Capilano Suspension Bridge & Lunch

So Ed and I found a break in our schedules and managed to arrange another meet! This time we met up at Lonsdale Quay, and then went walking around to find somewhere to go eat some lunch.
Here’s his seabus coming in!

We ended up at Jagerhof Schnitzel House. The food was really good, it had been a while since I’d had a parma!
They had lots of stuff up on the walls like antlers and plates, creating a kinda homely feel.

This was my meal – a parmigiana special. The chicken was crispy and the sauce was really nice.

And here’s what Ed had to eat when he was taking a photo of my meal hahaha. It’s funny when two people who both blog meet up – especially with Ed as he takes so many photos. I take more of nature but he likes the people shots more.

And then dessert! We shared a ‘death by chocolate’ but it was a small piece so really we could have had one each.

So with full stomachs we headed to the bus stop to get the bus up to Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was pretty expensive, at more than $30! I have done the Lynn Canyon Bridge and I found it just as good and it is free!! But this is one of those things that you have to try out when you’re a tourist.

They had people dressed up in ‘old timer’ uniforms and were advertising the colonial days.
There were lots of totem poles around, I have seen quite a few now.

Then we found a bear that had stolen a mounties uniform! hahaha.

Thats me pretending to be dead.
And then the bear decided to nibble on Ed’s hand.

Ok so, enough with the silly stuff and onto the reason we had come. THE BRIDGE!

It’s hard to get perspective but it was a looong way up. Really high! And when you walk across it it shakes a lot!

They also have a treetop walk you can do, which is fun!

It looks really pretty down in the canyon but I dont know if you can get down there or not. Certainly not from where we were – it was way too steep!

After checking out a bit of the nature walk and watching some squirrels we walked back across the bridge and went to see what else we could do to get our $30 worth! I asked this guy for some help.

And he led me to this big checkers board, where I challenged Ed to a duel!
Round one featured us both being defensive with our checkers and that lead to nowhere to go. We hit a stalemate!!

What to do?

Start again!

We lined up all the checkers again and round two started off with a bang, and as the colors went around the board it looked a bit like this. And yes, I am red!!!

Another win to Alesha! hahaha yay! And another fun adventure with Ed. When we got back to Lonsdale Quay I got him to try a beaver tail and he LOVED IT! Hehehe. It’s always fun when being a tourist gets locals to try something new.

North Shore, mail and creating.

After speaking of my love for first nations culture I found myself invited along to brunch with some family friends at a place called Tomahawk Restaurant. It was a total coincedence that we ended up there as someone else had chosen the location but I was blown away. There were carvings and photos and basically any first nation thing you could think of on the walls. It was a great introduction. Apparently there are a few festivals and cultural things that go on right near where we are that I can go along to. Oh also it looks like I might get to go to the roller derby next month! 🙂 I actually just saw whip it on the plane to Japan – so thats pretty awesome.

After brunch we went to the “dog park” on North Shore.

It’s just basically a walkway near the water where people walk, skate and take their dogs off the leash. Everyone talks to each other and the dogs love it!

I still cant get over those mountains.

I am loving the sun, I want to bottle it up and take it with me.

I got a photo of the yellow buses!

I realise that most of this stuff probably isnt interesting to a lot of people but hey, it is to me! It’s all new and sparkly. hehe.

So then Georgia took me to this shop.

The only Tommy Haas I know is a tennis player – but apparently this one is a famous pastry chef and chocolate maker and the place was PACKED! There is a macaroon upstairs with my name on it!

So then when I got home I started creating some things.

Georgia reckons I’ll be able to sell my creatures easily, so we’ll see! It’s fun to make some more anyway.

Oh and I have some mail to send out!

I have seven parcels to send to 7 special people – hopefully I’ll get to the post office to mail them very soon! Keep your eyes peeled, my friends and family!!

Back to creating!

Dont worry about me, I’m in a new part of town

Alrighty!! I am all moved in and unpacked, and to look at my wardrobe I really dont know where it all went! I’m glad I packed two big knit cardigans though (probably explains some of the space) as I can wear them now! It’s amazing when you think of your life in a suitcase (or two) – and you unpack and think about everything you have brought along and whether you made the right decision or not. I think I did- overall. I’m just going to have to do more washing than I’m used to – but I can work with that.

My homestay family are really nice! I’ll admit that I was a little worried (as per normal I suppose) but they have been lovely and welcoming. Georgia introduced me to the food cupboards and living with a chef has its benefits I must say!!!!!!! You dont have to worry mum, I’ll be eating very well. Snacks included!! They have a little dog who is a bit hyper – but I’m ignoring her in the hopes that she will calm down soon. She hasnt bothered me in my room so thats half the battle!

Speaking of my room – wanna see some photos? Yeah I know you do.

Decorated already? Me? Yeah you can count on it!

Apparently that is satelite tv, but I need to ask how to use it as I cant seem to figure it out.

The taps are weird over here, and the toilet bowls seem to be a LOT bigger. Wider but shorter. They seem to hold a lot of water and then they flush weirdly too. All the water completely goes and then it fills back up again.

I’m not going to show you a photo of the toilet!

This is my soaker tub and shower

After I’d got settled I went out the back of my place and down the green belt.
I saw my first squirrel!!! He was too quick for me to get a photo.

North Vancouver is a beautiful place, and it’s a lot closer to the city than I thought. I dont know how I’m going to go in winter here though, I’ll be honest. Even though the sun was out today and it wasnt windy there is this cold in the air that almost takes your breath away. It’s a little bitter. Maybe I’ll grow into it!

I went down to the local superstore supermarket thingy. It’s like a combination of big w and the old bilo supermarkets. You should see the size of the small toothpaste – its like family size! They certainly do things a lot bigger in North America!!

I still havent seen the two aisles of chocolate bars though – maybe thats just in America. Probably a good thing, dont need to be tempted! Hehe. I’m still finding it a little strange being in another country. It’s been a week since I’ve been home now and you’d think I’d be used to it. I find myself walking along and I’ll see a big yellow school bus and I’ll do a double take. It’s like I have to open my eyes again as things start to blend in. I can see someone walking along and then when they speak in a Canadian accent I have to do another double take. It’s like I have to keep telling myself ‘hang on, you’re not at home here. You’re in Canada! Things are different.’ Its unusual I know, but maybe it’ll be different in time. Then again I AM unusual so maybe it’s just right hehehe.

A bit later the babysitter came around (not for me, for their 4 y.o son) and we got to chatting over dinner. She was so lovely and even though she is only 14 I think I made a friend. One down, several more to go!
Lovely!