Le Chic En Rose

North Vancouver At Dusk

rosemaylily2014

November 10, 2018

Somewhat confusingly we stayed in Vancouver on 3 separate occasions on our month long North America trip – the first weekend, a night in the middle (after a sideways trip to the Rockies and Banff) and a night at the end before we flew home. For ease of writing up for the blog I’ve decided to do the Vancouver posts in one go (see here and here for the previous posts).

We stayed in the municipality of North Vancouver the night before we boarded our Alaska cruise. We had booked an Airbnb house along with our travelling companions – it was just a quick ride in the car down to the water front or about a 20 minute walk (one way downhill, but back uphill!). Tired after the drive back from Banff (though we did overnight halfway at Kelowna), we took the driving option and found parking surprisingly easy though we did have to use the paid multi storey car park near the Lonsdale Centre.

Situated on the Burrard Inlet, which separates Downtown Vancouver from its northern neighbour, we had been told that there were wonderful views to be had across to the cityscape, especially at night time. The long hot spell had finally broken and it was a rather cool, damp and grey late afternoon.

The information signs were a good way to learn more about the local history and the old port. The area’s history is naturally tied up with the water and ferries regularly ply the waters across to Downtown Vancouver and back again carrying commuters and tourists alike. We had hoped to take the ferry across but time was of the essence so we admired the somewhat brooding view as dusk fell along with some light drizzle. In the distance we could just make out our cruise ship, docked at Canada Wharf.

The Lonsdale Quay Market has become the hub of activities in the area and apart from the fresh produce is home to many cafes, restaurants and a kids play area. Just to the west of the market is the Waterfront Park, which on a finer day would have made a lovely picnic spot. Further round again you come to the start of Stanley Park, a wonderful antidote to Vancouver’s urban skyscrapers. Alas we didn’t have enough time to walk round though we did drive through some of the leafy avenues en route back to the city the next morning.

As the sun set we headed off in search of dinner and ended up at Pier 7 right on the waterfront, which had the most spectacular view of the city illuminated at night (excuse the extra background lights on the flash!).

A Taste of Provence in Yaletown

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November 2, 2018

Our original plan for our first weekend in Vancouver had been to stay in Yaletown Vancouver – a trendy part of town overlooking False Creek.

Once home to the Western Terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway, it had become a rather forlorn and run down industrial area until it was revitalised by the Expo86, a World Trade Fair with the theme, “Transportation and Communication: World in Motion – World in Touch”.

32 later it is a “happening” part of town with many trendy boutiques, bars and hip restaurants dotted along the waterfront. However the best laid plans of mice and men… for various reasons our pre-booked apartment in Yaletown failed to materialise and so we ended up staying in a hotel closer to Granville Island (see here for previous post). Not wanting to miss out, however, we decided to wander down to Yaletown one evening to check it out and find somewhere for dinner.

I don’t normally do food posts alone but the Provence Marinaside proved to be an inspired choice and deserves a special mention. Famed for its seafood and blending of the flavours of southern France with the abundant produce of British Colombia it was a memorable evening out – the food was beyond superb and the mainly French staff very friendly and helpful. Our waiter was from Montelimar in the Drôme area of southern France (famed for its nougat) and the sommelier, also originally from France, spent a considerable while going through the very lengthy wine list. Provence is definitely not a budget option but was well worthwhile for a special evening at the start of our trip.

Perhaps it is best to let the photos do the talking!

On the way back we walked past the Yaletown Roundhouse, home to the famous Engine 374.

Engine 374 pulled the first transcontinental passenger train, which arrived in Vancouver on 23rd May 1887. After being retired from service in 1945 it eventually found a permanent home in the Pavilion at the Yaletown Roundhouse, where you can visit it today (obviously it was closed when we walked past but fortunately still illuminated).

#Just Another Day In WA – Taylor’s Art and Coffee House Swan Valley

rosemaylily2014

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October 6, 2018

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here with school holidays and outings including to Perth Zoo (always a perennial favourite which I’ve blogged about before here and here) and yesterday we headed off with our elder daughter and 2 young granddaughters to another of our favourite places, the Swan Valley (previous visits here and here).

