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Highlights | British Columbia Adventures

A place in my heart left me wanting to come back for more

· British Columbia,Canada,Photography,Travel,Family Life
Sticker on railing at Kelowna, BC #lafeteducanadaday
Marina at Kelowna BC
Parliament Building + Harbour at Victoria BC
Vancouver, BC, Canada via West Broadway at Daybreak
Granville Island Public Market
Dena Rosko with smoothie, camera, + tea

We enjoyed our travels to beautiful British Columbia over a few trips. Ever j'adoring Canada + walking, walking, walking in cities + outdoors (Is your city walkable?).

False Creek at Vancouver, BC
City Skyline at Vancouver, BC
Rhododendron at Vancouver, BC
Pink Flower at Vancouver, BC
Canadian flag at Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Aquabus ferry at False Creek, Vancouver, BC
Busker at Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Sunset + arrows underneath bridge at Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Sunset at False Creek, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sunset at False Creek, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sunset at False Creek, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Skytrain terminal at Vancouver, BC, Canada
Skytrain at Vancouver, BC, Canada
Seagulls at Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Crepes at Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sunflare behind observatory near harbour at Vancouver, BC, Canada
Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Tea Shoppe at Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Calligraphy brushes at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Highlights in Vancouver included Granville Island Public Market, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, walks at sunset along the seawall + the Aquabus at False Creek, transit from Yaletown to Broadway, lunch at Gastown, shopping for tea + snacks at Chinatown (dried ginseng, + medium grade loose leaf tieguanyin *not* prepackaged), tea, tea, tea, crepes, + coffee back at Gastown + Granville, + just enjoying being in Canada.

Parliament Building at night, Victoria, BC, Canada
BC Ferries at the Strait of Georgia, BC, Canada
Ship Point Night Market, Victoria, BC, Canada
Ship Point Night Market, Victoria, BC, Canada
Black Ball Ferry Line from Pt. Angeles to Victoria, BC, Canada
David's Tea shop at Victoria, BC, Canada
Canadian Flag at Government PL, Victoria, BC, Canada
Chinatown at Victoria, BC, Canada
Masquerade Ball at the Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC, Canada
Tulip sculpture at Bastian Square, Victoria, BC, Canada
Downtown Victoria BC, Canada
Walk signal at Victoria, BC, Canada

Highlights in Victoria included seeing a masquerade ball at the Empress, meals + bevies at various places, walks to the Parliament Building + Royal BC Museum, walks to Chinatown, a visit to the Ship Point night market, + just enjoying walking in cities in Canada. Honorable mention to the gorgeous ride from the magnificent BC Ferries through the Strait of Georgia via Tsawwassen.

Kismet Estate Winery at Oliver, BC, Canada
Kismet Estate Winery at Oliver, BC, Canada
Beach at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Wave on beach at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Rotary Marsh Park, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Rotary Marsh Park, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Bird nest at Rotary Marsh Park, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Downtown Kelowna, BC, Canada via park
Sculpture at park, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Public art at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Marina at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Park + beach walkway at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Statue of the legend of Ogopogo at Kelowna, BC
Waterpark splash pad for kids at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Pub at Kelowna, BC, Canada
Promenade at Kelowna, BC, Canada

Highlights in Okanagan included Lake OkanaganKismet Estate Winery at Oliver near Osoyoos (the meaning of Kismet resonated as "follow your destiny"). We also enjoyed the ample beaches, parks, trails, Rotary Marsh Park, art, food, + shopping of Kelowna, but mostly meeting + visiting with people.

Tea sign at tea shop, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Green smoothie + medjool dates at Victoria, BC, Canada
Carrots at Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver, BC, Canada

We enjoyed the markets, eats, the beach + the sea, + semi-desert climate of Okanagan. Again, we walked, walked, walked everywhere, + enjoyed breathing air, hiking, exploring, + the sunshine of K-town. Okanagan holds a special place in my heart because I visited here (Penticton) as a child for fishing trips, + the (then) water slide parks. Besides the attractions + the obviousness of my American tourist-ness, I felt at home in Canada, + left wanting to know you better.

Oh so much more to see, learn, know, experience, + love about Canada.

Woman with Baby at Peace Arch, Blaine, WA, USA.
Peace Arch "friends of a common mother" at Blaine, WA, USA

Loaded with four bottles of wine, + near a dozen bags of tea, we headed south to the border. As with home, we noticed the poverty + prosperity standing at a corner at a mission + walking through Chinatown, + felt that tension with visiting where there is need. This tension only fuels my passion to support connections in cities for human thriving.

Appreciating the exchange rate also carried this tension for me. Cities share great need + possibility as potential partners for a region. I especially appreciated the normalization of health as a standard for a city (here, here, + here). For instance, off the skytrain I found a smoothie bar to my delight. In Victoria, I found another smoothie/juice bar. People knew what I meant when I asked for vegan steamed milk with a chai tea bag, + it was ok to ask. I was recovering my health at the time, + I felt cared for here. I appreciate it when cities or nation-states make health + thriving a priority. Your southern neighbors have much to learn from you. I hope that by learning we can stop behaving as stereotypical culturally appropriating arrogant Americans, + more as friends.

Build bridges instead of walls!

Turn towards each other instead of away.

Compassion + Community = Neighbors!

Hibiscus flower, Kelowna, BC, Canada

Thank you for your hospitality, Canada. Much love to our neighbors + may we be kindred spirits here in the great Pacific Northwest region! Until next time!