David gave a wonderful speech about the 25 years he and Neil have worked together.
The six law school classmates, over 50 years after graduation.
They are planning the next law school reunion
Friday, November 23, 2012
Neil's Retirement Reception
On November 21, Neil's law partner hosted a reception in honour of Neil's upcoming retirement from practising law. It was held at the Terminal City Club and attended by family, friends, colleagues and those of Neil's Law School class who are on the Class Reunion Committee. They hold reunions every five years. We were delighted everyone could attend.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Remembrance Day
While in Ottawa in August, we also visited the National War Memorial located in Confederation Square across from the Parliament Buildings - very sobering. Of course today there will be a big crowd there to honour all the hundreds of thousands Canadians who have given their lives in war.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
And so, to the memory of my father, Robert, who survived the war, but died younger than he should have, at the age of 56.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Ottawa, August 2012
We had a four day stop over in Ottawa between a wedding in Rochester, NY and a second wedding a week later in the Laurentians, Quebec. There is so much to see in Ottawa, it was a good stop over choice. We specifically wanted to see the Canadian War Museum and the Vincent Van Gough Exhibit at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa.
We loved the Canadian War Museum, and spent about 6 hours there. The special exhibit was the War of 1812, which was presented through four different perspectives: American, British, Canadian and Aboriginal. Excellent presentation - I learned so much, not only about this battle, but about what led up to it, and the major developments that followed for North America. There is also a very good Canadian government website about the War of 1812.
The permanent exhibits in the War Museum relate to Canada's participation in wars and peace keeping missions from the Boehr War to the present day Afghanistan. One section of the memories of WWII caught my eye - a description of the Corvette ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean back and forth escorting ships carrying supplies to Britain, which had been cut off from the rest of Nazi controlled Europe. My father served in the Royal Canadian Navy, and was on Corvette ships for most of the war. He told us how small they were, and how they bounced around on the Atlantic - no cruise ship stabilizers here! He received awards for helping to sink German submarines.
We loved the Canadian War Museum, and spent about 6 hours there. The special exhibit was the War of 1812, which was presented through four different perspectives: American, British, Canadian and Aboriginal. Excellent presentation - I learned so much, not only about this battle, but about what led up to it, and the major developments that followed for North America. There is also a very good Canadian government website about the War of 1812.
Canadian War Museum
The permanent exhibits in the War Museum relate to Canada's participation in wars and peace keeping missions from the Boehr War to the present day Afghanistan. One section of the memories of WWII caught my eye - a description of the Corvette ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean back and forth escorting ships carrying supplies to Britain, which had been cut off from the rest of Nazi controlled Europe. My father served in the Royal Canadian Navy, and was on Corvette ships for most of the war. He told us how small they were, and how they bounced around on the Atlantic - no cruise ship stabilizers here! He received awards for helping to sink German submarines.
The next day we went to the National Gallery of Canada, a magnificent building.
View of Chateau Laurier from the National Gallery of Canada
The Vincent Van Gough exhibit was amazing - so many paintings to view. It was exhilarating to experience his passion for art. It was so inspirational to me, that I am taking an 11 week drawing/sketching class at the Kerrisdale CC this fall to see what I can learn about art.
The above picture is of gardens near the Chateau Laurier and the Parliament Buldings. I took this picture after I left the Van Gough Exhibit because I was struck by the similarity of this scene to some of Van Gough's paintings. I took the picture showing more of the landscape in the front, with a higher horizon line towards the back, similar to Van Gough's work.
Banners celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Documentary: Return to Byzantium
We went tonight to the Canadian opening of the documentary film "Return to Byzantium: The Art and Life of Lilian Broca", featured at the Jewish Film Festival at the Ridge Theatre.
Lilian Broca is a Vancouver Artist who has worked using many different medium, but is now renowned for her mosaic art, particularly the "Queen Esther Mosaic Series" done in Byzantium style, inspired by the mosaic art she viewed in cathedrals when growing up in Romania.
