Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
This stand in the Toronto airport caught my eye last fall, mostly because I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen anything remotely like it.
I wonder: Can you still find them in the lobbies of big city buildings? Does anyone go to them? Can anyone make a living shining shoes?
Today I’m sharing a couple of shots of Fan Tan Alley in Victoria, B.C. Located in Victoria’s Chinatown, it was once a gambling district with shops and opium dens. Although it widens in the middle, at its narrowest point it is only 35 inches (.9 metres) wide.
As we left the alley some young people were filming a movie.
I’m wrapping up my 2013 encores with three shots I took away from home. The photo above is from a marsh at Ocean City State Park in southern Washington last September.
This shot was also taken at Ocean City State Park. The Washington State Parks website picked up my two Ocean City posts from last September and reposted them on their blog in November.
And, finally, “Guess where I went to celebrate my birthday.”
We went to Victoria, B.C. late last week. They’re sharing our current cold weather with a notable exception: We’ve not (yet) had snow – they did, a good part of the day we arrived, Thursday. It was enough to thoroughly dust our Thursday night destination, Butchart Gardens, with a magical, seasonal white shroud. I’ll share some shots of our Victoria travels from time to time in the coming days.
Roissy was a wonderful discovery for our last night in France. I’d forgotten one thing on my “to eat” list: crepes. So we were tickled to find this restaurant specializing in crepes, warm and lively when we returned in the evening. A perfect last dinner.
As old and atmospheric as Roissy was it didn’t provide a full on escape from contemporary culture. I had a laugh as I discovered this shop in the center of Roissy: tattoos and piercings. Yeah. Much as I was tempted, I resisted a final souvenir, that “I (heart) Paris” tat. Maybe next time.
When it came time to head for home we skipped the anxiety of a morning drive to the airport in predictable urban traffic. I found a hotel with a shuttle located not far from the airport for our last night in France. Not bad so far. Once we found our way there we discovered ourselves in a hotel version of a small, sterile strip mall: a string of nondescript hotels near a highway. Our hotel only served breakfast and we were overdue for lunch. With advice from the front desk, we headed up a short hill in search of a meal at a neighboring hotel. That done, we had hours of daylight and no appetite for boredom. We headed for the sidewalk (on one side of the street only) to stretch our legs before folding them up on a long transAtlantic flight.
We walked several blocks before we emerged into the medieval town of Roissy. A stone’s throw from our hotel, this pretty little town seems to stand as a bulwark against the anonymous modern hotels nearby. Cobblestone streets, stone buildings, and the lovely church above. It was just the ticket for winding down from the bustle of Paris. A couple more shots of Roissy tomorrow and then I’ll return to Sequim.
One last look at the Eiffel Tower.
Stay tuned for some last shots of Roissy, a small medieval village better known for the Charles de Galle Airport next door.