The world's largest educational research meeting was held this year in Vancouver, BC. My proposal that I submitted with my colleague Olga was accepted. So...a long flight from South Texas to Vancouver -- but we made it. I LOVED it there - and had a blast....
Two entire days were spent traveling, leaving a day to 'conference' (read: do presentation so my University will pay for the trip) and day to play. Here's some day one pics:
View from hotel window of downtown Vancouver:
See that mountain behind the skyscrapers? That's Grouse Mountain. More about that later.
There are lots of gorgeous flowers and scenery - Olga and I had to walk about 8 blocks to the conference center, and enjoyed every step:
THIS is the conference center - amazing, isn't it?
The presentation went SO well - terrific in fact. Much interest in our work with Family Science! We had people come see us from New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Pennsylvania and some other places who are trying to get Family Learning Events going in their location. It was so great to see our work growing in other places!
The next day I took off and did some mountain climbing at Grouse Mountain. I did the "Grouse Grind" - a walk up the mountain that a colleague had told me about prior to leaving for Vancouver. It's quite challenging -- the steps are steep and rocky, and it can be a bit treacherous, but the scenery and the quiet --- it was an amazing trek.
When I arrived -- after all the planning and researching and taking extra clothing and energy bars and water and taxi ride...I finally arrived and found out the TRAIL WAS CLOSED!
After staring at the signs for a good 10 minutes, I was about to turn around and leave - very sad -- when out of the gate walked a guy with his POODLE. I couldn't believe it. Just walked out of that gate! He said there was a 'secret' entrance over to the side...and then said, "Would you like to come in?"...so through the gate I went. So happy to go climb a mountain :)
Sometimes there were steps like these, sometimes not. Sometimes you had to CLIMB to the next step. It wasn't easy, but the scenery was so worth the effort to keep climbing~!
I could only go half-way as the top was still icy. I didn't have the 'chains' that are required to navigate climbing in the ice. Honestly, I was just as happy to start the descent as the whole trip took me over 3 hours and I was pretty tired at the end.The descent was actually more tiring than climbing up...who knew. (The next day I was reminded that we don't use those muscles very much :)
Next, a trip up the mountain via gondola and ziplining at the top!!!! THROUGH THE SNOW!
I love riding in gondola!
The final wood carving on the way out of Grouse Mountain. I had an awesome day, full of challenges, adventure, fun times and sore knees that followed :) I loved Vancouver and hope to go back some day -- maybe even see a live bear!!
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