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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
The Space Needle towers over Seattle and is the defining feature of this city's skyline.
Seattle is surrounded by water, and on a beautiful day the sun just blinds you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
