Sidney moments

Just a few pics and reflections and random moments from life here in Sidney.
This is what happens to a Red Bull can if you put it back into the fridge half-full with clear plastic wrap over the top. Thought it was so cool. My sis took this and the next pic.

Me as Red Bull Misty Done Girl in the backyard in the days before the plumbing saga began. Ah, the quiet before the storm....

Backyard moon.

Two birds. One economic action plan project here. Your tax dollars at work. Mine too.

This is what they are up to: an upgrade to Lochside Drive. It's one of my fav spots, where one can just park the car and sit and watch the water. Or get out and walk. It is rough and unfinished dirt now for the parking, and a sidewalk. They are apparently paving the parking, and putting in a new retaining wall, upgrading the walkway. It is good, I suppose, but it's rather a bother that it's not so enjoyable while they work on it.

A recent outside breakfast at my fav breakfast spot, Beacon and Eggs.

One of the local residents.

The local movie house, Star Cinema. I haven't been to a movie there yet myself, but it's apparently a great little theatre. Looking forward to going there in the fall.

This gives you a sense of the pace around here. My sister calls it a sleepy little town. I think that describes it well.

LOVED this sign, found on a telephone pole on a walk into town. I think it says a lot about the community here.

A few other random reflections:

• Fall here is beautiful... when the sun shines
• It can cool off quickly here, our house is just steps from the ocean - there is a nice ocean breeze
• When it rains here, it sure can RAIN!!! We are thinking it would be a good idea to get the roof on the sunroom fixed before winter....
• Our mailman wears one red sock and one blue sock

I don't have much more brilliance today. It is time to doodle....

My Glorious Day

I had the most glorious day today in Vancouver. Here's a snapshot and some snapshots... After dropping off my friend Kelly's car for servicing in North Van, I jumped off the bus at Denman and stopped for coffee.
After picking up mail at Denman Place Mall and making a trip to my friendly neighborhood bank machine - and stopping in to give a hi and hug to my wonderful travel agent Nat - I wandered up to English Bay. And the tulips were glorious!!! Look closely, do you see that snippet of red in amongst the yellow?

I got a little closer, and this is what I saw. There were exactly one and a half petals that were red on this flower. Look at how cleanly the line is between the two sides of the half and half petal! Didn't know they grew like that! I love it.... A rebel tulip. My kind of tulip!

More glorious tulips with a glorious backdrop - and my feet, of course....

OK, every spring, for one day, the beach looks like this. And I happened to be by to see it. It's such a weird sight! All the logs lined up perfectly and the sand freshly groomed. It's rather ugly and unnatural.... yet it's oddly interesting - and exciting, as it means spring really is here! One interesting thing I learned in recent years is that all the logs on our beaches are a very West Coast thing... many places in the world there are no logs on the beach - and when people come here and see them for the first time, they are really startled.

My feet. The sand. How orderly.

This is the groomer guy working while the supervisor looks on. heh.

Wide view of orderly sand. More feet. Sweet whitecaps. I like the beach later in the year, of course, when the sand is messy and the logs are moved all around by industrious beach-goers determined to get the right log in the right spot.

Love this shot!

After a quick stop at home, off to Kits to have lunch with my long time friends, and often colleagues, Debra and Marilu. We had such a great lunch and it was great to reconnect.

On my way back on the bus, as I went along Cornwall, I couldn't help but jump off again. What? Am I kangaroo? (and that makes me think of my friend Sap, who is Australian, lives in London, who I met in Spain, who does an awesome imitation of a roo ;-)!!... Anyways, I made my way down to Kits Beach and strolled for awhile. The purple of these shells was so brilliant!

Yes, there was skin visible. And a guy with his head hidden in his jacket. As yet ungroomed sand and logs. How Vancouver. I did not take pics of the folks smoking pot however. heh. How Vancouver.

This sailboat had blown up onto the beach at about 11:30 this morning. When I came upon it, I thought that it was one of those boats from 2 weeks ago (more here), but ended up chatting with this gentleman who witnessed the "landing". I think he needed to tell his story. He'd phoned 911 as he could see the sailor in the water trying to prevent his boat from beaching and he was worried he was going to get his skull knocked in. Apparently, no help unless the injury happened. That includes the Coast Guard whose jurisdiction ends at the sand. Anyways.... he seemed disappointed to learn I wasn't a reporter. Huh? Did I look like a reporter? I was carrying a sketchbook and taking pics, but, frankly, I looked pretty non-reportery, but...

This is the boat that is still there, the guy has been digging it out by hand for two weeks and tries to float it at high tide every day. I heard him on the radio two or three days ago saying he thought he'd get it afloat that night. I guess not.

