Aidan's Mothers Day Card shows best intentions....
Traveling along the new billion dollar highway from Vancouver to Whistler is now like going through the German Alps on its ultra smooth Autobahn, wheezing by snow blanketed peaks in all their sun-kissed splendor. Much later, as are sunning ourselves, having Mothers Day breakfast by the boardwalk through Whistler village, it all feels like I’m in a 80’s flashback! The young things are loping by, all rosy health and happiness in Buggles Rayban’s, black leggings and leather knee-high boots, splashed with the occasional neon blast of pinks and greens. It’s like I’m 22 again! Drinking in the moving wall paper before me, reminded me of the article I read in ‘The Walrus’ magazine: ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Gary Stephen Ross (March 2010), gives a portrait of Vancouver as it is today. One does get the sense, especially after the Olympics, that our city is just on the cusp of coming into its own in the world. Ross compares Vancouver to a young girl he once met in his youth: ‘….undeniably radiant, proud to attracting attention not quite sure how to deal with it…’. I have to agree with Anthony Perl, head of Urban Studies at Simon Fraser University that we do lack certain amenities that make cities, great cities such no broad pedestrian promenade. These encourage people watching, the chance of the unexpected encounter and has the positive side effect of creating harmony in mixed communities through tolerance and acceptance.
The Promenade along Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico
I witnessed this clearly on a recent holiday to Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico. This historic town has a broad walk along its main street which overlooks the ocean. It was lovely to walk down one evening, to see significant public art on display, peruse the stalls, and see artist at work and play entertaining tourists and locals alike. All with a sense that the apparent violent drug wars was very much elsewhere and out of sight (on the same weekend that 20 locals were shot in crossfire between the Army and the Cartels midday, 10 hour drive south in Acapulco).
Life in awe of the artist.....
Although when Ross contents that flying into our airport ‘YVR serves up to arriving visitors a brief parody of Northwest coast culture.’, he obviously hasn’t, or he fail to highlight some of the eyesores I’ve flown into in the US. Los Angeles airport’s 70’s beige scheme with coffee stained curling carpets hardly invites one upon arrival either…..
FYI: A Tale of Two Cities can be read online here:
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2010.03-society-a-tale-of-two-cities/1/
Hastings Folk Gardens, East Eastings and Columbia Streets
Anyhoo – for now: peeeeeaaaaaacccccceeeee out sisters!
skinnyscronnybrit.com 