Steveston

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Totem Poles, Parrots, and Fish

Today’s story can best be told in pictures, so this entry serves as only a guide to today’s extensive photo gallery.

First stop on this rainy Saturday morning was the U(niversity of) B(ritish) C(olumbia) Museum of Anthropology. It has been undergoing major renovations for the past six months and only a few exhibits are open. It was still a fantastic tour of BC First Nations art (in the form of lots and lots and lots of totem poles) as well as an interesting exhibit on tribal tattoos and one about ceramicware.

Next, we were off to the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park. Thankfully, the sky was only spitting by this point and even hinted at clearing up. Several people had mentioned that this conservatory was a ‘must see’ and I have to agree!

We ended the day in Steveston, which was a much more happening place than it was the last time I went! We walked around, checking out all the kitschy souvenir shops before collapsing in a coffee shop where my friend had a pot of tea and I savoured two (!) caffe macchiatos until we felt that we could walk to a restaurant for dinner. We had initially planned to get fish & chips at a stand recommended by Croft, but it was too cold to eat outside. So, we decided on a sitdown dinner at the Shady Island, where we had a most satisfactory meal of cod fish & chips and a very nice coleslaw. I also indulged in a beer. I don’t know how those fish & chips compared to other Steveston joints, but I was very happy with them.

I am happy to report that I can now get around Vancouver with a minimum of GPS reliance and wrong turns and that a city that once seemed scary and hostile now feels like home.

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A Wash

Well, today gave me the evidence I needed to justify just chilling out in south Surrey for a couple of weeks instead of heading out and doing touristy stuff in Vancouver and environs.  It’s warm out, the region has had record amounts of snow, and they don’t have the snow moving equipment needed to deal with the fallout. So, there is slush everywhere, parking is in short supply, and the natives have no idea how to drive in these sorts of conditions. After the morning I had, even venturing into the city with public transportation seems unappealing.

My plan for the day was to drive into Steveston Village in Richmond, spend the latter part of the morning, have lunch, and then come home. After a half hour of battling ankle-turning slush, I gave up and decided to return in more clement weather. I did take the time to have a quick tour of this quaint fishing village, enough to convince me that I really do need to visit it properly once all the snow has melted and the sidewalks are clear!

As I walked the streets, I got an eerie sense of déjà vu, like I had been to Steveston before. It looked a little different under the snow, but I had a few moments of turning street corners and knowing exactly what I was going to encounter. It was unnerving, but I was able to elucidate the mystery once I got home: Steveston was the filming location for a favourite episode of a favourite television series, Stargate SG-1! LOL!

I popped into the museum/post office that was formerly a bank and poked around, but there wasn’t that much to see as the museum is under new directorship and undergoing changes. I bought the Stevenson walking guide (2$), figuring that it would come in handy when I return.

Here are some pictures I took. They’re not very interesting, but they’re proof that I did step outside my bubble today! 😀

Georgia Cannery, Steveston (Richmond)

Cannery, Steveston (Richmond)

(I just realised where I’ve seen this cannery before, not on Stargate, but on MacGyver!)

Steveston Harbour

Steveston Harbour

Steveston Wharf

Steveston Wharf