Evolving Sweetie

Vancouver 2010 - Part 2

PART 2 - Faces in the Olympic Crowd

As you can image, National Pride was on full display in Vancouver this past weekend. It was joyous to see people so excited for their athletes. Electricity was in the air. People watching was a high sport on Saturday. Here's a few faces in the crowd that caught my eye.

POSTCARDS from the Vancouver street scene

 

  

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Wednesday - Part 3 ~ Artist Contributions  

 

Vancouver 2010 - Part 1

Welcome to Vancouver!

Years ago, when the Vancouver won the rights to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, Chuck & I started sketching out plans to attend. Chuck devoured the Olympics and so loved watching it all. Being there in person would be a HUGE dream come true for him. 

When he passed, I let all those plans fade away. That is until a week ago. High on the drama and excitement of watching the games, I realized that visiting Vancouver during the games was a once in a lifetime experience. One that I didn't want to lose out on. 

The torch, the energy and the spirit were a mere 3 hour drive away. Never again would the games be this close at hand.

My friend Constance was jazzed for the trek and even had friends that we could stay with. And late thursday night, we were northern bound. Travel up and back was pretty uneventful with only one car wait at the border - both ways. Sweet! 

What a whirlwind, fun adventure. We were greeted with typical PNW rain and grey skies, but our spirits were soaring despite being waterlogged.

There are way too many photos to share in one post, so I'll break them out into themes and create a series. The picture quality varies. Due to the rain, my pics were taken with multiple cameras. The SLR had limited usage with the pocket point-and-shoot and Iphone racking up the exposure time. 

Keep on the lookout for my posts this week.

PART 1 - The Olympic Rings & Float Planes:

Vancouver's set of Olympic Rings was anchored in the harbor on a barge. We caught views of them from Canadian Place and at the Cauldron. It was invigorating to see. Usually lit in blue, the rings changed to GOLD with Team Canada gold medal win. Luckily, we witnessed both. 

Being from Seattle, float planes are part of our culture and everyday experiences. It was wonderful to see the fascination they generated in the visitors to the region. Provided lots of entertainment during the 30-45 minute wait to the top of the Cauldron viewing platform. 

POSTCARDS from Vancouver Harbor

Our first Ring sighting from Canada Place

 

Views of the Rings and Planes from the Cauldron waiting line

 

     

Constance & the Rings

Drenched with the blue rings

Saturday - Rings of Gold with Canadian Gold Medal Win

   
  
Coming into dock

Taxi-ing out for take off

   

Drier and Golden   

  

Tuesday - Part 2 ~ Faces In The Olympic Crowd

The Cauldron

POSTCARD from Vancouver!!! I'll catch you all up on Sunday when I'm home. The torch is what I came here to see. And the town is going crazy especially in anticipation of the gold medal game in Mens hockey! Go USA! (spoken very softly in the crowd to not provoke a riot. I'm getting wiser with age.) Although if the rain stops tomorrow, I'll be able to wear Chuck's Team USA soccer jacket and show some love. Go for the GOLD Team USA!

 

Bring on the Swans

A new start to Tuesday is necessary. Woke up from a bizarre nightmare at 5:45 am that included:

• my car being stripped to the frame - twice.
• living in a ghetto walking home alone at midnight. 
• fighting over a dyson vacuum - a weird running theme.
• running away with 2 good friends from a would be murder that looked quite like a member from Desperate Housewives. Not anyone you'd expect to be a crazy stalker.
• finally waking myself up when in our escape we got into a car only to discover the tires were slashed. 

I didn't want to see how this turned out. Ever mention that I rarely remember dreams? Maybe a handful a year. Normally, they are disturbing. And the only ones that linger are the ones I forcefully wake myself up from. 

Suffice to say, I want to restart this morning with other images in my head. Looking for peaceful, relaxing images I stopped at these two pics from Chuck's & my visit to Brugge, Belgium. Floating on a boat with the swans.

    

Ahhh, that's better.

Day-tripping through the Daffodils

Yellow is the color of the day. My drive through the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival affirmed only daffodils are in bloom right now. Definitely wasn't worth stopping at Tulip Town or Roozengaarde yet. It was peaceful traversing the country roads and glimpsing the workday on the farm. There were tons of lovely cows and horses I'd have loved to photographed. Better to keep the images in my mind's eye than being disrespectful. 

