Beautiful British Columbia - Vancouver and Whistler.

Surprisingly, our recent scheduled break from a busy season was not a beach vacation, which we both enjoy. This trip, in retrospect, reignited our sense of discovery and sense of adventure. The backdrop and frame of the week, which became our quiet partner, was the climate, which was full of soft rain, cold, damp days, sunshine, and gray skies. How beautiful the change was from the desert climate, which, as you know, can be searingly hot. We arrived in Seattle and drove to Vancouver. The city is full of beautiful, tall, blue-glass apartment buildings, varied neighborhoods, and all the positive and not-so-positive aspects that allow you to ponder. We both agreed that the civility and care shown by public services to the unhoused was to be commended and modeled. The full spectrum of a city is for all to see, and I believe that exploration from an outsider is a reflection of each of us and how we treat each other.

Totems, bikes, walking, Whistler, and, of course, food were on the agenda. The city is vibrant, and we admired the tall trees in Stanley Park. We spent a full day driving around, checking out different bakeries, both vegan and non-vegan. I must say that the vegan scene in Vancouver is very positive. There are plenty of vegan restaurants and bakeries to visit. Here is a short list of places we went to eat at and check out: ChickPea Restaurant, Folke, MeeT in Gastown, Veggie Bowl, PureBread Bakery + Coffee, Tommy's Whole Grain Bakery, A Bread Affair, Simit Bakery and Cafe, Terra Breads, To Live For Bakery, Bahar Bakery, Chez Nous Bakery and Coffee, Bred in Whistler, Jinya Ramen Bar, Level V Bakery, Temper Chocolate, and Pastry.

Our Friday night date while on vacation was checking out the Vancouver Symphony with Geneva Lewis, conducted by Giordano Bellincampi. Fantastic seats on the floor, and Mozart's Violin Concerto #3 in G Major "Strassburg". Geneva was elegant and knew all four sections, from Allegro to Allegretto, without any sheet music. Amazing. Stunning. Bravo.

We are looking forward to our next adventure, scouting and discovering more.

At the Orpheum Theatre