Wednesday, June 16, 2010 Stanley Park Day 1

Overcast, cold, breezy. Fran, Jess and I decided to spend the morning at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park since it's largely indoors and hoped the afternoon would be warmer so that we could do a little park hiking or biking in relative comfort. Pic one is Fran and Jess at the aquarium entrance in front of a stylized killer whale sculpted in polished metal. Beautiful!! I've been in aquariums from Boston to Corpus Christi to San Diego and seen some terrific exhibits and lots of interesting marine life but none have showcased the marine life of the Pacific Northwest. That's, naturally, the focal point at Vancouver Aquarium. Many of the mini-ecosystems along the coast have their own exhibits, necessary because the marine life in one inlet or around one island is likely quite different from that only a few miles away at the next island or inlet. Photos 2,3,4 above are of marine life examples from Barkley Sound, Bella Bella, and Quadra Island. The first video showcases sea nettles, a type of jelly fish common to the Pacific coast - watch them you'll be mesmerized. The second is of a sea otter at the aquarium that is about the cutest little bugger I've ever seen. Had to knock over a couple of kids and move aside a guy in a wheel chair, but I got up close and got some sweet footage. There's also a family of trained beluga whales at the aquarium, mother, father, daughter, granddaughter, the granddaughter being quite young and still gray in color. We took in their performance and photo 5 is of the daughter and her calf (the granddaughter). Last aquarium shot is from the portion of the aquarium devoted to tropical species. It's an air-breathing fish (he can hold his breath for bout 20 minutes - is he still a fish?) and he never moved from the spot or changed his demeanor the entire time I watched. He hovered like a stoic helicopter, completely motionless. Left the aquarium under skies threatening to rain and motored to the totem display in the park. Most are reproductions of totems from the coast, but have been carved by aboriginal artists. Such a beautiful setting. More Stanley tomorrow. Off to leave offerings to the weather gods for clear skies.