As a tradition for me: traveling during school break, I headed out west to visit Marcus and Erin in Vancouver for the first time!
I don't actually know how to snowboard (still !) but I did give it a good try on Cypress hill that year. I have never seen bruising (of all my nursing career) the colour that was on both of my knees: black with no hint of any other colour lol! But I had a blast and am still hoping to gain some skill in this winter sport (someday lol).
Once I arrived at the airport, Marcus and Erin picked me up in a limo, which was awesome (we had a choice between cab and a limo, but the guy gave a deal to Marcus so we jumped in!) and made it to their cute apt! I imediately knew this was the place for me. I do love Ontario (both urban and cottage country), but Vancouver is so hip that I hope to be there again someday!
Marcus was in school at the time and also working for Chill, which is why I got free admission on the hills! Erin had to work during the day but I would meet up for lunch here and there. They were amazing at accommodating me and trying to show around. I got 2 days of solid snowboarding lessons from Marcus, a few days of shopping on my own, and meeting Erin down town for lunch here and there.
At the time I was there, Erin was into running on a regular basis. I don't mind it either, but unless I have someone motivating me to run I don't do it often. So Erin invited me to run one day, with her group, and told me that it's going to be their first long distance run: 20-some km. You have to remember that Erin has been training, and for me it would be a first time deal to run, and not just run but do it for a long period of time. But I said YES! because I thought it would be a great way to take pictures and see around the city. I mean come on, I used to do triathlons without any training lol.
And so it was beautiful to run on the beach shore, the running path was right by the water and away from the busy city noise, and the city buried itself into my heart! I love this place and felt at home. While running, I would always fall behind because I was mesmerized by the mountains and the ocean view at sunrise. The fresh air and the friendly people all around. I really did plan on finishing the entire run with Erin, but after 19 kms and one bathroom stop I had to say no for more running. I believe we were close to the end, but after the run we still had to walk home. It was an amazing experience and I'm glad I had the chance to see the city from up close. Stanley park was beautiful at that time, before the storm ripped it apart, I can't remember when exactly.
When I spent the day with Marcus, I helped out with the Chill program. I couldn't really do much, but did keep the kids entertained while they were selecting their gear for the day. I helped with finding the right clothes for the kids, matching them with the right equipment, and keeping their spirits up when on the slopes! These kids were from broken homes with difficult living conditions.
Jake Burton, the founder of Chill, created this program to share the excitement (which comes with the sport) with those who are less fortunate and cannot afford to participate in snowboarding otherwise. These kids came from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Once on the hill, I really got to see their true nature. They had to learn something new, deal with the frustrations of a beginner, and help each other succeed. All the participants, no matter how tough they looked or sounded in their conversations, very much appreciated Marcus and all the other staff members' for taking the time and giving the attention which might not happen in their homes. I also tried to show some of the kids who were finding it though on the slopes, that it takes practice and patience, however deep inside me I was thinking: just let me sit in the chalet drinking hot coco :-)
One weekend, we also rented a car and went up to Whistler for the day. Only a 2h drive on a beautiful sunny day was worth the money! By this time, the Olympics were coming to Whistler, so the preparations were on their way. I just remembered that I did see the clock in Vancouver city counting down the days to 2010. And to think that was almost five years ago! Crazy how fast time is flying by!
There we checked out the village, shopped in the stores, had a wonderful dinner, and watched some of the night entertainment: snowboarding through circle of flames. Again, very fun place to be if you have some appreciation for the cold climate and the white fluffy stuff. I enjoyed the visit to Whistler very much, but I think I would have found it much more of a tease if I knew how to board, or ski. I will tackle the winter sports one of these days because BC is a place I would like to see more of!
Marcus also took me to the UBC campus which was an experience in itself. It is huge with beautiful architecture and culturally rich exhibits. The picture below is of the rose garden, but there is a Japanese garden, a First Nations park, and so much more, all on campus!
One of our many delicious lunch dates !
The end
R :-)
