I was in Vancouver for Litha on June 21st. The summer solstice is a time to celebrate abundance and for gratitude for that abundance. It is also a time of transition – days are now getting sorter, rather than longer.
Vancouver is a beautiful city. And the residents are very kind. They are welcoming hosts to throngs of guests here for the 2026 World Cup. And they were welcoming hosts to me and my friends. I am grateful for the abundance in my life and my good fortune.
This is also a time of transitions. As I age, my list of old friends grows shorter. And as I age, it seems harder to make new friends. In this trip to Vancouver, I was able to travel for the first time with a current friend, who then introduced me to two of her old friends. I am fortunate to be able to count them now as my new friends.
And we like to eat. I’m not going to run through the whole list for the four days. Below are a few representative pictures. But that leaves out the éclair pastry filled with duck liver mousse, the poached halibut with mussels, artichokes, Rouille sauce, and the creamy mashed potatoes. And the various liquors. The bar tender at Boulevard was generous in the time he spent explaining Canadian whiskies to us (British Columbia refuses to import any US liquors).
This may be hard to see, but the hand model is supporting the giant soccer ball near the stadium.
We took the gondola up Grouse Mountain just north of Vancouver. The weather was fine and the view amazing. Listening to the locals, we seem to have been graced with exceptional weather for Vancouver.
Above are a few miscellaneous photos of Vancouver neighborhoods. On the right is Granville Island. I highly recommend Vancouver for a visit. They have good public transportation, great parks and lots of greenery across the city. Downtown is surrounded on three side by water. But the biggest draw is the people. They are so kind, so proud of their city, and so generous in their welcome of visitors.
The Journey 