Armistice Sunday

Armistice day in Canada.
Vancouver and Canada take Armistice day very seriously. Their poppy is slightly different and nicer than ours in the UK. Sellers have been out for the last week on the street from young kids to veterans in uniforms. There have been parades in Vancouver and the minutes silence observed at 11am. This evening, the days remembrance events were reported extensively on the Television.

Circle Craft
The 2007 Christmas Circle Craft Exhibition held a Canada Place on the edge of False Creek and Coal Harbour in Downtown Vancouver. Canada Place was built for the 1986 Expo. It stands in the harbour behind the Pan Pacific Hotel and houses an Imax cinema as well. Being a Sunday the drive into Downtown Vancouver wasn't too bad and we parked under Canada Place. Parking's cheap compared to the UK and London $15 all day that's about 7pounds 50p.

For over 30 years, every November, thousands of people converge under the sails at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre to buy direct from over 230 craftspeople representing every province across Canada.

This exhibition is one of the biggest craft exhibitions I've seen. Each craft display booth was decorated with white LED Christmas lights to add to the festive air. One end of the center was separated and formed a restaurant ans seating area. Each table had a white cloth with a red center cloth and a Christmas decoration. The food served was freshly cooked and good. There was a stage to one end where entertainment was continuous throughout the exhibition. When we were there, eating, the entertainment was provided by young people playing duets on two grand pianos.

There were beautifully designed fashions with fabulous fabrics and wools. Some of the most exquisitely fine felted wools on silk and rayon that I've seen, made into innovative designs. Jewelery designers and Silver Smiths. Potters with beautiful studio pottery. Artists with their paintings and prints. Photographers, chocolatiers and candy makers, spices, jams and jellies. Such and array of beautiful items the only downside was they were all very expensive. I did buy some brushed silver earrings with designs inspired from ancient coins. I also bought some new stamps for my Christmas cards this year.

The view from the deck of the Convention Center looking across Coal Harbour and Stanley park to North Vancouver. This is a beautiful scean on a fine day and in the sunshine but today was cloudy and damp and the mountaind across in north vancouver shrouded in mists.

This second Convention center across from Canada Place is still a building shell. It was started in 2005 and when we were here then Canada Place echoed to the noise of the pile driving in the sea for the foundations of this building