Sunday, August 3, 2014

Floating community: False Creek, Granville Island, Vancouver BC

Last weekend we had lunch at a waterside restaurant on Granville Island, with our good friends


If you ever come to Vancouver, you may wish to stay here at the Granville Island Hotel.  There are water views on 3 sides


I love to have my eggs, but for $17. I decided instead to have the salmon burger with fries and salad.  After lunch we decided to walk on the boardwalk towards the Market


It doesn't get better than this in Vancouver.  Lots of water activities today from Dragon boat practice to dozens of water craft


Here we are in the middle of a bustling city .   Between the downtown area and the communites south of False Creek.  In the background is Fairview Slopes which is on a hillside with good views of the city skyline


There are dozens of expensive yachts tied up on the docks


Then you come across a floating commuity


How nice it would be to live here, on the water where you are close to everything but also feeling so far away . . .   Those are the former Expo lands in the background


Some of these homes are very large.  No grass to cut and you have to park your car in the parking lot behind me.   Reserved spaces of course, as the market can get very busy in tourist season


The advantage is that you are also able to park your boat or yacht right beside your home for a quick get-a-way


Or you may have a flock of kyaks instead


Water side living at its finest


Farther along we come to the Emily Carr School of Art


Where I can show you a different perspective of the Granville Street Bridge.   I am generally on the other side of the bridge shooting Eastward.   Lots of boats out crusing the waterways on a nice warm summer's day


The girls wanted to do some window shopping but as they waited it made for a nice photo opp


As this Island is adminstered by the Federal Government, we have bilingual signs down here


On most days you will see First Nations totem pole carvers in action, but not on a Sunday

This weekend is a long 3 day weekend for us being  BC Day.   We decided to go out for dinner tonight


but contrary to the wording on the sign, it was Sunday and they weren't open


24 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. David:

      thank you. Any day away from work is a good day, whether it be sunny or raining . . .

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  2. Wow, gorgeous pics. That meal was beautifully plated. I hope it was as good as it looked. I really hope to see Vancouver one day.

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    1. Kathy:

      You were so close. Seattle is only 3 hours south of us, not counting the border line times. As for the plating, I have had better but we were there for the company. It was an outing with friends

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  3. How nice to dine at the waterfront. I don't think I've been to Granville Island since the mid 80's. Long time ago.

    Thanks for sharing all the sunny pictures.

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    1. Trobairitz:

      During the summer, lots of things happening on The Island. Many Buskers performing and lots of shopping, arts and crafts. It is a good place to play tourist. If the sun were a bit less warm, it would have been perfect

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  4. I like the concept of houseboats but not having a garage to work and secure one's vehicles.....

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    1. Dom:

      I agree, having a secure place to park would be great but land is expensive in the middle of the city. South of the city we have more floating communities and many have motorcycles. I am sure you could rent a storage locker somewhere, but not so convenient

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  5. Cool photos of the floating homes. Just what one needs during these uncertain times of changing climate.

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    1. Richard:

      at least you would be rising with the tide, unless you forgot to secure your drain plugs

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  6. Bob, was the Emily Carr School of Art the building that looked like a cruise ship on the opposite side of the water? Looked like a beautiful weekend, we had thunderstorms here on and off. Am hoping for some stable weather soon.

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    1. Karen:

      I am sorry, we walked on the boardwalk until we reached the Emily Carr Institute and could not continue as the building was in the way. I took a photo across the water of that building which looked like a cruise ship. It's been very warm here, we are not used to it and the sun is very intense. I hope your weather improves before school begins

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  7. One more chapter in "why Coop needs to visit Vancouver"......some day Bob!

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    1. Coop:

      Add up all the mileage of the Rallies, and put them together for a ride to the Pacific Coast instead. Maybe we're not as far away as you think. I know, some day. Sometimes you just have to make things happen . . .

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  8. Thanks for a wonderful set of pictures, Bob. A those memories. I would love to live in (on?) a float home, go kayaking or SUPing and being surrounded by water every day... as long as there would be a safe garage for my two-wheelers ;-)

    I am missing the summer stat holidays in BC. No such thing to be had in Germany...

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    1. Sonja:

      there are many floating homes South of the City; along the Fraser River in Queensboro, or over to Ladner just before the green, one way bridge. You could keep your kayaks right there waiting for you when you come home

      What ! No stat holidays in Germany ? I am sure you must get more holidays than we do but perhaps you don't call them Stats

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    2. Bob, no stat holidays in summer when you need them... most of ours are in winter... what's the point of that?

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    3. Sonja:

      Winter would be okay if you liked: ice fishing, tobogganing, skiing and wearing your parkas

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    4. or, get a sidecar rig and go riding in the snow......

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    5. or, fly to Hawai'i and wear shorts & sandals

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  9. I love being by the water.....:-). I try to spend a lot of time there when the weather permits although I don't like getting into it! ha. Looks like you had a great day, Bob.

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    1. Pat:

      I know what you mean, water is hypnotic . . . can't imagine living in Kansas, or anywhere in Flatlandia where they only have rivers and lakes, Not quite the same as the smell of the salt air and the rolling waves of the ocean. You are too young to realize that as you age, any day when you wake up, is a good day

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  10. Oh how I miss my floathome. It seems simple, but there are issues to living on the water, but it's still lovely just the same.

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    1. Dar:

      you should write about it as most of us don't know

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