June 2018 visit

June 21, 2018

June 2018 visit

DAY 1

After an good flight from Nagoya, Japan, our friends transited at Vancouver airport.
Now they are ready to land by Nanaimo harbour.

Small plane but very interesting!

Here they are, time for a first photo!

Soon after, Jiji François is leading them on the small ferry to Protection Island.

In the next days they will use this small ferry overtime they have to go to Nanaimo
and all the nice place they will visit

First dinner: Chicken soup, home made crackers, Shrimp Tagliatelle and waffle with maple sirup.

DAY 2

Even on a vacation there is something to learn

A visit at Darlene's workshop. All we can learn about Rug Hooking.

An art form imported from her grandmother and the East Coast (Nova Scotia)

It looks like Darlene as so much material to work with.

Leaving Darlene's house with a beautiful view behind.

Heather and her looms!

Heather showing her felt work.

The tea will stay warm that's sure!

Nice scarfs.

Tea time at Heather and John's house.

For lunch: sandwiches on demand.

Chef François!

Curry couscous salad.

So happy to stop at the beach.

View from a gazebo at Protection Island community center. In the back it is Gabriola Island.

Suzanne was so happy to receive a gift from her guests.

Origami demonstration.

One of the rooms at Studio 33, Suzanne's art center.

Relax time in front of the fireplace where our guests stayed.

Looking at the menu at Dingy Dock Pub.

Nice sangria while waiting for dinner at Dingy Dock Pub. In the back downtown Nanaimo.

Such delicious food.

Live entertainment at Dingy Dock Pub on Protection Island.

DAY 3

François prepared breakfast again, this time:
Rostie potatoes, Ratatouille, rice , salad with maple dressing.

Ready for another adventure: after the short ferry trip it will be the big forest!

Cathedral Grove Park.

The trees there are more than big!

They are giants compare to us.

The sun was with us, shining and drawing marvellous shades

Looking at the rings of growth of a fallen tree to imagine it's age.

Such a very special environment.

Admiring the moss on every branches around.

Nature's sculpture.

Another Giant.

Always something to learn.

Amazing place to grow.......

Hiding place.

Soup and wraps at the market's restaurant in Coombs.

Mayumi was in good hands!

Nice to see tiny things after the forest's giants.

Experience in shopping before the end of the day.

DAY 4

This is one of the Protection Ferries carrying people to and from Nanaimo Island
a nice and quiet 10 minutes ride. This ship is only for foot passengers.

On this day it has been an early start because of a 2 hours drive to Victoria, the largest city on Vancouver Island.

The famous Butchart Gardens

Flowers here, flowers there, flowers everywhere.

Beautiful views, this place is so well maintained

We arrived early enough not to be in the crowd

Photographer paradise

Difficult to find the words to describe the place

Reflexion

In the evening, when it is dark there is illumination all around and this fountain must be fantastic to see.

Climbing for a view

And of course some shopping

A last selfie before leaving

Downtown Victoria with a marvellous blue sky

A well deserved tea time at "Murchies"

Jiji and Mayumi

Mariko, Jiji and Kiyoka

We also visited my friends Anne and François in Nanaimo

Their beautiful garden is a restful place

Simple dinner with lasagna, potato salad, Eda mame, crackers, dips and cheese.

And wine of course because our guest is French and cannot have guests without a couple of toasts

To close the meal, a very special dessert

"Nanaimo bar" a specialty of the city of Nanaimo: chocolate, cream, coconut very very sweet

Thank you so much Anne and François (not me, the very special one....)

DAY 5

What are they doing there on the side of the road?

Taking pictures...... but what kind of animal?

Lamas!!!

And horses

Chemainus a small town with great murales

Tribute to the natives

Keeping an eye on far away ships

Original building, a nice place for a beautiful photo

Interesting flowers by the side of the road in Chemainus

Coffee time with scones and date squares

Our exuberant Mayumi seemed to enjoy photo shoots

And Misaki enjoyed taking pictures

Yes of course I also enjoyed taking pictures with so nice guests

Chemainus is a tourist place so some people can enjoy a quiet horse-drawn carriage

I can say this is a bear land.....

Is this a star with the bear family?

A little help to deal with the money transactions

Again we were invited at a good friend of mine on Protection Island. Linda was so happy to have our group at her house

A taste of Japan in a Canadian house: Gohemochi

The table is set for our BBQ dinner

Thanks Linda again

Time for a few cookies

DAY 6

The last morning on Protection Island we took the first ferry then a taxi to Departure Bay in Nanaimo

Suitcases almost full with souvenirs (omiage)

And boarded a much larger ferry for Vancouver, a 90 minutes sailing across Georgia Strait

After leaving the large suitcases at the Hotel we went to Granville Island, very close to Downtown Vancouver more food, this time the traditional Fish & Chip