A Very Fishy Day

Sunday November 4th
The clocks reverted to Standard time from Daylight Saving time last night. This year Canada has followed America's lead in changing the time patterns. Last spring the change to Daylight Saving time was made three weeks earlier. Reverting back to standard time was one week later. This was part of President Bushes effort to save energy. WhoopyDo! The dynamics of the decision are complicated and debatable. Anyway we should have had an extra hour in bed. Shame no informed Sam and Toby.
10 am see us waiting at the bus stop for the bus to Richmond Center as we've decided to take advantage of the sun and go to Stanley Park. It takes three buses to get to the park. One to Richmond Center, one to Downtown and the third one to Stanley Park. The last bus took some finding as the stops have been changed. We stopped at a Tim Horton's for a hot chocolate and a bag of Tim Bits (mini doughnuts) and got hassled by one of Vancouver's street beggars wanting money for food.
Stanley Park was Vancouver's first public recreational park created from a tract of wilderness land on a small peninsular in 1886. The land was originally the home to Musqueam and Squamish First Nation People It was officially opened in 1888 by the Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley and named Stanley Park.
On this cold but sunny Sunday the park was busy with cyclist, joggers, skaters and families taking advantage of the sunshine. Autumn is slowly giving way to winter and the leaves are thick on the ground. A severe wind storm, (gale to us!) on December 15th last year 2006 damaged 45 hectaes of land and 2 Kilometers of seawall. There is still evidence of the damage last winters storms did to some of the ancient trees in the park. Restoration work is underway through the park

Outside of the Aquarium families and groups are gathering to go in. We stop and debate whether or not we should visit the Aquarium. We haven't been for over 21 years so we decide to go in.

There have been great changes made in the Aquarium in the last decade. The emphasis is now on research and conservation. A Ocra killer whale use to be the star attraction but he had to be shipped to a larger sanctuary in the States. Four white Beluga whales are now in residence and an ongoing study and research program is taking place in the Aquarium and the oceans. I feel uncomfortable with the shows put on by the aquarium staff with the belugas and dolphins but I also they attract people and therefore revenue to continue with important research and conservation.

The underground public area of the aquarium has been enlarged and the educational opportunities of the space maximised especially for children. Children and their families mill around everywhere gazing into giant tanks of reinforced glass all designed to be as near to the species natural habitat as possible.
Later we walk around the some of the sea wall around Coal Harbour taking advantage of the late afternoon sun. There have been many more change to the cities skyline in the two years since we were last here. More high glass buildings fill the gaps, apartments and offices. The conference centre built in the sea near the Pacific Place is finished. The foundations were being pile driven in 2005

Mindful of the time changes today we find the buss back to Vancouver and Richmond. At 5pm Downtown Vancouver is still busy and shops still open. As we travel over the Burrard bridge the sun is setting in a spectacular way over the sea at English bay. The glass covered high rise apartments are bathed in the orange and red reflections of this evenings glorious sunset.