Vancouver - A Stroll down Commercial Drive

Described as a culturally rich and authentic neighbourhood, Commercial Drive, also known as "the Drive" is indeed a colourful area, even at 10 o'clock in the morning.  I strolled up and down the street, including the 8 block section identified as "Little Italy" with its own flags and matching sidewalks.  Right beside the Little Italy sign is the Babylon Café, and of course a whole list of other ethnic restaurants lined both sides of the street.  I can imagine this being a great area for dining and unique shopping, with remnants of the original Italian community still around, including a specialty Italian cheese shop, Italian bakery, and restaurant. I've focused on food in the following photos but there are a lot more waiting to be explored another day.

Still a gathering place 

Italian Bakery (delicious scones among other things), Italian cheese shop and an authentic Italian café lined up

Il Mercato - a shopping centre in the core of Little Italy, unfortunately soon to be redeveloped

Italian Restaurant

To top it off, even what looks like a vintage Alfa Romeo to add to the ambiance!

Cuban Restaurant - the Havana

Impressive - even corner café serves Wild salmon soup

Colourful mural outside Vietnamese street food restaurant

What I love about Vancouver - view of mountains everywhere!  This one was taken from Grandview Park on Commercial Drive

Lake Superior Circle Tour Day 9 - Leaving Killarney for home

I was going to end the trip with the night sky at Killarney but changed my mind after viewing my photos from the sunrise the following day - Killarney deserves another post.  I didn't see the actual sunrise but the light from that can be seen from Killarney and the morning glow followed by the subsequent golden hour created an enchanting tableau that's almost painterly.  Here is the sequence, watch the light change.

The light went from the sky onto the landscape
for the golden hour

We went for a short hike on the Lighthouse Trail but turned back because of the bugs.  We did reach the viewpoint where we could see the lake and the huge slabs of pink Georgian Bay granite. To our surprise there was a cruise ship docked in the bay; in fact, when we checked out, the reception staff was all excited about the cruise ship passengers coming to Killarney.  Guess the peace and quiet is not going to last.  Life will certainly change with the coming of cruise ships to the Great Lakes.

Cruise ship on the lake

Pink Georgian Bay granite

I leave Killarney lodge for the homeward journey with a final look at that favourite spot that I returned to time and again, of course now the light has changed and the magic is gone, but it's still a lovely spot, complete with reflection and rocks - what more could I ask for.  

Lake Superior Circle Tour Day 8 - Sault Ste. Marie to Killarney

We were really excited about getting to Killarney, a destination known for its awe-inspiring rocks and landscapes and a last minute decision for us as it wasn't on the Lake Superior route.  Thanks to a dear friend for suggesting this, it was one of the best choices made.  This was what awaited us.

We left Sault Ste. Marie after breakfast and arrived at Killarney before 3 pm.  On the way, we stopped at the Looney monument and the Big Nickel, commemorating the Canadian dollar and the 5 cent nickel, made in Sudbury, home of nickel mining.  In between the two, we stopped at Onaping Falls, another Group of Seven stop.  We only stopped at the Big Nickel for photos as we have all visited Sudbury before and we wanted to get on our way to Killarney.

Looney monument

Onaping Falls

The Big Nickel

Love the rocks that lined both sides of the highway as we approached Killarney

Killarney is on Georgian Bay and is famous for its pink granite, among other things. We arrived  in the late afternoon sun, by the time we've checked in and settled in our lodge room, we did a quick round of photos and then it's time for the golden hour, the perfect time to photograph these breathtakingly beautiful Georgian Bay rocks.  These images were taken at Killarney Mountain Lodge, not in Killarney Provincial Park, that will have to wait for another longer stay.  

The beginning of the golden hour

and then very quickly, it's dusk...

Sunset cast a warm glow on the massive log house

The pink leftover from the sunset quickly turned blue

and then the stars came out...a magical evening to end our trip