Creating Memories: A Weekend on Granville Island

by Lu Sobredo

The LU TRAVELS ABROAD BLOG doesn't just cover stories about travel experiences in Europe; granted that was the inspiration for creating a travel blog site and a corresponding travel Facebook page.

I was able to travel abroad this past summer after almost three years of limited mobility. It came as no surprise that I quickly warmed to the idea of a trip across the border with my husband. A planned business trip for him; not a planned trip for me. Obviously, the travel fever of summertime lurched into fall without much objection from me. Thus, a photo essay: Creating Memories: A Weekend in Granville Island, images from our jaunt in late September to Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

Although I did not plan to join my husband on this travel, I was grateful I did. Once again, I felt the thrill of preparing for a trip outside the country, even though the other country is pretty much next door. The recently renewed US Passport was definitely getting its intended use. I repacked the small suitcase that came with me to Europe this past summer. I chose to take with me only lightweight items to wear, perfect for layering. It was wise to anticipate that we would encounter mostly intermittent cold and wet weather. After all, the Pacific Northwest is known for its precipitation, a welcome change for someone from a drought-stricken California.

This photo essay is a celebration of another milestone for my health journey. I am celebrating my new normal, living and continuing to travel with a chronic illness. Additionally, visiting Granville Island meant reuniting with a place where my husband took the family for a driving vacation on a budget in the summer when our son was turning seven. It was a place where we spent a few days before we headed to Victoria for our honeymoon more than two decades before. The unplanned trip was overflowing with memories of utterly moving significance. It was like unexpectedly opening a gift box bursting with surprises.

The flight to Vancouver got us reacquainted with airports, train stations and taxi rides similar to some of our routine in Europe. I have now come to accept that train stations are different from country to country. However, there seems to be an uneasiness that sits in the pit of my stomach, which goes along with purchasing train tickets, using a credit card at stand-alone kiosks, and facing an uncertainty on which train station to disembark. I swear, it was like learning the process all over again. Tourists asking each other what-to-do, how-to-get-somewhere, etc. was common place. Realizing that the feeling of uncertainty and newness is part of the adventure, I took things in stride. Knowing full well, I was traveling with a seasoned traveler in my husband, I was able to exhale and release anxiety that tended to creep up every now and then. Once I concentrated on living in the moment after reaching our hotel in Vancouver, I excitedly took photos with my iPhone as if it was my first time visiting the place.

I am delighted to share these photos. I know that our preferred travels are usually a month long or longer. But a weekend proved rejuvenating without having to spend too much. Airfare was at low season rates and so was the hotel accommodation.

Vancouver Skyline from Granville Island. Photo ©James Sobredo 2016

Caribbean Lobster at the Sandbar. Photo ©James Sobredo 2016

The Photographer Chatting about Photography. Photo ©James Sobredo 2016

I had so much fun taking a leisurely stroll, aided by my trusted walking so I could be one with the place. The following displays tickled my fancy, so here they are...

Fresh Cut Flowers for Miles on End, ©Lu Sobredo 2016

Glorious Colors

Aromatic Freshly Baked Goods, ©Lu Sobredo, 2016

“We are surrounded with delicious baked goods, inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the invigorating scent of fresh flowers and fresh fruits. Why should we live anywhere else?"

—New friends, a local couple we met at a cafe at Granville Island Public Market.

The lively chatter of the marketplace, the sun-drenched peaches and nectarines, deep red apples and shiny green avocados were a feast for the eyes, nose and ears. Who could resist? We walked away with armful of goodies and treats to take back to the hotel. The weekend experience stirred our senses. The grandeur of the place and the camaraderie we encountered, rare gifts from our weekend in Granville Island.

© Lu Sobredo, Photo Essay, Written: October 26, 2016. Guest Editor: Adrian Sobredo

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