Vancouver tour day #2

I spent most of yesterday canning with Cory, how fantastic to spend the day together! We made pickled apples and shallots in balsamic with juniper and peppercorns...a recipe Cory found that definitely intrigued me!

I think they turned out fabulous, from an early test on burgers last night. These flavors are going to mellow and meld beautifully.

So today, we started off at the salt caves in North Vancouver. You can get a massage in the cave, where the walls, floors and ceiling are all lined with salt. Breathing the air is meant to be therapeutic, beneficial for the respiratory system as well as the immune system and reducing stress. It's a lovely relaxing space with salt grains crunching underfoot like coarse sand and the gentle glow of Himalayan salt lit from within.

I loved it and had a really expert perfect massage. Brad has a masseuse with too light of a touch, unfortunately.

From there we crossed the always busy Lions Gate Bridge and through Stanley Park. Our goal is the Roedde House Museum. Parking in the west end is challenging to say the least, and we find a spot on Robson, having to walk back a few blocks in the rain.

We forget being cold and wet as soon as we arrive at the museum. It's a Victorian built for the Roedde family in 1893. Mr Roedde was the first book binder in Vancouver, coming here from Leipzig Germany. The architect was Francis Rattenbury who famously also designed the Parliament Building in Victoria as well as the stately Empress Hotel. The house is cozily welcoming and beautifully restored to as close to its original condition.

Being at first the only guests to brave a dark and rainy day, we are treated to a personal private tour. The docent who guided us gave background information and stories of the family. She was so well versed in this family's history and gave us tales of family scandals, tragedies and successes, along with descriptions of life in Vancouver at that time. A most excellent tour, thoroughly enjoyed.

We were eventually joined by a young couple from France on a world tour starting on the west coast of Canada, and ended with a most interesting discussion of local history and attractions with another volunteer.

On the way back to the car, I realized we were parked by the Greenbrier hotel. Many more years back than I care to count, we would occasionally stay there when visiting old family friends from Port Alice days.

A short drive and a quick stop on Granville for a late lunch at El Furniture Warehouse. Good food and prices that seem more like a decade ago make the more updated music more bearable, and we're proficiently served by a friendly young man from London.

So homeward bound through rush hour traffic again, to be greeted by a disgruntled Sam and Seven. As seniors, they really don't appreciate this disruption to their routines 😅Lue lisää