Shangri-la

Ruth took me to see Emily Carr's home last evening. Unfortunately, I won't get to see her art, most of which is in Vancouver, but having read her autobiographical writings, I was appropriately awed by seeing the home where she was raised. I only wish someone hadn't parked a big red car in front of the doorway, which spoiled the picture. We also drove down back roads to see commercial tulip fields, which are nearly depleted and even so, very colorful.
A few more twists and turns and we were at the site of the oldest Anglican church in B.C., a tiny building set among ancient stone crosses in a rural setting.
Now I understand why I've heard such wonderful things about Victoria and Vancouver Island. Ruth took me around the Victoria and Sidney areas last evening and I was captivated. The gardens everywhere are magnificent, currently featuring enormous rhododendrons, dogwood, and flowers and shrubs of every color and description. There's no way to adequately describe the lush vegetation here. It's hard to believe that I'm in the Northwest--it reminds me of Hilton Head, South Carolina, in the spring, without the humidity and palmetto bugs. Ruth is a good tour guide, having moved here twenty years ago from Ontario. In fact, most of the delightful students have come from somewhere else, including Newfoundland--now that's a looooong way.

A long way from home

Yesterday morning I got up at 6 a.m. and prepared to begin my journey from Ohio west to Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Nearly all the connections went smoothly, but it was a long day. I arrived here a little before 6 p.m., which was 9 p.m. EDT, nearly 12 hours of travel time. I have all of today to regenerate before the creativity workshop starts tomorrow. I'm staying at the Waterfront Innand have already had a morning walk around the little town of Sidney. The light is clear and bright today and the temperature mild. I sit on a little balcony and overlook the fish market on the pier. I'll be moving to another room this afternoon for the rest of the week. I hope I'll have as beautiful a view in my new digs. This truly is a lovely little town, sparkling clean, nice shops and restaurants. The workshop facilitator, Ruth Steinfatt, is very pleasant and well organized, so I'm looking forward to a delightful workshop experience here.