Les Feuilles Mortes

We had a terrible summer, weather wise, but autumn this year in Vancouver has been spectacular. Here's a sample of the fall colours taken from my apartment window looking over Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park in early morning light. Gorgeous.

Post title from this classic song.

Just about a year ago, I posted a shot of this same statue of Lord Stanley. This morning, I took this picture for a reason. In a few hours, the Vancouver Canucks will play the Boston Bruins for the Stanley Cup Championship. This is huge here in Vancouver. HUGE. The city's a sea of blue and green jerseys. Crowds of up to 100 000 people have filled the streets to watch the games leading up to tonight. Productivity in Vancouver has ground to a halt. For every Vancouverite I know, it's as big as, and more personal than, the Winter Olympics last year.

Some enterprising soul decorated this statue of Lord Stanley (for whom the Stanley Cup was named) with a Canucks jersey, hockey stick, and imitation trophy. Just a few minutes ago, I learned that the actual Stanley Cup (for many Canadians, the equivalent of the Holy Grail) is in the city, in Rogers Arena, where tonight's game will be played.

I live on the other side of downtown from the arena, and already, hours before game time, I can hear people in the streets below my apartment hooting and hollering, with air horns and cow bells. Several major streets in the downtown core have been closed since noon. Public transit is experiencing delays, and one local news outlet has described traffic levels as "epic." The city is basically at a standstill. Anxious. Nervous. Waiting. Hoping. Daring to believe.

The last time the Canucks made it to the final, in 1994, there were riots in the streets when they lost. For that reason, and many more, I hope they win it tonight.

Anyone for Tennis?

We had an unusual snowfall - unusual for this late in February - a couple of days ago. Yesterday morning I looked out my living room window to this accidental (or maybe not?) giant game of tic tac toe on the tennis courts in Stanley Park.

Post title from this song by Cream.

Frozen

An appropriate image, since this blog's been more or less frozen since last September. But I'm back, and plan to post regularly again. Took this picture on a walk today around Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park, not far from where I live. The surface of the lagoon was mostly covered in ice, with a few open spots where the few swans that overwinter here were huddled. I have no idea how this 2 metre long branch ended up on the surface of the ice far from shore. Perhaps some drunken New Year's Eve revelers were practicing their javelin tossing skills last night.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Post title from this song by Tegan and Sara.

Reincarnation

Recently there was, mere steps from my apartment building, the Hare Krishna Chariot Festival held in Stanley Park. I wandered around to have a look. Wil Wheaton was there too, although I didn't run into him! He mentioned it on his twitter account - and his interpretation of a very similar photo to the one I took here says all that needs to be said, in my personal opinion.

Post title from this song by Roger Miller.

Bridge

A few days ago I was lucky enough to be invited to join a friend on a Harbour Air flight to one of the Gulf Islands for a weekend away. On our way out of the city I took a few shots with my iPhone, including this one as we approached the Lions Gate Bridge. Behind the bridge is Prospect Point, and below it the seawall. Bottom right corner of the photo is the Beaver aircraft's port side pontoon (the floats the sea plane lands on, on the water's surface) and bottom left corner of the photos is one of the struts from the centre of the wing to the body of the plane. It was a gorgeous day, and a relaxing weekend away, but it's good to be back!

Post title from this song by Amon Tobin.

First Nation

There's a bit of controversy brewing about Stanley Park at the moment. A First Nations elder recently suggested that the name be changed to Xwayxway to honour the First Nations history of the park land. Although there is no formal proposal to rename the park before city, provincial, or federal government, politicians are stumbling over themselves to agree or disagree with the idea. I wonder what Lord Stanley himself would think. Here he is, pictured above, on a pedestal inscribed with the words:

TO THE USE

AND ENJOYMENT

OF PEOPLE OF ALL COLOURS

CREEDS AND CUSTOMS

FOR ALL TIME

I NAME THEE

STANLEY PARK

Lord Stanley

Governor-General

October 1889

I took this photo near the entrance to the park back in April, thinking of using it for the City Daily Photo theme day on May 1st. Today seemed an appropriate day to post it instead.

Post title from this song by Atikamihk.

Lipstick Sunset

Sunset, yesterday evening. I love the way the red light reflects off the clouds and onto the surface of Second Beach Pool in Stanley Park. I took this photo through my living room window.

Post title from this song by John Hiatt.

Black Crow

A few days ago I was cycling around the Stanley Park section of the seawall and came across the recently rebuilt pedestrian access to the Brockton Point lighthouse.The lighthouse was built in 1914, replacing the original one that had been in operation at this site since 1890. It served as navigational aid until as recently as 2005, when it was determined that it was no longer needed. Just as I pointed my lens at it, a crow landed on the drainage pipe to have a drink of what was left from the recent rain.


Post title from this Joni Mitchell song.

Blue

There's been an excess of black and white photos here lately. I can't help it, I'm enamoured of the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone. But to balance things a little, today I thought I'd share a photo that, between water, sky, and glass highrises, is mostly blue in tone. This shot was taken this morning from near Hallelujah Point in Stanley Park, looks across Coal Harbour at the downtown core, features the five sails of Vancouver's skyline, and a look at the Convention Centre and its green roof (where I took this photo).

Post title from this song by Joni Mitchell.

Know Where to Run

Today, in addition to being Mother's Day in Canada, is also this year the date for the annual Sun Run in Vancouver. It's a 10k race starting and finishing in downtown Vancouver, and the route runs within a couple hundred metres of my apartment. Over 55 000 people of all ages and ability levels took part in it last year. Final numbers for this year's race aren't available yet - as I type thousands of people are still running through my neighbourhood. I actually ran in it years ago; I came in 19 999th out of about 40 000 runners. (So now you know I am decidedly average!) As soon as I finished the 10 km, my knees said, "Never again!" Now I content myself with lying on the grass near the race's edge and taking photos. This morning I planted myself under a parking sign, figuring people would be avoiding running into the sign, and thus, me!