Unfortunately the weather gods put paid to our planned trip to an animal farm with the brooding clouds suddenly giving way to a heavy thundery downpour. We did, however, manage to have lunch at the charming Taylor’s Art and Coffee House, a first for us though our daughter has been a couple of times before.

The setting is charming – an old vine clad courtyard with flower pots and casual table settings, the olde worlde feel enhanced by the adjacent art gallery and a whimsical pre-loved goods store. The owners serve fresh organic seasonal produce often grown in their own garden (I had a wonderfully simple pea and asparagus risotto and our granddaughters a kids’ tasting plate including fresh fruit and vegetables). Family friendly, it’s the sort of place you can pop in for just a coffee or something more substantial. Although not normally licensed we’d come on the right day as there was a temporary pop up wine bar from a local producer Corymbia Wines (another new discovery for us in the Swan Valley).

Taylor’s also happens to be next door to the Chocolate Factory which naturally caught the kids attention! In the end we were able to get away without too many complaints from the girls (probably helped by the fact they were worried by the crashing thunder and flashes of lightning).

Spring is a bit hit and miss here in Perth at present but all the rain has been good for the gardens and nature reserves.

Our younger daughter arrives for a quick visit from London this week so we are hoping for some lovely sunny Spring Perth days!

Exploring Granville Island, Vancouver

rosemaylily2014

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September 17, 2018

Granville Island Vancouver is a hip and trendy peninsula to the south of Downtown Vancouver. It sits perched under the Granville Street Bridge on the waters of False Creek, once used as a fishing inlet by the First Nations peoples.

Vancouver was originally called Granville after Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl of Granville (Britain’s Colonial Secretary at the time) but was renamed to its present day moniker in 1886. Formerly an industrial area, Granville has gradually been transformed in the last decades into a shopping and recreational district with an arty and laid-back vibe.

We were there at a busy time – it was the public holiday weekend for British Columbia Day plus the annual Vancouver Pride Festival so everywhere was bustling with people. Still it was not unpleasantly crowded. We enjoyed exploring the fresh food markets (the Granville Island Public Market has been in existence since 1979). As you would expect there was an enormous range of produce – I was happy not only to find so much fresh fruit and vegetables but an old fashioned tea shop selling a vast array of loose leaf teas in old fashioned jars and tins. We also had breakfast in one of the cafes at the end of the market – you are really spoilt for choice here and we found portions to be very generous!

A ride on the ferry is an enjoyable way to explore False Creek and get your bearings. There are plenty of stops along the way including the iconic glass dome of Science World British Columbia plus easy and fast connections to the main Downtown area.

After breakfast and a return ferry ride on the creek, we wandered round absorbing the atmosphere on the island. Street performers, arts and craft shops (including a wonderful bead and jewellery store), plus a pleasant cooling breeze from the water (it was an especially hot weekend) made for a most enjoyable Sunday stroll around.

The vestiges of the once industrial area are preserved too in a quaint and somewhat kitsch display of old concrete mixers.

If all the walking around makes you feel drained, you can always find a strong pick me up at the Liberty Distillery purveyors of gin and vodka or try some handcrafted beer at the Granville Island Brewing Company.

With frequent festivals there is always something going on at Granville Island – check the website here for up to date information. It’s definitely a must-see place on any trip to Vancouver!

A Taste Of Alaska

rosemaylily2014

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September 9, 2018

We’re settling back into home life after a month on the road. We covered thousands of miles by air, rail, road and sea and took in some amazing sights along the way. After 11 different overnight stops it’s nice to be back in our own bed again and catching up with the pets and family.

I’ve so many photos to sort through from our journey through Vancouver and Western Canada, the Rockies, Alaska and finally Seattle so it will take some time to collate them all. Here is a preview of some of our Alaskan adventures – the scenery, dramatic landscapes and wildlife were just some of the highlights.

I’ll gradually post about it all over the next few weeks!

Canadian Travels – Le Chic En Road

rosemaylily2014

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August 12, 2018

We’ve been on the road in Canada for the past week or so and are about to board the boat today for our cruise up to Alaska. So here’s a very quick update before I may be out of range for a while.

