It was good to be back in Vancouver at Georgia and Hugh. We got the same rooms as before, and they had taken good care of the belongings, we had left behind.
Granville Island
Much of Granville's charm also comes with the buskers and free street entertainment. They say, that two days are never the same. You'll see anything from magicians to musicians to jugglers on the island. Several festivals are held on the island each year as well including the duMaurier Jazz Festival, the Vancouver International Writers' and Readers' Festival, the Bluegrass Festival, Comedy Festival, New Play Festival and Festival of Lights. In fact this performing is illegal, but I think, that the police would be unpopular, if they insisted to enforce this. We watched a great show by a man from Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. At the same time he was entertaining both kids and adults.
And we talked for hours. As you may know, Enis is my cousin. And we had not met for 41 years, since Enis had emigrated to Canada together with her sister Kirsten and her parents. Enis' mother Frida lives in Kamloops with her husband Karl. Jim was an Alberta boy, grown up in the country side. I think he said, that he had had his first shutgun at the age of 6. Enis had grown up in a concrete environment of a major city (2. biggest in Denmark).
Jim turned out to be a man of tremendous knowledge, spending a lot of time reading history, politics and geography. Every time you made him an answer, his computer started, his left eye twinkled in a funny way - and the you got an exhaustive explanation. And a guy with a fine sense of humour. Before leaving after a great evening/night we had a wonderful book about Vancouver Island as a gift. Unfortunately we had not haven the time to go to Vancouver Island, and Jim promissed to take me there to see Victoria (capital of B.C.), the next time we would come to Vancouver. And we hope that Enis and Jim will come to Denmark. I promise, that I will arrange for some golf!!!
August 28, 1998
On our way from Jandana Ranch we met a huge cattle herd. And believe it or not. We saw some real cowboys. On horseback. No film trick. A few days later Jim told me, that his father actually had worked as a cowboy.
In the afternoon we took the bus downtown to Granville Island. Located on a giant sandbar is a variety of interesting tourist attractions, restaurants and free entertainment. At first we saw Kids Only Market, where youngsters can play to their hearts' delight, laugh at the clowns and have their faces painted. Crowds gather at the Waterfront Theatre to watch acting rehearsals.
The famous Granville Island Market is a tourist attraction. Its a 4,000 square foot (feet?) indoor building, where you can buy seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, poultry, meat, and cheese. Bridges' deck is a great place to go to wave at passing fishermen who are coming or going with their catches. The Arts Club Mainstage and the Arts Club Revue Theatres are located on the west side of the island. After having seen the indoor market place, we sat down outside to have some coffee - and an ice cream. These ice creams are dangerous. First they come double the size as in Denmark. And second the prize is much lower. I'm glad, that I'm not a slave of my stomach. But on the other side, you have to have someting to survive. Birgit noticed, that on the many tables outdoor or on the public benches no people were drinking beer. In most of Europe you would have seen beer and wine on most tables.
Visiting the Bare family
In the afternoon Janet and Claus picked us up and we went to Enis and Jim, who had invited us for dinner. At first Jim was a bit reluctant, because the last (latest?) time, Janet and Claus had visited them, Claus had as we put it in Danish "eaten him out of the house". Enis and Jim lives in a beautiful appartment in Coquitlam, approx. 20 minutes drive south of Vancouver. The house is situated on a hill overlooking the Fraser River. From their lovely terrasse you can see Mount Baker in USA. The appartment was beautifully decorated by Enis, who would have made an excellent interior designer, if she had not became a nurse.
Enis had been to several shops in Vancouver to get typical Danish food. Not only Danish beer and schnaps. But also typical Danish dishes, had she been able to provide. Quite an effort. And as you can see from the photo we had a good time.
Here is a photo, we got of The Bare family.