Title post from this song by Orbital.

Ready For Takeoff

Float planes take off from and land in Coal Harbour every few minutes from sunrise to sunset every day. Pictured is the sea plane base; there are at least a couple of  small airlines that cater to people wanting to fly from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria, or other cities on Vancouver Island. I took the photo standing on a walkway built into the "living roof" of the new Vancouver Convention Centre. Behind the seaplane base is the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Stanley Park, and in the distance, the homes of West Vancouver steadily marching up the slopes of the North Shore mountains.

Post title from this song by Christoph Spendel Group featuring Annie Whitehead.

Is there a city anywhere in the former British Empire that doesn't have some sort of monument to Queen Victoria? This one's near the entrance to Stanley Park. When I was out looking for statues a few days ago to post to May's City Daily Photo theme day I stumbled across it. It's just off Stanley Park Drive - the vehicle road that roughly speaking follows the perimeter of the park. Because I'm normally on the bike or pedestrian path, I've never noticed it before.

Hockey Sweater

It took six games in a best-of-seven series, but the Vancouver Canucks managed to defeat the LA Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I had originally planned to post a statue of Lord Stanley (after whom both the Cup and the Park are named) himself here today, but today is the first game of the Canucks' matchup in the second round - they'll be playing the Chicago Blackhawks this afternoon at 5pm Pacific Time, in Chicago. I told you Vancouver was a hockey-mad city, right? Someone (probably a municipal authority, but I prefer to imagine it's some eccentric millionaire) has bedecked one of the giant lions that guard either side of the entrance to the Lions Gate Bridge in a Canucks hockey jersey of his very own. The lion on the other side of the bridge entrance has a mockup of the Stanley Cup placed in front of him. Go Canucks Go!


This post is part of the City Daily Photo Theme Day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Post title from this song by Dala.

Running to Stand Still

On the Stanley Park section of the seawall yesterday, I came across this statue honouring Harry Winston Gerome, an accomplished Canadian track and field athlete who grew up in North Vancouver. I've walked or biked past it many times but never stopped to look. I always assumed it was a statue of Roger Bannister, commemorating the "Miracle Mile" race in 1954 in which Bannister won against the only other man (at that time) to have run the mile in less than four minutes. Again, this project of posting a photo a day has increased my curiosity and knowledge about my own city. I love it!

Across Coal Harbour in the background you can see downtown Vancouver, including the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Marine Building, and one of the five sails of Canada Place.

Post title from this U2 song.

The Mountains Win Again

Took this photo a few days ago, on a calm, bright morning that followed a couple of really stormy days. There is actually more snow on the North Shore mountains in this picture taken on the 9th of April than there was during the Olympics in February. In the last four days it's all melted again, but a clear winter day in Vancouver is a thing of beauty. This picture was taken from my balcony, looking north. In the foreground are the trees of Stanley Park. Peeking out above the trees on the left are the arches of the Lions Gate Bridge, and of course the mountains in the background. The peak on the far right is Grouse Mountain, worth the gondola ride up the mountain to visit if you're in Vancouver on a clear day, or for the hale and hearty, there is a hike from the parking lot to the top called the Grouse Grind. The view from the top is worth the climb! You can't see it well in this photo, but at the top of Grouse is a wind turbine that started operating recently which includes an elevator and viewing area at the top. I think I'll have to do the Grind again this summer and take some photos to share with you all!

Post title from this Blues Travelers song.

You Can Never Hold Back Spring

If you're wondering why I've taken so many photos in and around Stanley Park, it's because I live downtown, near the park, so it's easy for me to get there! Here's another one. This tree-lined path is near the tennis courts, and borders the Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club. This morning on my daily bicycle ride I noticed definite signs of spring: the daffodils and early cherry trees are almost done, the tulips are in bloom, and the rhododendrons are starting to bud. In this photo you can see more evidence of warmer weather to come: leaves are really starting to appear on the trees.

Title for this post taken from this song.

Moon Jelly

The weather has been decidedly un-photogenic the last little while, so I retreated indoors to the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. Here's a shot of the moon jelly fish tank. It's supposed to brighten up out there in the next few days, so with any luck I'll actually get some shots that have eluded me so far: Vancouver in sunshine!

The Dreaming Tree

I have passed by this fallen tree countless times - I must have as it's right next to the seawall, an 8.8 km paved path that skirts around the edge of Stanley Park, and a frequent bicycle route for me. But I honestly never noticed it until yesterday morning. Funny how committing to posting a photo a day has really opened my eyes to my surroundings! I don't know anything about this tree, what kind it is, when it fell, and why the Park Board decided to let it sit in place. Just a couple hundred metres further down the path there was a tree that had been damaged in a big wind storm two days before and already city employees were cutting off branches and making it safe. Anyway, on this grey day I thought it looked a little otherwordly, springing out of the ground like that.

This photo was taken very close to the park entrance. On the left is the Stanley Park Causeway, which leads to the Lions Gate Bridge, one of the major vehicle crossings from downtown Vancouver to the North Shore - and certainly the most picturesque. On the right is the seawall itself, bordered by a railing to keep careless people from falling into the waters of Coal Harbour.

Anyone for tennis?

There were a few sunny breaks today, but for the next week we're forecast rain again. Here's a shot of the Stanley Park tennis courts, just waiting for the dry sunny days to begin. These courts play host to the Stanley Park Open, one of the biggest amateur tennis tournaments in North America in number of entries. Hopefully I will have some sunny day photos to post soon - I grow weary of the rain!