This morning, my camera and I headed to
New Westminster for some uphill walking and exploring. After leaving the sky train, I had to go a bit off route on seeing this amazing building - the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an Anglican Church founded in 1859. This is the back view, but it's still, as I've been teaching Chris to say, spec-tac-u-lar. If you come visit and want to go to church, this is where I will take you. I will probably stay with you, too.
Around the side ...
... and to the front. I think the back view is the best, though.
After walking through the churchyard, and coming out on another street, I find the
Academic Distribution Services , a teachers' store - however since the opening hours are 9 to 5, and they are closed on Saturdays and Sundays I don't see how teachers can drop in and browse. They do on-line shopping though, which as far as I'm concerned isn't nearly as exciting as hands-on ... but if you know a teacher, please pass it on!
Come on,
Daffodils- get blooming! This loooong winter would have
William Wordsworth anxious for spring too.
As I walked uphill I passed this sign on a nightclub door. There are lots of TV series being filmed in the lower mainland -
The Killing is on its way to its third season - I've never seen it, though.
Also on the door is the Status' dress code. I probably won't be going in but it looks like a lot of other people won't be either.
However - checking their
web site and finding this kind of stuff going on Saturday nights, my arm could be twisted.
I'm not sure why anyone who lives in New Westminster would pay money to join a gym - with 2.2 km of uphill to walk, run or bike several times a day, you should get pretty fit pretty fast for free - unless of course you dropped dead of a heart attack.
Oh oh, looks like someone else's daugher-out-law got her learner's licence ...
New Westminster has a lot of history - this is one of two 24 pounder field Howitzers which arrived in New Westminster in 1866 on board the
HMS Sparrowhawk. They were used for training and local defense until 1873 by the Seymour Artillery Company, a predecessor of
The Royal Westminster Regiment.
A city that honours its ancestors is tops in my book - this memorial is in a field of crocuses.
What a beautiful setting - if you look closely you can see the little purple crocuses (croci?) popping from the grass.
No this tree isn't holding Christmas or Chinese New Year decorations - these are seed pods still hanging since fall. Isn't it (Aren't they) amazing?
This plaque is on the side of
The Royal Westminster Regiment -
- a massive building on the corner of Queens Avenue and 6th Street.
A beautiful display of
heather. Isn`t it
pure dead brilliant?
Lots of downhill means lots of uphill.
Another beautiful old house - it's been converted to a catering company and an Italian restaurant.
Or if you're more into
Schnitzel - try the
Old Bavaria Haus Restaurant - they offer 16 different varieties of it.
My lunch-time tummy craved something a bit more .... Canadian, shall we say? Or should I say Canadien ...
Any little cafe that offers Poutine and Montreal Smoked Meat would do just fine, and across the street was Anny's, just waiting.
Anny was on her own, dishing out her Special Steamie Hot Dogs and Poutine - if you want to chat in French to a lovely lady, go visit.
I decided to go with the Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich and Fries. The meal was the perfect size for lunch - the bread looks white here, but actually was whole wheat (I think), and the two slices held a very generous amount of meat, seasoned with mustard. The fries were home-made, fried twice I do believe, for a nice crunch. The meal, complete with drink, came to about $9.
The restaurant was quite small, but cozy and welcoming. The murals on the walls were a very nice touch - it brought a touch of Quebec into this west coast city.
If I wasn't so full, if it wasn't so cold, and if I wasn't poured into my jeans, I would have tried one of Anny's famous Maple Twist soft serve cones. But that will have to wait for a warmer, thinner day.
The Golden Coin dollar store was huge, and had some really cute merchandise. The fellow behind the counter was very friendly, but when I bought a lottery ticket at his suggestion, he told me it was a winner. He lied.
My first impression when looking across the street was that someone had stolen the house, but on closer investigation, I realized that this was indeed a garden bed. How cool is that? Now if only they had a flower pottie they'd be all set.
I came across another old church - this one had a Thrift Store in the basement, which I visited. (I got me a fine new old stock pot.) (If the sign looks blurry, take a minute to wipe your glasses - if my blog had emoticons, I would insert a smiley face here.)
This church isn't as mighty as the Holy Trinity Cathedral, but it has a lot of character -
- and a community garden in front. Hmmm - garden bottles attached to a pole. The avid gardener would think
No drainage, but I think they're pretty neat.
Seems like some apartment dwellers can't wait for spring to bring an abundance of colour to their lives.
This downhill section of older townhouses is a whole lot nicer -
-than these dwellings will ever be -
Nice use of an old stump - although if there are any cats around the birds might not appreciate it. Oh well, at least you'd save money on cat food.
These seed pods are quite pretty. I don't know what plant this is, but it looks like tiny black spiders are nestled inside. I don't however believe they are spider plants.
Back to the sky train station - thank goodness there's an escalator here. I usually don't use them, but skip up the steps joyfully - however, after travelling over 2 km uphill, then over 2 km downhill, my leg muscles refused to head for the stairs. Besides, my stock pot was getting heavier.
And here near the top of the stairs - Nestle Toll House Cafe. My feet just strolled right in.
KC (the owner, I believe) was very welcoming, and poured me a cup of really fine coffee - beans from Brazil, roasted locally. I chose a Peanut Butter Chocolate cookie bar, as the coffee cup seemed lonely all by itself.
I loved the decor - one wall of cookie love, and bright yellow, soft red, and glistening tile. It's a very warm, welcoming place, much different from the concrete skytrain decor outside it's window. KC and I had a great chat about this, that and everything.
If you want a sweet snack, a or just a great cup of coffee after you get off the skytrain at Wesminster Station, then go visit KC. Tell him I sent you.
- Breakfast - Toast and Coffee
- Lunch - Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich, Fries and Orange Pop
- Dinner - Sorta Kinda Sloppy Joes on Kaiser Bun
- Snacks - Cookie, Coffee, Strawberries
