bar at Toronado is a metal one. The staff here are quite knowledgeable, and were happy to pick good local beers for me.
Posted by Samer at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)
Lined up
The Trolleys all lined up on Powell Street waiting to their turn to be turned around and sent back up the hill.
Posted by Samer at 02:32 AM | Comments (0)
San Francisco Trolley
The only moving national park. The San Francisco Trolley is an institution, and a great, if touristy, way to see parts of the city. And they run until midnight.
Posted by Samer at 02:28 AM | Comments (0)