Canada Getaway - Part II Vancouver

Our vacation to Canada was earlier in September, but the sights and sounds are quick to the memory forefront as I remember pristine coastal waters back dropped by impressive mountains, parks and gardens within a busy, metro city. The place - Vancouver, British Columbia was the second stop on our six-day vacation. As always, we didn't have enough time to experience what's listed in the guide books, but what we saw was more than worth the price of the favorable monetary exchange rate.

Our brief stay was picture weather perfect with sunny skies and mild temperatures - not at all like the locals description of mostly rain, then some more rain, followed by a drizzle, then a downpour and more rain. It made me wonder if people had to dust off their sandals instead of wearing their usual galoshes and gor-tex. My water resistant light hikers worked out just right for all the city gawking and Stanley Park exploring one can do in two and a half days.

We arrived to Vancouver via ferry from Victoria, B.C. where we started our Canadian vacation. The witty bus driver from downtown Victoria drove us right on to the massive ferry - we were the first bus on and first bus off, he must know people. The ninety minute ferry was a like a smooth flight in first class, only the seating was for hundreds. 

The ferry had six decks, restaurants, a game room, shopping and plenty of space on the outside decks to breathe in the views or stare at your mobile device, which is what the locals were doing. Upon arrival to the Tsawwassen Ferry outside of Vancouver, we re-boarded the bus for a quick thirty minute ride through scenic downtown. With a friendly farewell we were dropped a block from our hotel.

Do you remember that feeling of unexpectant joy as a kid when you walked by the candy shelf in the grocery store with your Dad and he says it's okay to buy something? Then he smiles and hands you fifty cents (hey, I grew up in the 60s when that was a lot of moola). 

That's the jubilant surprise Glen and I felt as we walked by the Vancouver Art Gallery on our way to the hotel. Guess what exhibit was showing (not hard to guess, you see the photo). It couldn't have been scripted better for a gardener and lover of impressionist art - Claude Monet's Secret Garden.

Needless to say, we checked in to our hotel quickly and dashed over to the exhibit where we ended up spending about the best three hours of any vacation.

Ian M. Thom, Senior Curator–Historical at the Vancouver Art Gallery, couldn't have said it better. "This exhibition presents thirty-eight paintings spanning the course of Monet’s long career from the unparalleled collection of the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris. It surveys the diversity of subjects in his art, from the portrayal of modern life in his early figure studies to the inventive treatment of light in his scenes of the Parisian countryside and views of the River Thames." I simply say "we hit the Monet exhibit jackpot!"

'Water Lily Garden' 1918-1919

Luckily for us this exhibit had been showing for several months and was leaving in October, so we were able to gape and gaze mostly unobstructed and unhurried.  
  
What's so contemplative about viewing artists like Monet is there's just no way you'll not like his painting style (sorry if I'm being presumptuous). But we were looking at Monet, after all, the father of impressionism! It almost felt like I was a spy in to his private garden and seeing how he viewed it on both good and bad days, and perhaps during his few years of frustration with his eyesight.

In case you don't know - Monet suffered from cataracts and was diagnosed with this condition in 1912. He underwent surgery in 1923. Often, people who struggle with cataracts have color vision and clarity issues, perhaps reflected in his 1921-1922 'Weeping Willow' painting?

'Weeping Willow'

  
You can imagine how thrilled we were viewing and studying each of his thirty-eight paintings. 

We were almost asked to leave the exhibit area before closing. 

Scroll down to see some of my favorites.

'Wisteria'

The painting titled 'Wisteria' (1919-1920) was large and so beautiful that I stood there frozen and blinkless. I think this was the painting where Glen had to let me know that I couldn't move in to the gallery. 

'Taking a Walk Near Argenteuil' 1875

'Field of Yellow Irises at Giverny' 1887 
                    

'Roses' 1925-1926     It's not often I get to stand so close to a Claude Monet masterpiece!

I'll end the Vancouver story here - even though we had a terrific time slow pedaling around Stanley Park plus an afternoon exploring VanDusen Botanical Garden - perhaps a future blog? 

A quick morning flight back to Denver gave us plenty of time to stop by the dog sitter and pick up our happy, but tired from a week of play - Ferris.