My inner foodie was well rewarded on this part of the journey. The first destination I was seeking was Golden Glen Creamery. Don't believe the map, there are many roads from the main route till you hit Field Road. I was excited to see what cheese they had and to get some fresh off the farm milk. I'm not a milk drinker normally, but had some fresh farm milk at my friend M's house and loved it. The staff was very friendly and recommended their favorite cheeses. I was looking at the Cloves, Caraway & Cardamon cheddar cheese, but they said it was "interesting". Decided not to take a chance on that one and instead locked in on the Lavender Cheddar & Dill/Garlic Cheddar that were their favorites. And bought a glass quart of 2% ice cold chocolate milk. Oh my, it's heavenly. I had to stop myself from drinking it all on the way home. In fact, I'm enjoying a large glass of it right now. Well, that is the amount that I rescued from Chandler. I looked over a few minutes ago and his whole kitty head was in the glass. Had to pour him some milk into a saucer, twice, for him to leave me enjoy my milk in peace. Today's brunch was some of the dill & garlic cheddar with smoked salmon that my fisherman buddy gave me on Sunday. A small group of us gathered to celebrate my new job and try out his smoked samples of 7 different preparations. Yes, I lead a rough life. The dill/garlic cheddar went well with the salmon and was pretty tasty. The lavender cheese I am not sold on. Although anytime I have utilized lavender in cooking, I get that same luke-warm feeling. Maybe it's just not for me.

This morning I found out that Golden Glen Creamery is at the Ballard Market & University Farmers Market. If they are selling their chocolate milk there - I'm in big trouble of needing a weekly fix! And I'll need to share with my niece Emily, a big fan of chocolate milk herself.

My next culinary destination was Rosabella's Garden Bakery. It's a cute little country store with phenomenal baked goods. Lots of kitchy decorations to look through and an wide selection of bakery made can goods. I left with a jar of all blueberry fruit preserves, a local goat cheese from Gothberg Farms and an absolutely scrumptious Apple/Pear/Caramel tart. It was still warm, gooey and heavenly.

With a happy tummy, I toured the country roads stopping willy nilly to take photos of the fields. This is something you can't easily do during the weekend frenzy at the height of the festival. Like I said earlier, a lot of yellow going on. Enjoy!

POSTCARDS from Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields

 

Day-tripping - Deception Pass Boat Tour

In the visitor parking lot, there was a kiosk for a boat tour through the pass. In tourist mode, I signed right up. I love being on the water, so $20 was a fair trade going through the pass. The dock was a short 2.5 mile drive from the bridge with the directions concisely and cleverly printed on the back of the ticket.

This day trip highlighted a need for more essentials to be kept in my car. A raincoat, umbrella, blanket, polar fleece & water are always available. Must add the following:

• Set of binoculars in the glove compartment (2 pairs were in my office at home)
• A hair brush and ponytail holder 
• Extra sunscreen (brought with me but too easy to forget) 
• Sun hat & winter tuke 
• Handy wipes  

Not expecting to be going on a nature tour, I left my zoom lens at home. Missed some great opportunities for bird pictures. Won't do that again.

In our travels we ran into several geese, a harbor seal, a california sea lion, 3 eagles in a territory dispute, 2 facons and a small shy pod of harbor porpoises. Without the zoom my photos didn't fair too well. It was thrilling to interact with nature. I loved watching the seal & sea lion frolic. The guides gave a good mix of history, local tales and marine life trivial. One of my fellow passengers was trying hard to impress with her knowledge of wildlife. Luckily, the views made it easy to tune her out. The ride through the pass and out to get a broader view of the neighboring islands was well worth the admission.

Despite 3 applications of sunscreen, I still got sunburn from the water reflection. Missed my sunhat dearly!

Side note: what is it in us land-locked humans that needs to enthusiastically wave at boats and vice versa to see if they wave back. Everyone with big, overly dramatic, deliberate waves. Kinda sweet and comforting actually.

POSTCARDS - from the Water @ Deception Pass

Day-tripping - Deception Pass Bridge Walk

It's my last week before starting back to work and I've a long to-do-list. On the fun side was to get out of dodge on a day trip. Yesterday was perfect for a long drive. Took an hour to decide where to go. My destinations were Deception Pass on Whidbey Island and swinging through the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. 

Deception Pass happens to be the site of my very first day trip out of Seattle. A theater colleague I was staying with took me up my first weekend in town. And I fell in love with WA state right there. Two long green bridges span the pass. The views of the water and islands are amazing. Each trip here holds special memories for me. 

