Tuesday 23 November 2010

Family Time in Victoria, Vancouver Island

So on the 8th November we arrived in Victoria to stay with my Auntie Gill and Uncle Don. My cousins Chris and Nick also live here with there partners/wives and children.


So the frst thing Dave got us doing was climbing Mount Doug, the large hill behind my aunt's house.



There were great views from the top


My counsin Chris and his wife Miranda took us out on the town for a few wines ....



My other cousin Nick came over with his fiance, Jacki and her parents for a mock Christmas dinner ... deck the halls la la la la la


Jacki's dad, Charlie entertained us with his skillful guitar playing and singing and Dave jammed along ...la la



We went for an evening stroll along Mount Doug beach and nearly got caught by high tide!!


Then Auntie Gill and Uncle Don took us to this picturesque river called Goldstream where you can see a salmon run, unfortunately we were too late and they had gone and the only salmon we saw were the ones that didn't make it - it stank of rotting fish - yuk


Another day took us downtown to see the harbour and the Empress Hotel behind us


Another evening with Chris and Miranda for dinner ... and more wine :)


Then we went to see my cousin Nick's son Ty play ice hockey and they won!


..Auntie Gill and Uncle Don taking us out for dinner to celebrate my birthday early ...



..check out the snow!!


We woke up on Saturday the 20th Nov to find this and it was freeeeeezing, as low as -7 C




And thus endeth the Canada chapter of our big tour and we are off to Seattle to catch a flight south for the winter - Californ-i-a here we come!!

Missing you all xxxx

Friday 12 November 2010

Canada - Vancouver and over to Victoria

So after we left NYC we headed to Canada, to Vancouver to re-explore the place I once lived in my gap year; a place that holds some very happy memories. We also got to catch up with some friends too.

Dave enjoying the autumn leaves in Vancouver


Me visiting the street I used to hang out on when i lived here ......


..and the building where I used to lived


We stayed with Dave's lovely friends Stefan and Mark who made us SOOO welcome and showed us some highlights, like this look at up Mount Cypress where you can see the whole of downtown Vancouver


Stefan, Dave and I visited Granville Island


To see the market, the floating houses on the waterfront and more great views of the city


The boys on our walk around Vancouver's waterside park - Stanley Park


...the stunning autumn leaves ...



..black squirrels ....


 ... and very cheeky squirrels! That's Dave's leg he's climbing up!!


... and we spotted our first racoon :)


Then we met up with my friend Paul who I lived with when I was here. He brought his lovely wife Anna and they livein Canada now and came down especially to see us!


Then we took in more views on the ferry to Victoria, Vancouver Island on our way to stay with my aunt and uncle



So we look forward to updating you on our stay in Victoria next time!!

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Thursday 4 November 2010

Halloween NYC Style

Dave and I dressed up ready for the Halloween Parade - ooohhhhh!
Some of the variety of costumes in the parade - apparently the link to Halloween can be very loose ....




The parade, which goes up 6th Avenue and we were a part of it. Lots of different music and costumes - brilliant!







We also went to Grand Central Station ...


On the Staton Island ferry past Statue of Liberty ....




To Wall Street ...


Across the Brooklyn Bridge ...



To a Broadway show ....


Ice-skating at Rockafella Centre ...


Empire State Building ...


And up the 'Top of the Rock' (up the Rockafella Centre) .... with amazing views at sunset