Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The uncommon decency of bed and breakfast guests.


People who choose to stay in bed and breakfasts are a particularly nice kind of human being. After twenty years in this business and many more in this world, I am certain of that fact.

Regrettably, too many people aspire to a five star, gold-plated lifestyle. They spend their lives trying to add more and more material possessions to build a mountain of happiness. Others start off in their egotistical youth to chase merit and too soon, that transforms into more prestige and more power - always the next degree, the next job title, the next spouse. Others just settle for craving attention, never missing an opportunity to oppose, to whine and complain. In all of these lives, a sense of complexity and confusion mounts with every passing year. People know deep down that energy and precious time are being wasted but they just don't stop and smell the roses.

On the other hand, "Bed and Breakfasters' or "B & Bers" are individuals who have learned some very important life lessons, maybe through maturity, perhaps as old souls. B & Bers know that in life - love always trumps ambition. Think about that.

These are folks who have realized that it is the people we meet and how we treat them that counts in the long run. Practicing kindness day by day leads to a satisfying life of compassion and understanding. These are the people who embrace the many small joys of living. Bed and Breakfasters are the people who recognize the charms of a well tended garden, the character of a heritage home, the attention to detail in a home-based business.

These are my guests. People who appreciate a comfortable night's sleep, a fine cup of coffee and meeting new friends round the breakfast table.

Friday, May 7, 2010

A grey whale swims into downtown Vancouver!

A forty-foot grey whale was sighted off of Stanley Park on Wednesday morning. Shortly thereafter, the whale cruised alongside the downtown, West End, swam under the Burrard and Granville Island bridges and astonished thousands of onlookers at Granville Island Market. The mature adult male grey slowly circled the length of the salt-water False Creek estuary as far as the Science Museum and the Olympic Village. Coast Guard and Vancouver Aquarium boats ran defense for the whale and several hours later escorted him back to the deeper waters of English Bay. On Thursday, he was spotted overnight taking one last look at the downtown condos and then wandered off to join the thousands of his mates moving north for summer feeding off the coast of Alaska.

Check out this video for some of Vancouver's downtown whale-watching.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Deflating Vancouver's Domed Stadium

Vancouver has deflated the world's largest, air-supported dome. Home to the BC Lions football franchise, numerous trade shows and mega-concert events, since it opened in 1982, this 60,000 seat stadium recently hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. But this Tuesday, May 4th, the 16 giant fans were turned off and the 10 acre teflon-coated fibreglass roof sagged like a spent balloon. In only 48 minutes, the city skyline was changed forever.

Check out the time-lapsed video to see the changes.


And check back in the fall of 2011 for the new $458 million dollar "crown" - a steel and cable retractable roof. Here is the vision.