Vancouver and Culture on the Beach

Having returned to Vancouver from Prince George - which was a fabulous trip over the Coastal Mountains and snow-topped glaciers - we met Marian and Margaret at the airport and headed back to Marian's house.

Monday was also the return journey for the Canadian Athletes so we anticipated that the airport could be busy but as we were arriving in the domestic terminal, there were no delays.

After a restful afternoon and some more photo downloads from the previous few days, we headed to Romer's Burger Bar to meet Marian's friends Donna and Joanne who were about to go on an Alaskan cruise when we last saw them. It was great to catch up and sample the most amazing gourmet burgers which were accompanied with just about what ever you desired!

The lack of sleep the night before ensured that we slept very well indeed!

On Tuesday we headed to Metrotown for a little retail therapy and then took the Sky Train, which has been significantly extended after the 2010 Winter Olympics. We walked downtown towards the waterfront to Canada Place and the Waterfront which always affords amazing views across to North Vancouver and then strolled to Gastown just in time for the Steam Clock to chime. After a light lunch and a bit more retail therapy (particularly in Sears whose sale even included the fixtures and fittings of the store), we took a short bus journey to Kitsilano Beach where we met Marian at The Boathouse for dinner.

Had to photograph him!

Bard on the Beach - The Taming of the Shrew

After some fantastic fish, we walked to Vanier Park for Bard on the Beach - Vancouver's annual Shakespeare Festival where we saw The Taming of the Shrew in purpose-built theatre tent with side stalls and every facility you find in conventional theatre - it is quite a feat to mastermind in an outdoor venue and the set was equally impressive. During the season, the company play multiple roles in the productions (currently Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, King John and The Merry Wives of Windsor). The company's interpretation was very much in the style of Commedia dell'arte and there were also some lovely nuances in the monologues in the later scenes. A fabulous evening which Marian enhanced even further by giving a night tour of the Vancouver lights.

On Wednesday, we hope to visit Grouse Mountain again and pay a visit to Coola and Grinder (my favourite orphaned Grizzlies) to see how much they've grown in the last three years!

Olympic Torch - 2010 Winter Olympics