Showing posts with label British Columbia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British Columbia. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

View: Lion's Gate Bridge


Lion's Gate Bridge, Vancouver

Vancouver, BC, is a beautiful city. It's a fascinating mix of Native North American/Pacific Northwest, Europe, China and even a little Japan. You see it in the architecture, the artwork, the people, and the amazing scenery. The sky plays a big part in Vancouver life -- the beautiful cloud formations on the mountains overlooking the water, the way it dips down to say hello to the tall buildings, the rain it sends down to the streets.


This photograph is of the Lion's Gate Bridge that leads north out of downtown Vancouver. This image is for sale in my shop on Etsy.com.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Details: Granville Island, Vancouver, BC





A drizzly day in Vancouver last week included a visit to Granville Island. A very inspiring place for anyone and everyone who appreciates creativity and who finds inspiration in the small things. Go there. Walk around. See and enjoy.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Now, All I Need Is a Bottle of Wine....


Easy to find in Steveston. Or, just follow your nose.




Nikolai's hand-built bread oven. It took him about a year to complete it.
You can try a sample of bread. But remember to say, "please."

Polished wood floors; appropriately-flour-dusted workspaces.



Take a look at the finished product. It's still warm after being out of the oven for an hour.



Pride in workmanship.

It was the warm aroma of freshly-baked bread that drew us into the door of the Romanian Country Bread Bakery in Steveston, BC, Canada. Inside, Nikolai Constantin seemed to be waiting for us as we walked inside his shop. We needed something to accompany our smoked tuna, and here it was. Although we were a bit shocked at the price -- $10C per loaf -- we paid it and were glad we did. The crust was the perfect combination of crusty and chewy, and the bread inside was just soft enough, yet it had just the right texture to stand on its own. Nikolai might be the world's most perfectionist baker, and he takes immense pride in putting out a superior loaf. It took him nearly a year to complete the brick oven in the shop, and he did it himself. His loaves take around 24 hours from start to finish, and the proof is in the finished product. We are quite certain this loaf of bread could truly sustain someone as a perfect food.

All Nikolai needs now is some jars of jam and a coffee pot to make his shop complete!

P.S. He's got a sign that says "No Photography", but he waives this rule if you buy a loaf from him.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

On a Clear Day






The sun shone in Vancouver yesterday, and we headed over to Steveston for a walk along the fishing pier and through the little village. Our camera found a fisherman and his boat tied up to the dock. While we negotiated on the price of a piece of smoked tuna, he and his dog posed for a few snaps. This gentleman came to Canada from Poland 40 years ago. He is a commercial fisherman and sells his catch to local fish stores. His dog, Skipper, is just that -- the boat's skipper -- while our fisherman refers to himself as the first mate.
Tomorrow: we buy some handmade bread from an artisinal baker in Steveston to go with the smoked tuna.