Days 23-25 - Tastes and Treats

March 23rd me and a couple of the cousins took the dogs for a walk. It was just bout the perfect day for it, with clear skies and an almost empty beach.

That night, we had a party for some relatives that were moving down south. Dinner was deep fried turkey wrapped in bacon. As good as it sounds, it tasted even better.

Several of us sat by an iron stove outdoors made to look like a fish. The fire got hot enough that the belly started glowing red. Between the flame, the time of night, and the lack of flash, I'm very happy with the way the photo came out.

On the 25th, I took a day trip to Vancouver, Canada. It was my first time visiting the country, and the border patrol on both sides took a curious interest in my Indiana license plate. It's like not many people from the Midwest drive all the way there to eat a bowl of poutine.

Yeah, okay, that wasn't my ONLY reason to go there. But it was tasty. I went to the Wallflower purely because it happened to be close and yelp gave it a good review or two. Here's my own attempt at restaurant review:

I’m starting with a pale ale. The drive combined with the lost walk gave me quite a thirst, and the crash my computer only just recovered from punctuated the need. Pale ales can be over hoppy, but this one’s smooth and clean. It’s got a bit of punch to it that’s hitting me in the temples and knees (for some reason) in a soothing way. Paintings cover the walls by a local artist named Mishelle Cuttler, who’s pretty good. The “Girl with Glasses” in particular catches my eye.

The poutine came out pretty fast, but considering it’s supposed to be an appetizer, I shouldn’t be surprised. For those who don’t know, poutine is basically French fries covered with gravy and cheese curds, the Canadian version of Welsh Rarebit, almost. The curds here were plain stuff, looking fairly solid at first, but gooed well with the heat – actual cheese! The gravy was chicken and pretty flavorful, meaty and salty. The fries were alright, not the best I’ve ever had, but the best would get lost under all the gravy, so they didn’t have to be.

Now that I’ve had a bowl of poutine (it came in a real life bowl), I can say that they’re nothing special. They tasted great, don’t get me wrong, but they were tasty in a way that’s easily done anywhere. I’ve no idea why they seem to be a specialty of Canada’s, or why the internet developed such a jones-ing for them. I do have a full belly, though, and maybe a new point of cholesterol, but a good experience all around.

After lunch, I went for a walk around the bay area known as Yaletown. I know that because I read signage.

The wind bit, which is to be expected in Canada mid-March, but otherwise the weather was flawless. My panorama skills got put to good use.

Most of the art installations looked like small space vessels. Is it an expression of the idealism for future times, or alien escape pods hidden in plain sight? I knew I should've paid attention in art interpretation.

I don't know if there's a structural purpose to building a highrise wobbly like this, but it looks interesting.

Nice little pedestrian park. I was going to ask a local what ancient rite took place when you lit the surrounding lanterns that lead into the central platform, but that seemed rude.

Vancouver also has a stargate. Try as I might, I couldn't turn it on, to say nothing of linking it to the one in Arizona. Can't win them all, I guess.

Next update will take me away from Washington and to Glacier Nation Park! Well, almost...