We’ve loved Vancouver and the Rockies (we went by the Rocky Mountaineer up to Banff and drove back via the Okanagan region). Unfortunately the area has again been beset by severe fires this summer season and the mountains were often obscured by thick smoke haze, which also reduced the air quality. We still explored the area extensively – there’ll be many posts coming up on my return to Australia but in the meantime here is a photo preview. Apologies if I am slow to respond to everyone – Wifi has been intermittent and not sure how we’ll go on the boat or in Alaska. I”ll be back in the blogosphere as soon as I can!

#justanotherdayinwa – Riverbank Estate Winery Caversham

rosemaylily2014

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July 22, 2018

Time has marched on and we’re now very busy getting ready for our upcoming trip to Canada and Alaska – we leave in less than 2 weeks. The rest of my UK travel write ups from March will have to wait for another day – it has seemed a bit strange writing about the spring arctic freeze when the UK has been basking in a heatwave!

We don’t get snow and ice here in the winter but we have had some wild storms and gales and spent a fair bit of time yesterday mopping up from floods in the garage, patio area and a small stream that flowed through our kitchen window from the gutter, which had backed up with the sheer volume of rain.

It seems a far cry from the glorious few days we had the other week – beautiful sunny skies and crisp winter’s days. As it was our wedding anniversary, we decided to drive out to the Swan Valley for lunch – only a half hour drive from our home near the coast and you are effectively out in open country. There are many cafes, restaurants and wineries to choose from and the countryside is dotted with vines, which grow well in the river valley (see here and here for previous posts about this area).

We ended up at a new place for us, the Riverbank Estate Winery in Caversham. The Swan River meanders adjacent to the vines on the property and the food, prepared from fresh seasonal produce, was superb. Afterwards we had a wander round the grounds – probably just as well after a 3 course lunch and wine (not too much for Monsieur though as he was driving!).

London Travels – The Quince Tree Cafe, Clifton Nurseries

rosemaylily2014

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July 9, 2018

A little vignette from our London travels in March. The day after our arrival our daughter, Mlle, suggested Saturday breakfast at a quaint little cafe not too far from her home in north west London. The Quince Tree Cafe is part of the Clifton Nurseries in the Warwick Avenue/Little Venice neighbourhood near the London canals.

From previous posts (see here and here) you’ll know that our trip was in the bitterly cold spell in March (such a contrast with the current July heatwave!). Therefore our planned walk turned into a quick Uber ride.

Tucked away down a little alley, the Quince Tree is a real gem. It’s housed in a converted greenhouse overlooking rows of potted plants and garden beds. Even on a gloomy March day it seemed light and spacious – the perfect spot to enjoy the gardens with a steaming pot of tea. We eagerly tucked into a very hearty breakfast (we were jet lagged and feeling the cold!).

On a warmer day we would have loved to linger a bit longer in the grounds but it was a day for staying rugged up indoors as far as possible.

Just up the road are steps leading to the pathway along the canal – Little Venice is the point where the Regents Canal joins the Grand Junction Canal and there are lovely walks in both directions along the banks. It was not a day for walking too far though – the pictures don’t show the black ice and we were slipping and sliding all over the place.

If you’re ever in the vicinity the Quince Tree is the perfect spot for refreshments and next time we hope we’ll be able to get our canal walk in!

London Travels – Two Temple Place

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July 1, 2018

We arrived in London in March in the midst of the “Beast From The East”, the extreme weather front that gripped the UK for a week or so coming straight from the Siberian Steppes. It was minus two and blowing a blizzard when we landed belatedly at Heathrow Airport on the Friday night, after our original flight from Hong Kong was cancelled.

We had just a couple of full days to spend with our daughter Mlle in London and with the weather remaining bitterly cold and the pavements icy with the snow and frost, we didn’t fancy spending too much time outdoors. I’ve already written a quick account of the weekend whilst on the road here. However we did brave the elements and in fact managed to pack quite a lot into our flying visit to the capital.

On the Sunday, when a slow thaw had set in, Mlle suggested heading down to the Temple area of the city for lunch at the Temple Brew House in Essex Street before taking in an exhibition. The moody blues and greys down by the Thames don’t really depict the full story – it was absolutely freezing even for Mlle who is more acclimatised than us by now to the cold!

The Temple Brew House proved an inspired choice. During the week it must be packed with workers from the legal offices and chambers nearby but on this cold Sunday lunchtime it was more or less deserted and the warming pies and drinks were just what we needed. I did manage to get a glass of wine though Monsieur and Mlle sampled some of the many craft beers on offer (well not too many I should hasten to add!).

