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I looked out of the plane flying to Vancouver, and saw snow!! It was the Rocky Mountains near Denver Colorado, the snow covered the mountain tops like melting icing, cascading down the sides. It was magical as we flew northwards I kept seeing snow on mountains, I was glued to the window!
Vancouver airport was a breath of fresh air after the sterile ones in America. There were first Nations sculptures and paintings placed in many spots. The terminal for Nanaimo was at the other end and so I walked and walked, and walked! The young air hostess gave the instructions in English and French and when she said that we would be in the air for 13mins I thought that I had misheard! The instructions took longer than this!
I was lucky to be invited to Anisa's sons' special celebration for completing the first part of a First nations HIPPY Programme (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) A wonderful lady had her drums and sang a soulful Coast Salish song. The First Nations people here belong to the Snuneymxuw nation and they speak Hul'q'umi'num. The boys are learning this language through the HIPPY programme, Anisa is also learning Metis, (pronounced Mate-ee) her father's language. She sang a Metis song accompanied herself with drumming to close the celebration, It was lovely.
To say that the scenery here is beautiful is an understatement for the jaw dropping, gobsmacking vistas at every turn. Lakes, fir trees, mountains both near and far can be viewed everywhere. Sholeh and I visited "Living Forest" a caravan park on the ocean set in a verdant forest of firs, Cedars, Maples and so on. There are many full time residents here and they have personalised their sites in pretty and quirky ways, such as a Minion and friend sitting on a bench looking out to sea.
One perfect day we went to Maffeo Sutton Park by the Harbour. The day was sunny and everyone was out in their thongs, shorts and sleeveless tops, except me. It is like winter in Townsville! There were great sculptures dotted around the park and waking near water is always lovely. I talked to a couple of buskers and to my surprise they were from Australia. I thought that he was from England by his accent!! We are everywhere, world domination is just a step away!!
When we returned home everyone was outside chatting to the neighbours who regularly hitch up their horses and go riding along the trails around here. What a site to see and what a friendly couple, full of the zest of life!
Petroglyph Park was on my list of to do's the ones that we saw were inspiring, but there must be others that we missed because we didn't see many. But the ones we did were very clear.
Anisa's twins stayed over on Saturday and Sunday and we all went to Newcastle Island. A very short ferry ride across the harbour. We strolled along the sea front and saw more stone sculptures; they are amazing. Charles added to one and little Charlie knocked another down! It was low tide and we watched people wading across from nearby Protection Island, not for me, I'll take the ferry thanks. We did this and went to lunch at the Dingy Dock Pub. It is an institution here, everyone goes to it and it was doing a roaring trade.
We also had the pleasure of going to the opening of the Ay Ay Mut contemporary art exhibit at the museum. We chatted with the artists, ate food (as you do at openings) and marvelled at the fabulous designs on all the different media.
Nanaimo certainly has lots to offer and I am looking forward to next week here.
- comments
Bruce Great view , I had the impression , they were much further out of town
bruce kids love animals & anything with wheels