This trip was stunning with bright sunny blue skies and turquoise reflecting waters. After driving across the bridges to the visitor parking lot, I spent an hour walking over the bridges taking in the gorgeous views. Not a trip for those afraid of heights or bridges! The only time I was truly nervous was when large trucks were crossing due to the vast amount of wind in their wakes. Grabbed the bridge rails hard during those times. Good to have a healthy respect and awareness of your surroundings. 

Mount Baker was beautiful in the distance. A few fellow visitors joined me, yet it felt like I had the place to myself. 

POSTCARDS from Deception Pass, WA

I love to photograph signs, especially funny or unusual ones. Added this one to my collection yesterday. Thank you Captain Obvious. 

Nirvana

Is there a place that calls to you from the depths of your soul? Anywhere that just the thought of it brings a measure of calm to your restless mind?  To me that place is Nepal. As our life together was unraveling in our hands, I'd close my eyes, breathe deeply and then be sitting on one of Nepal's overlooks, prayer flags whipping in the wind and overlooking her majestic mountain peaks. Or I'd be kneeling in a temple praying for peace listening to the singing bowls and gongs. It became its own mantra when I'd start to panic over losing him "someday I'll go to Nepal, someday I'll go to Nepal." Almost as a lifeline to the future, that life would contain experiences I'd treasure again. Can I explain it beyond the obvious images we have from the media of the spirituality of the place? No, not anymore than I could explain to my friends and family "Why Seattle?" when I had never before step foot her soil. It's just a calling, a knowing from deep inside. To my weary soul Nepal seemed to be the answer to what I needed most: rest, beauty, prayer, reflection, stillness, calm, simplicity, respite from the modern world, closeness to god, a chance to find peace.

Someday, I'll get to experience her with my own senses. Flags will be whispering my prayers through the wind up to the heavens. And the prayer wheels will be spun in remembrance for the precious souls who have departed from my life. A higher measure of peace will be mine that day.

Till then, I will look to other's images and stories to carry me there.

Paris ~ Marche de Noel & Le Tour Eiffel

Last we left off in Paris, I was in the metro speeding away from the Arc de Triomphe. Three stops later I resurfaced on the Champs Elysees near the Grand Palace. To my delighted surprise, I popped up right smack dab in the middle of Paris' Christmas Market - Marche de Noel. I was a bit disoriented as it was completely unexpected. But the best part was after a moment of getting my bearings the time hit 5:30pm and all the street lights popped on. It was truly a magical moment - I was so enchanted. All the trees lining both sides of the Champs Elysees were strung with icy blue lights in a tulip shape. The part my photos could not capture was the rods of lights in the trees that would randomly go off in a streak of lighting. Beautiful.

The market itself was long lining both sides of the boulevard for several blocks. It had more elegance than the german counterparts. And I found the elusive white Gluhwien that Janie & I were searching for. A few of the vendors made some small talk with me. All the young man making my Grand Marnier crepe could say was "Obama?"  I laughed and said "tres bien, it's very good." My favorite was the gentleman working the sausage and cheese stand. He asked me where I was from and when I indicated America, he asked "New York or LA?" Seattle...and he indicated he had no clue where it was. A nice reminder of how our experiences shape our view of the world. He gave me some healthy sized samples of cheese. I was grateful when a large local crowd came up to buy up his wares. As I wondered away from the market through Le Jardin des Tuilleries toward my hotel, I enjoyed trying to capture the beauty of this December evening. The large ferris wheel was beautiful. I have an irrational fear of being stuck at the top of a ferris wheel. I blame it on my neighbor who rocked me and his son really hard at the top of a fair ferris wheel when I was really young. Suffice it to say, I did not go on by myself. Best not to have a panic attack in front of total strangers especially when you can't speak the language! Besides in the weather I'm not sure how the views would be. There is a small carousel in the garden that I enjoyed photographing all the while wishing my nieces were there. As I exited the garden I was tickled to see a street lined with chandeliers. 