I understand that there are about 10 mosaics making up the series, relating significant moments in the story from the book of "Esther" in the Bible Visit Ms. Broca's website to read her artist's statement about these works and to view pictures of the stages of the creation process.
Here are a few pictures of sections of the Queen Esther Mosaics taken from her website:
Lilian Broca is a Vancouver Artist who has worked using many different medium, but is now renowned for her mosaic art, particularly the "Queen Esther Mosaic Series" done in Byzantium style, inspired by the mosaic art she viewed in cathedrals when growing up in Romania.
I understand that there are about 10 mosaics making up the series, relating significant moments in the story from the book of "Esther" in the Bible Visit Ms. Broca's website to read her artist's statement about these works and to view pictures of the stages of the creation process.
Here are a few pictures of sections of the Queen Esther Mosaics taken from her website:
Queen Esther revealing her true identify
Queen Esther with Mordechai
Haman
The mosaics are spectacular, the glass glitters as you move beside them. Very difficult to photograph. Ms. Broca is now working on a new series of mosaics about "Judith", a powerful, assertive woman from biblical times. The Queen Esther Mosaics are expected to go on tour to Romania.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Europe Trip - Copenhagen, Denmark - Day #2
On the second day in Copenhagen we headed for the art galleries, museums and parks, which were very impressive. We had visited the Rosenborg Palace on a previous trip and so headed for the National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst). This museum had a fabulous amount of European Art - Flanders (Rubens), Netherlands (Rembrandt), etc.
Grounds of the Parliament Buildings
Inside of City Hall
NY Carlsberg Glyptotek
Inner Courtyard of the Glyptotek
And that is the end of our Europe 2012 trip - very memorable and a lovely cruise.
Europe Trip - Copenhagen, Denmark
We disembarked the ship at the Port of Copenhagen the morning of Monday, July 2. The Port is quite caotic, with no clear directions as to which line-up you should get into to find a taxi, or to find your pre-arranged transport. Everyone was butting in and pushing to get ahead, not fun. It took us several hours to get through the line-up and get a taxi.
However, Copenhagen is that wonderful city, just like the song. We stayed three nights at the Copenhagen Island Hotel, which is located just outside the city centre. It was a bit too far to walk to city centre (for Neil anyway), and because of road construction for blocks in front of the hotel, it was difficult to locate the bus. So we often had to take taxis which ended up being very expensive because the city centre is all cut up with construction for a new underground metro line.
What we did decide to do, and it was a good decision, is purchase a two day pass to Hop-On, Hop-Off "boat sightseeing" because Copenhagen is a city of canals. We were lucky that the weather was sunny for this. There was a "boat" stop right near our hotel, and the boat took us all the places we wanted to see. We stayed on the boat the first day, without getting off, and then the second day, got off at various sights. Here are some pictures from this boat tour:
However, Copenhagen is that wonderful city, just like the song. We stayed three nights at the Copenhagen Island Hotel, which is located just outside the city centre. It was a bit too far to walk to city centre (for Neil anyway), and because of road construction for blocks in front of the hotel, it was difficult to locate the bus. So we often had to take taxis which ended up being very expensive because the city centre is all cut up with construction for a new underground metro line.
What we did decide to do, and it was a good decision, is purchase a two day pass to Hop-On, Hop-Off "boat sightseeing" because Copenhagen is a city of canals. We were lucky that the weather was sunny for this. There was a "boat" stop right near our hotel, and the boat took us all the places we wanted to see. We stayed on the boat the first day, without getting off, and then the second day, got off at various sights. Here are some pictures from this boat tour:
Fredericksholm Canal
Christiansborg Palace
Entering Nyhavn
Very Picturesque
Opera House
Many of the cities we visited on this trip hand an opera house located on or near water. Why can't Vancouver do something similar - a concert house for example on the water in False Creek? Why does it always have to be condos!
Batteriet Sixtus
The Little Mermaid
The Trekroner Fortress
A Sandcastle competition
We managed to see a great deal by way of this bus - over a 3 - 4 hour period. And it was very convenient.
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