Photos from Vancouver

Here are a few pictures taken on my wanderings around Vancouver, mostly around the West End, Stanley Park and English Bay.




This is the Inukshuk at Alexandra Point, right near English Bay. An inukshuk is a stone landmark used as a directional milestone. It is a symbol with deep roots in the Inuit culture, signifying safety, hope and friendship. I've actually taken heaps of photos of it, on my never-ending search to find the perfect shot with the perfect lighting conditions of this very Canadian symbol. There are more on Facebook!

This is at Canada Place, up near the waterfront in the downtown area, looking north toward the mountains. I'm trying to remember what building the sails are part of, but they're a very distinctive marker on Vancouver's skyline.

This is in Stanley Park, not far from Second Beach, and I took this for two reasons: one, because I love the progression of winter-autumnal trees (I know, it should be the other way round really) and two, because it felt a little bit Six Feet Under, and if you've ever watched the opening titles to the show you'll get what I mean.

This is taken from the seawall which surrounds Stanely Park, looking across to West Van on the other side of the bay. The seawall is closed once you round that bend, due to major storm damage which occurred last December. Something like 10,000 trees in the park were either destroyed or damaged, and a 2km section of the seawall suffered major damage as well, so there has been a huge reconstruction project happening throughout 2007. It would be nice if the rest of the seawall were to open before I leave Vancouver, so that I can walk all 9km of it.

Looking across False Creek to Vanier Park and the neighbourhood of Kitsilano. Slightly shaky camera, but how cool are those clouds?!

This is English Bay, bathed in late afternoon sunlight (my favourite time of day). Yes, that is a tree on top of the building in the centre. I'm sure it's one of the most expensive buildings to live in in the West End, probably partly to do with the eccentric appeal of an enormous tree sprouting from the top. I gather there's a whole roof garden up there but it's not open to the public.

Lost Lagoon, which lies between my place and the rest of Stanley Park. I often walk around the lagoon, which takes about half an hour. Quite frequently I see squirrels and raccoons while I'm out walking, which Canadians probably don't think twice about but which are a novelty for me.

OK, this photo is probably the shot that most captures the West End for me: gay-friendly, Canadian, proud, and living in a high-rise overlooking the bay (and being just eccentric enough to live in a building with a tree on the top).

If you haven't already noticed, I like trees. Especially skeletal winter trees. And autumn leaves. And sunset. Both of these are in the English Bay/lower Stanley Park area.