Spring in Nanaimo

It looks like it's going to be a rainy long weekend. For all the people who had barbeques last night, you did well. We've had three days of blissful sunshine and warmth and now it returns to the rain and cool for the weekend.

I have no more particular excursions in mind, so I am exploring the city of Nanaimo more thouroughly.

This is the CN train station that is being restored. Big cafuffle in town right now as the government does not want to pay for the track and rail repairs needed to run it safely. Vancouver Islanders (do you say that?) are all riled up as they joined the confederation because of the promise of rail link to the rest of Canada. Now it seems to be lapsing. An interesting argument to watch.

One of the collectables that I've done is all the civic art. For a city this size, there is a fair amount.

The other is old cars. There are lots around. Quite a few that I haven't been able to get pictures of but that I live in hope of seeing again. This city also boasts a large amount of veteran motorcyclists. A lot of silver hair and beards drifting out of helmets, riding exquisite big machines that roar up and down the hills of this neighbourhood.

The Old city quarter, high up from the port area, is charming. Lots of boutiques, restaurants and cafes.

You need to be in good enough shape to get there from the downtown core because it's all uphill.

There is a fabulous food shop with all the most wonderful imports you could ask for. I usually like to call those visits food tourism. At $8.00 for a tiny jar something or other, it's best left on the shelf.

I discovered a Mexican Cantina in the area that is just my favourite style. Run by a man from South Carolina, it has a lovely mixture of hippie and happenin' with what looks like a nice up to date Mexican kind of menu. A good lunch possibility. I wasn't disappointed. The wrap of chicken and beans, with HOT sauce was perfect.

Nanaimo just opened a docking area for cruise ships. The town was flooded with at least a thousand people last week. It was interesting to see the slowly spreading swarm coming from the area where the Gabriola ferry docks. It's all been a good economic boost to the city.

Spring flowers are everywhere. The flowering shrubs are coming into their own just as the flowering trees end.

This is broom.

For an easterner like me, seeing things like holly bushes is still a novelty, whereas here, they are common in people's gardens. Varieties that go from your Christmas card dark green leaves with red red berries, to the variegated varieties. For you non-gardeners, variegated means two toned leaves. Anyway, they're all prickly! There are also a lot of exotics that can survive here because of the tempered climate.

I've been down to the Piper's Cove to see how the bald eagle couple are doing and I think there are nestlings as the activity level was high. The male went off, plucked a sizeable fish out of the ocean and brought it back to the nest. There was a lot of ripping and tearing going on, but I was at too low a level to see if they were feeding babies or not.

The one interesting animal I have seen here seems to be a Nanaimo specialty. Black rabbits. I've seen them all over town.

I've been told that there is an otter that can sometimes be seen right down in the docks area. I wonder if he lives close by or like all the animals, he has a wide shopping area that is covered every day. I hope to get a glimpse of him as that is another animal that is on my wish list.

Nanaimo has what is probably the largest number of second hand book stores I've ever seen. This is a good thing on a day like today as I've run out of reading matter (to hold in my hands). I have one that I downloaded from the Toronto library this morning. I don't mind reading from the computer at night. No light in the room needed. If it's cold though (the house has the heating turned off) it is not comfortable.

Nanaimo is a pretty nice place, all in all.