West Coast Livin'

Home for August. Yep, home as in HOME.
Not as in where-my-computer-is. Not as in where-the-heart-is. Rather, where my computer, my heart, my family and my roots all came together at one time.
August in B.C. And what a fantastic place for Home to be.

Being home with a visitor was especially fun as I got to play tour-guide and tourist-in-my-own-towns. Both things I love to do. We arrived into Vancouver from Helsinki after a minor hiccup through the States. Vancouver has only three great things about it: Ryan, Miya and Bonnie. After hightailing it to see them, there wasn't much else to do there. But we managed to get in a walk (rainy, of course) along the see wall; and a concert, before heading to The Island.

One's first day or week in Canada for anyone would likely involve some firsts. For Sebastian, Day 1 included his

first Bagel, first Tim Horton's, first Poutine, and his first Granville Island beer. He was practically on his way to being Canadian.

By day three, it was official, we would have honored him with a Canadian citizenship if given the chance. Bastian had tried Ginger ale, Red licorice, a Nanaimo bar, Pacific Crab and Molson Canadian. Amnd as if that wasn't enough, within the first week he also tried Root beer, pumpernickle bread, babaganush, sourdough bread and Alexander Keith's and Canoe Club beers. Of course, he loved it all.

Aside from the plethora of new food and drink, we managed to stay active and in fact had somewhat of a sports marathon during our four days in Victoria. It all started when Sebastian played his first game of American football.

Ian and Deb treated us to many things, one of which was a Victoria Shamrock's Lacross game (both our firsts). Canada's national sport. And the following night we went to see the Victoria Seal's play some baseball with Steve.
It wasn't too exciting so we showed Sebastian a few tricks of the baseball fan culture. Steve had missed me.

On our last Van-Ilse-Sports-Day, we rode 70km with spaghetti legs along the galloping goose to Sidney spit for beers. Upon our return into the city we quickly rented 'the divorce boat' and went kayaking through the Gorge for an hour or so. Bastian saw his first sea otter, and his first humming bird on the way.

In the midst of it all we also managed to cram in some time on the ocean, time with friends,  and a good few hours of learning at the BC Royal Museum.