Vancouver, BC Natural Coastline Meets Modern City and Laurel Learns to Ski,

Family Petrulionis does Vancouver, BC

Sandy off to conferences and scholarly panels

Laurel discovers she is a natural skier

Joe hits the woods

First stop, of course: Vancouver Art Gallery for the exhibition of Chinese Art from the Qing and Ming Dynasties.   Fabulous exhibit, but it understandably permitted no photographs. See more at this Youtube video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZj8UNiV87c&feature=youtu.be&list=PLkHA6Emnw6P__Hofjih45y78QvGOjU2jG

And we recommend you catch this exhibit somewhere!

While there, Laurel took us to see an installation by one of her favorite current artists, Ai Weiwei entitled "Bang."

Also in this collection we were able to see Emily Carr's "Grey" (1930) and Landon Mackenzie's representation of phenomenology, "North Star/Neurostar" 2013.

Then we were all off and running in our own directions.  

Laurel introduces Joe to the delightful taste of raw Sea Urchin, prepared by a master sushi chief.

Laurel Rocks the slopes of Grouse Mountain.

Views from the lift to Grouse Mountain.

Joe and Sandy hit the snowshoe trails around Grouse Mountain

Then back to the City for a walk through a preserved rain forest called "Stanley Park." 

Yes, cedar trees can get very big if you don't cut them down.

Table with a water view, please.

Local oysters!

And the best kept secret in the northern hemisphere. Stephano's in Vancouver. 

(Pssssst:  its about the food!) 

I had dry red wine, calamari, and a lamb roast. Then I went back in the next day and had dry red wine, calamari, and a lamb roast.  I will dream about those roasts for years to come!

"My soul to the Devil for a shoulder of mutton; though it were blood raw not so, good friend. By our lady, I need it well roasted with a good sauce to it, if I pay so dear."

--"The Clown" in Christopher Marlow's The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (1592)