Two Temple Place is just a few minutes walk away from the Temple Brew House. An imposing building near the Victoria Embankment with views towards the Thames, it is now owned by a private trust, the Bulldog Trust, and is open to the public at certain times of the year for special exhibitions. Mlle works in the music PR industry and a number of her clients are in the jazz world so it seemed serendipitous that the latest exhibition, “Rhythm & Reaction, The Age of Jazz in Britain” was on at the time of our visit.

Not only was the exhibition free (though donations were welcome), it gave us an opportunity to look round this impressive, albeit unusual, piece of architecture. Originally known as Astor House, it was built in 1895 for the wealthy American-born William Waldorf Astor, businessman, attorney, politician and newspaper publisher, who was apparently so scared of potential kidnapping attempts that he relocated himself and family to England (deemed safer than the USA). Constructed by John Loughborough Pearson the exterior is built from Portland stone whilst the interior is decorated with heavy wooden panels and stained glass windows – a bit reminiscent of something out of a gothic novel meeting an Elizabethan Tudor mansion!

Apparently used as both an office and living quarters by Astor and his family, it also housed some of his extensive artworks and certainly provided an interesting backdrop for the jazz history exhibition. Thoughtfully curated, the exhibition took us through the history of jazz in the Britain of the 20s, 30s, 40s and later, as well as providing a fascinating tour of the opulent mansion at the same time.

I had to restrain myself in the lovely gift shop, which was selling books, cards, prints, toiletries as well as other gifts – luggage allowances being of the essence when travelling though I can’t say I came away totally empty handed! We headed out from the cosy warmth inside the building to brave the crisp, cold air of a wintry London late afternoon.

Two Temple Place is one of those hidden gems and it’s well worth looking out for exhibitions or other events there if you happen to be in London.

# justanotherdayinwa – Hotham Valley Forest Train

rosemaylily2014

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June 24, 2018

I’ve written about the excellent Hotham Valley Tourist Railway before (see here).

Taking advantage of a gorgeous crisp winter’s WA day (after the heavy storms of the previous few weeks) we planned a similar outing down to Dwellingup last weekend. This time, however, the Steam Ranger train wasn’t operating – maintenance issues and finding volunteer drivers who have the time and qualifications to drive it are unfortunately proving to be a problem.

However, we were able to take the little diesel train, which trundles deep into the forest surrounding Dwellingup (the steam train goes in the opposite direction to Isandra Siding). The Forest Train took us on a ride through a part of WA’s history down to the little siding of Etmilyn, which in past times took the freshly-milled timber out to the coastal ports.

Unlike the Steam Ranger, the carriages are open to the elements (they have a roof but no enclosed windows). It’s wonderfully refreshing on a fine sunny day but obviously wouldn’t be as comfortable on a wild wet day! However it was pleasantly mild and we didn’t really need the heavy coats and scarves that we’d taken with us. You can almost touch the branches and bushes as the train gently chugs along.

There is a helpful map to accompany the journey. One of the most interesting places you pass by is the site of the former Holyoake Mill and Township. Once a bustling timber mill town it was destroyed by a devastating bush fire, which ravaged the Dwellingup area in 1961 and was never rebuilt. We kept looking round for old ruined buildings and huts but there was nothing there, only the jarrah trees, grass trees and wild bushland. It was somewhat eerie to see how the bush and forest have reclaimed the little township. A small plaque commemorates the town and mill, which stood here between 1910 and 1962.

Wending its way gently uphill through the thick forest, the little train comes to Etmilyn after about half an hour. You can stay on the train if you like whilst it turns round but we took the opportunity to do the circular bush trail that neatly skirts round the forest back to the waiting train (again it takes about half an hour and they do a head count before heading back to Dwellingup!). Our granddaughters had great fun helping to gather firewood so our arms were quite full by the time we got back on board again!

The train leaves at weekends and public holidays at 10.30am and 2pm (check the website for further details here). As we’ve done on previous occasions, we had an enjoyable lunch beforehand at the Dwellingup Tavern.

All in all a very enjoyable day out. We hope that the steam train will soon be up and running again – it’s not only fun to ride on but an important connection with WA’s past.