After successfully navigating to my hotel and thawing out, I grabbed the pocket camera and headed to the metro to the Trocadero to overlook my fav Le Tour Eiffel. The Eiffel Tower was lit in blue in 2008 to celebrate the chairman of the EU being french. It was lovely as ever and still socked in at the top. The two times I saw the tower glittering was when I was not in position to capture a good photograph. I wandered over to the base of the tower to take an evening cruise on the Seine. As fate would have it an entire school district of teenagers had a field trip on the same boat that evening. I can tell you that the qualities that make teenagers teens are the same regardless of the language. It was entertaining to say the least. We were moving way too fast to get any good pictures, so I moved in from the open air deck to be undercover and listen to the audio guide. I've always wanted to take a river boat cruise on the Seine and spent the hour gloriously soaking it in. By the end of the ride I was a Jeannette-sicle, so I bid Le Tour Eiffel goodnight and headed back to the metro and my toasty hotel room. 

Till next time Paris, it was the perfect ending to my trip. 

Merci!

POSTCARDS from Paris at night

 

Paris ~ Le Arc de Triomphe

I popped out of the metro right across the street from the Arc de Triomphe. It is beautiful and imposing. On our first day in Paris together, Chuck & I came out of this same station and kissed right here. Fact about us, we were very romantic and avid photographers. And both had the same bad habit of never placing ourselves/each other in the photos. We spent a whole 2 weeks in Europe and I have two pictures of us together and only a handful of each of us individually. I decided before I ventured to climb the 288 steps to the top of the Arc, I wanted to wonder down the Champs Elysees and make sure I captured photos of our hot spots from that trip for my own keepsakes.

Now you may or may not know this, but I have a love affair with Le Tour Eiffel (the Eiffel Tower). I love her (yes, I know technically "le" is masculine). I have little Eiffel Towers woven into my home, a clock here, a picture there, deck art etc. It's a symbol of romance, travel and beauty for me. In extravagant fantasies about my wedding day, I dreamed of sailing down the Seine past her during a reception with my family and close friends. Of course this was a girlish fantasy. But when we moved our wedding to Chuck's happiest place on earth - Las Vegas, we saw this as an opportunity to give us both a bit of our dream. Our wedding reception was at the Paris casino complete with it's own scaled versions of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. And so the Arc de Triomphe. Our private and most romantic wedding day moments were under the Arc de Triomphe replica at the casino. We had our first dance as man & wife serenading each other our song, "Fly me to the moon" underneath the Arc. It was one of life's perfect moments. And in Paris as we kissed in the shadow of the Arc, Chuck whispered our song in my ear. Priceless moments I will always treasure. 

And now back to the current trip! I wandered down the Champs Elysees and took pictures of the restaurants we dined at. The grumbles in my tummy let me know that 3:00 without lunch was long enough and it was time to put fuel in the tank. I grabbed a quickie ham & cheese sandwich and chocolate croissant at a lunch shop. I just couldn't step into the other restaurants without my Chuck. They are preserved in my mind as exclusively ours.

After I finished my indulgence down memory lane, I made my way back to the Arc de Triomphe. Below in the pictures along my journey on this grand boulevard - see if you can spot the Steeler fan. Yes, we really are everywhere.

The 12 major boulevards in Paris culminate into one HUGE rotary around the Arc. The traffic just whizzes by. Access to the Arc is via an underground walk way. I actually got to "save" a poor trio of tourist who were worriedly trying to figure out how to cross the circling traffic by pointing out the tunnel. The base of the Arc has their version of the unknown solider memorial. Climbing to the top of the Arc was not as bad as I feared. The first 200 steps are all on a spiraling staircase. Gave new meaning to dizzying heights! There were 2 floors at the top of the arc with history displays, an art gallery and gift shop. It provided good breath-catching breaks on the way up to the roof top deck. The views from the top were incredible, peering down Paris' famous boulevards. Even in the misty grey it was thrilling. I can only imagine how stunning it would be on a lovely summer's day. The Eiffel Tower was coyly playing peek-a-boo beneath the fog.

It's true that what goes up must come down. And I can definitely say down was the easier and quicker direction. Having already covered the length of the Champs Elysees twice by foot, plus my tour around the Louvre, I decided to give my feet a break and duck back into the metro. 

Au revoir Arc de Triomphe!

POSTCARDS from Paris - Arc de Triomphe & Champs Elysees

 

Site of Jeannette & Chuck' s romantic dinner in Paris

World's most expensive Cafe Au Lait & Croissants. Chuck & I had breakfast here last time on our way to our historic visit to Versailles. 

Photo from the middle of the Champs Elysees. Yes - there is a pedestrian stop mid way.

Had to get creative to get a picture of me on the Champs Elysees.  

 

Champs Elysees