Up to Vancouver - August 2nd-6th 2006

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August 2nd 2006: Airport, Yaletown, False Creek, South Granville, and Fireworks Competition (Czech Republic)

The two movies are videos I took of the Czech Republic's entry into the fireworks competition. The second movie actually happens to be the finale. Viewing them full screen is, of course, best.

There are movies associated with this collection.


Page 1 of 3.
Click on images below to enlarge:
Vancouver Airport
Upon disembarking, travelers are routed through a museum-like display commemorating indigenous peoples. What a cool way to introduce visitors to your region.
This picture was taken for two reasons, only one of which succeeded: Display the mountains visible in the distance from the airport. Show the neat modern architecture of Vancouver airport, constructed from green-gray I-beams making clean, crisp lines.
A large carving (fifteen foot diameter?) framed by a waterfall.
Upon disembarking, travelers are routed through a museum-like display commemorating indigenous peoples. What a cool way to introduce visitors to your region.
This picture was taken for two reasons, only one of which succeeded:
  • Display the mountains visible in the distance from the airport.
  • Show the neat modern architecture of Vancouver airport, constructed from green-gray I-beams making clean, crisp lines.
    • A large carving (fifteen foot diameter?) framed by a waterfall.
    Yaletown
    A snazzy figure directing walkers to stride or mosey across the street. Most signs in Vancouver were like this, though they also had some of the bland type one finds in American cities.
    Lots of little boutiques and stores dotted this street, one of Yaletown's main commercial streets. It didn't seem inviting to me.
    A view east-north-east from Yaletown down Pacific Blvd. The large white balloon-like building in the distance is B.C. Place, Vancouver's main stadium.
    A series of pictures presented on metal meshes. If I recall correctly, the images are created simply by varying the hole size, changing how much light passes through each point. I imagine they'd look great at night when the large light in the foreground is turned on.
    A snazzy figure directing walkers to stride or mosey across the street. Most signs in Vancouver were like this, though they also had some of the bland type one finds in American cities.
    Lots of little boutiques and stores dotted this street, one of Yaletown's main commercial streets. It didn't seem inviting to me.
    A view east-north-east from Yaletown down Pacific Blvd. The large white balloon-like building in the distance is B.C. Place, Vancouver's main stadium.
    A series of pictures presented on metal meshes. If I recall correctly, the images are created simply by varying the hole size, changing how much light passes through each point. I imagine they'd look great at night when the large light in the foreground is turned on.
    False Creek
    View full size. My first view of False Creek from the Yaletown side. See the sliver of water? Notice the nice biking/walking path? A similar path circles the whole creek, though it's usually closer to water and with less grass. All the tall buildings, on both the right and left sides of the image, are residential. Imagine their views!
    View full size. A panoramic view of the waters of False Creek. Also encompasses some of the vaguely ugly 1980s buildings that provide some of the housing in Yaletown and vicinity. The bridge on the left side of the photograph is Cambie Bridge, from which the next photograph was taken.
    View full size. A view east from the middle of Cambie Bridge, a bridge that bisects False Creek. You can see the mountains north and north-east of Vancouver, the geodesic dome that tops Vancouver's Science Museum at the eastern end of False Creek, and the new construction occurring on the south-east side of False Creek.
    There are many residential buildings along the waterfront. I photographed these because I really liked their Spanish-style architecture.
    View full size.
    My first view of False Creek from the Yaletown side. See the sliver of water? Notice the nice biking/walking path? A similar path circles the whole creek, though it's usually closer to water and with less grass. All the tall buildings, on both the right and left sides of the image, are residential. Imagine their views!
    View full size.
    A panoramic view of the waters of False Creek. Also encompasses some of the vaguely ugly 1980s buildings that provide some of the housing in Yaletown and vicinity. The bridge on the left side of the photograph is Cambie Bridge, from which the next photograph was taken.
    View full size.
    A view east from the middle of Cambie Bridge, a bridge that bisects False Creek. You can see the mountains north and north-east of Vancouver, the geodesic dome that tops Vancouver's Science Museum at the eastern end of False Creek, and the new construction occurring on the south-east side of False Creek.
    There are many residential buildings along the waterfront. I photographed these because I really liked their Spanish-style architecture.
    View full size. A panorama toward Vancouver proper from the south side of False Creek. Cambie Bridge is on the very right of the picture. The spot in Yaletown where I took the first two panoramas of/toward False Creek is probably three-quarters of the way to the right in the picture.
    View full size.
    A panorama toward Vancouver proper from the south side of False Creek. Cambie Bridge is on the very right of the picture. The spot in Yaletown where I took the first two panoramas of/toward False Creek is probably three-quarters of the way to the right in the picture.
    South Granville
    A quiet, leafy residential street right off of Granville Street, a main drag (officially a highway) in South Granville, a neighborhood south-west of False Creek. This design -a few large commercial streets flanked by calm residential neighborhoods- is a pattern repeated widely in Vancouver. I like it a lot. It's one thing that makes the city so livable.
    A Muslim-style arts theater.
    A quiet, leafy residential street right off of Granville Street, a main drag (officially a highway) in South Granville, a neighborhood south-west of False Creek. This design -a few large commercial streets flanked by calm residential neighborhoods- is a pattern repeated widely in Vancouver. I like it a lot. It's one thing that makes the city so livable.
    A Muslim-style arts theater.
    West Restaurant
    A view of the kitchen. Notice how it seems like an open kitchen but really all one can see is shoulders-and-up -- one can't actually see what the cooks are doing.
    "Roasted Vancouver Island octopus, red chile, and lemon vinegar cucumber and heirloom tomato salad."
    Seared scallops and smoked corn ravioli on a few scattered peas, chanterelle mushrooms, and lima beans.
    "Salmon ceviche": smoked salmon balls in a refreshing cantaloupe broth, with hints of lemongrass and star anise.
    A view of the kitchen. Notice how it seems like an open kitchen but really all one can see is shoulders-and-up -- one can't actually see what the cooks are doing.
    "Roasted Vancouver Island octopus, red chile, and lemon vinegar cucumber and heirloom tomato salad."
    Seared scallops and smoked corn ravioli on a few scattered peas, chanterelle mushrooms, and lima beans.
    "Salmon ceviche": smoked salmon balls in a refreshing cantaloupe broth, with hints of lemongrass and star anise.
    Chocolate tasting: chocolate nobo tea mousse with lemon wafer (left), Chocolate hazelnut frangelico cake (middle), and chocolate sorbet, vanilla ice cream swirl with lemon meringue kiss (right).
    Complimentary desserts: Raspberry hazelnut chocolate truffle (top) and banana butter cream wafer (bottom).
    Chocolate tasting:
    chocolate nobo tea mousse with lemon wafer (left),
    Chocolate hazelnut frangelico cake (middle),
    and chocolate sorbet, vanilla ice cream swirl with lemon meringue kiss (right).
    Complimentary desserts:
    Raspberry hazelnut chocolate truffle (top)
    and banana butter cream wafer (bottom).
    Fireworks Competition: Czech Republic (also see movies)
    A firework that looks like an electrical storm.
    A firework that looks like an electrical storm.
    Other Nighttime Photos
    An underexposed photo of downtown Vancouver at night.
    A not quite as underexposed photo of downtown Vancouver. The blackness around the edge of the image is because the lens protector wasn't entirely off.
    An underexposed photo of downtown Vancouver at night.
    A not quite as underexposed photo of downtown Vancouver. The blackness around the edge of the image is because the lens protector wasn't entirely off.