I was sitting on a log watching the gathering of watchers (good spot to see men! ;-) when I got the call that the car was ready. So headed back to the bus..... Snuck sneaker pics (more here).

My day wrapped up with another trip to the North Shore to pick up the car (favour for the friend who did my mail and banking while I was in Europe for 7 months), then dropped it off, then home for a bit, then out for coffee this evening to reconnect with my friend Sean.

I have days where I don't see a soul - except on the street - so this was a luxury of interaction. And a luxury of truly glorious Vancouver sun and wind and waves and blue sky and sand in my shoes. A nice Vancouver day.

My week in Aix wraps up

It is the evening of August 5th and I have a few "chores" to do before my departure to Paris tomorrow morning, namely packing, updating my blog and drinking 1/2 a bottle of wine I still had sitting in the fridge. Have begun all 3...


This is me at Place de 4 Dauphins, on my way to the Picasso-Cezanne exhibit... if only that water really was cooling off my head!

Here are the dolphins, sans girl, really quite lovely...

It is easy for Cezanne fans to find all the sights here... Interestingly, Cezanne wasn't acknowledged for his genius in his home town of Aix until after his death. Kind of sad. But they've certainly made up for it now...

Me, relaxing after the Picasso-Cezanne exhibit, tired but inspired.... At some cafes/bars here they bring around little appies for free at an hour I didn't figure out, but managed to stumble on twice....

Mail delivery in the old town... the guy just leans his bike against a wall or lampost while he makes his deliveries, all the bags left open.... nice journey back to simpler times for North Americans...

I tried to order 1 croissant a few days ago, but it turned into 2 chocolate croissants.... blame my charming French waiter! They melted in my mouth.... and were so good I went back for another dose the next day....

In the hallway of the apartment building where I am staying. Wow. Was surprised - but then again, not surprised - to see that my flat is featured in Alistar Sawday's "Special Places to Stay - French Holiday Homes" (entry 367). My oh my, how classy I am staying.... Honestly, this was cheaper than a crappy motel room a bus ride outside of town.... and it has been truly heaven. This is my one big treat during my trip and it has been worth every penny.

Click on this pic to enlarge it, these guys expressions are priceless. They would look spectacular if restored...

They have the cutest little bus that navigates the old city streets here, it is smaller than a North American mini-van... Very cute, but never took it myself, as I was fortunate to be within walking distance of everything!

Just your average apartment bulding doorway..... LOL! Honestly, if you just look around you as you walk down the streets here, you see the most remarkable things....

My shopping trip yesterday. Not pictured: my still-warm baguette from Paul the baker. The mint cucumber cold soup was maaarvelllous!!!!!

One of two bands I saw playing on the streets of Aix yesterday, both of which I bought CDs of. This group was called Blue Mary. I video'd a bit too, and will upload it to youtube when I have time...

Yesterday's other band, these guys were called Jazz a L'oLive, really awesome. A nice way to waste away a relaxing afternoon for me....

I honestly saw this lady walking down the street the other day, I think she was for real, not in a costume ;-)

Aix cement mixer working.... taken from my window... ;-)

The true highlight of my trip here has been two Picasso exhibits that have me "full".... I am going to do a separate blog post about them, tho not sure if I will get to it tonight....

A few other random reflections and notes I want to capture:

• Don't think I noted the last book I read in Barcelona: "The Well of Loneliness" by Radclyffe Hall - an important book that, alas, I had never heard of before. Quite enjoyed it but was a bit put off by the ending.... would still recommend it though.Was delighted that my apartment here in Aix had bookcases full of English books! The first book I read here "Weekend in Paris" by Robyn Sisman - a very light read but quite fun, as Paris is my next destinationThen I started reading Eric Newby's "On the Shores of the Mediterranean" which is a much slower read, although thoroughly enjoyable.... unfortunately I have not finished before my departure.... will either need to find a copy in Paris or borrow and mail back...
• One thing I have enjoyed about Aix, that I didn't experience in Barcelona, is that it cools off at night, it is such a relief and makes a big difference to my energy level
• There is a jacuzzi tub in this place, but.... even a warm bath seems counter intuitnive at the moment
• I think Bill Clinton did an awesome thing getting those gilrls out of North Korea
• I am going to buy myself a rolling suitcase in Paris. I don't know what I had in mind when I decided to backpack, probably some romantic dream of it being so easy, but, heck, I'm not 25, or 35... hell, I'm not even 45 anymore! I don't need to be a hero. And every advantage of a pack that I thought was clear to me has entirely vanished. So, tomorrow is my last day of heavy slugging with all my stuff on my back...
• Oh, my Spanish cell phone is going in the garbage... despite what I told them I needed, they sold me a locked phone that I could not put a sim card in here.... Bought a new one from a place called The Phone House (is this part of CarPhone Warehouse, I wonder?) that DOES work all over Europe, so it's a French cell phone for now... and will become a Roman in September.
• Oh, I found a BLACK SKETCHBOOK here!!!! Never could find one at home. It's small enough that it can fit in my purse, and it has black pages, which are my fav to doodle on. I am over the top happy!!!!

With that, I'd better go pack, as I really have done more on the blog and wine fronts than on the packing front, and I'd like a good night's sleep before my trip tomorrow (versus maybe 3 hours sleep I got when I left Barcelona, up late drinking beer and shooting the breeze....). All 4 now....

Transition: from Barcelona to Aix-en-Provence

On Thursday, July 30th I set off from Barcelona, Spain to Aix-en-Provence, France. Not the easiest spot to get to: it involved 2 trains and a bus. Well, actually, 3 trains and a bus - and walking.... It was a bit of an adventure that I wrote about in detail in my journal (when one is on the train, there is a lot of time to write....) - but here are some highlights:

• survived the "pigeon poop scam" on my way to get me to the commuter train that would get me to the station where my train would depart Barcelona from... it goes like this: guys pelt you with something (muddy water? tea and oatmeal?) then come to rescue you from the pigeon poop which at this point is all over you (or, in my case, my pack)... they seem genuine enough until they try to help you off with your pack.... uh, no thanks
• with that, and then a track platform change on the commuter train, my time cushion was eaten up and I got my train from Barcelona to Montpellier with 7 minutes to spare... that's actually not bad with a train, but a bit too close to comfort for me
• passport control into France was interesting, as we pulled out of the border station, saw a guy cursing loudly and shaking his head... probably no passport?
• Saw a girl so addicted to her iPod that she stood in the toilet of the 2nd class compartment for at least 30 minutes charging her device using the razor plug (it was a hold-your-breath facility, so I really think she was nuts!)
• upon arrival in Montepellier I met my first pay toilet of this trip... but it was .50E! But it was clean and almost pleasant after the train loo.
• there was 1st class available on the leg from Montpellier to Marseille, which I took and aside of the larger seats, I wondered if it was worth the few extra Euros.... but the loo was mucho better, so, yeah, it's worth it...

Most guide books and web info tell you to take the train from Barcelona to Marseille via Narbonne, but I found that going via Montpellier was about 2 hours faster: a shorter wait between trains, and I think my 2nd train was a high speed one...

On a train platform in Marseille.... so immediately French!

Passed several wind farms in southern France, for some reason I find them very elegant and beautiful....

The Spanish coastline...

Finally, off the trains, just one bus and a walk to go....

• at Marseille, got confused and conflicting directions on where to find the bus to Aix, so wandered around for ages with my heavy pack in the heat..... (why exactly did I want a pack instead of a rolling suitcase? someone remind me....)the bus itself was awesome, cool and took only about 30 minutes
• All I had to do then was phone the guy who was going to let me into the apartment and walk about 5-10 minutes.... but my stupid Spanish phone did not work, the pay phones would not accept my credit cards, and I could not convince anyone (shop owners, people on the streets) to let me make 1 single short local phone call.... sheesh!
• Finally arrived at the building, but no one was going to let me in until I telephoned the guy to come.... regrouped.... and to make a long story short (believe me, it is longer) found a kind woman in a children's clothing shop who let me call and I left a voice mail (being almost an hour later than was anticipated)... the shop lady came out a few minutes later to say Monseiur had called and he would be there in 10 minutes - triumph!!!

Now, some pics from Aix..... This is where I am staying, and below is the sunlight pouring in my kitchen window this morning... (after the morning thunderstorm had cleared....)

My street, and my windows... adjacent to an old chapel...

My windows:

The nearest square in the old town, where I had dinner my first night (crepe place straight ahead) and a drink last night by the fountain (guy in black shirt with the laptop is at "my" table)..

Happy feets in Aix listening to a cello concerto....

Cellists playing in a truly beautiful square, notice the old stcne cobblestones.... and, yeah, the motorcycle at the window too ;-)

I have yet to have pizza from this guy, but when he saw me taking a picture he wanted to be in it! So sweet....

Me and my beer and my doodles and the fountain for last night's beer.... (same square as 4 pics above).... that pint cost me 6.50E! gasp! I am having to be crafty here to eat cheaply....

I bought two small photographs from this gentleman yesteday, his name is Jurek Nems and he is very exciting to talk to, he was going on about the light in France and his joy in what he is able to capture. I will treasure the 2 pics and look forward to framing them wherever and whenver I have a 'home' again....