To say Vancouver's winter so far has been crazy is an understatement. We've had record snowfalls, record cold temps and most recently, fog for like 20 days straight.
Here are some pictures that not only show some snow but just some general photos I have taken of Van since the day the snow first started flying. Sure, other parts of Canada have had it much worse, but for Vancouver, this winter is a rarity and spring will be welcomed with wide open arms by all.
Anyway, enjoy!
This was after our first snowfall, back in the middle of December. It seemed like such a novelty back then! Little did we all know what was in store...This was taken out my kitchen window:
The next bunch of pictures were taken on the same day. It was chilly out but the snow made everything nice and pretty:
Boats and snow:
Well, I guess it couldn't have been that cold, this guy is in shorts! Just don't slip on that ice, buddy:
Condos and the North Shore mountains in the background:
The geese don't seem to mind the cold temps at least:
That's Granville Island down there:
This guy makes the snow seem worth it! He's lovin' the snow:
This is to celebrate Vancouver's 100 years as a city. It's looking a little shabby these days, though:
And I thought this stuff would just melt in a few days. Ha!
Everyones spirit's are still high at this point. The snow will all be over in a few days, we thought. See, everyone in this photo, with the exception of the poor dog with the 'antlers', is happy and jovial. I took this from my car:
Okay, it snowed again a few days later and it was still kind of nice. These next night shots were all taken on the same night and all hand held. This is the Vancouver Art Gallery (or the VAG as I never hesitate to call it) and the big tree that goes up every year out front:
This fountain won't see some action for a while. That's the Olympic countdown clock there on the left:
Another snowman, this one in front of the VAG (see!):
City sidewalks, city sidewalks...:
Hotdog vendor, still vending hotdogs. What a trooper!
Robson Street, looking all wintery and festive-like:
Hey, someone put those banners on backwards! Umm yeah....
Hotel Vancouver is all decorated with 'holiday' lights:
Some more pretty lights:
Gotta thrown in a picture of the Electra, built in 1957, converted to condos in the late 1990's:
This fountain is still going strong:
Cute square snow-covered hedges:
The fringes of Gastown. Deserted at this time of night, except some guy hassling me for a dime (hey buddy, can ya spare a dime?, is all I could think of...that and hiding my camera from him):
This building's lights change colour:
That's the 'legendary' Cambie Hostel and Pub back there in festive lighting colours. Sorry 'bout the blur, I was getting pretty chilly at this point:
My first picture of the steam clock! I always refuse to take it just because it's oh so tourist-y but I figured the snow would make it look kinda cool. And there were no tourists as far as the eye could see:
I had so much fun taking my first steam clock picture, I decided to be all wacky and take a second! Crazy times...
This is Gastown being deserted but very nice and quiet and lovely, especially with the snow:
I love Gastown at night!
Gastown's shabbier side:
Another snowman! And this one even has ears:
Downtown Eastside, looking like it always does, regardless of the weather:
So now we're a few days before Christmas and this is where the snow starts to get a bit much. It had been snowing heavily for over 24 hours at this point, in addition to what it already on the ground. I had fun watching all the craziness from where I had my lunch that day:
Snowing like mad while the snowman in my car looks on, wishing he was out there:
The roads weren't all that great, that's for sure. Wet snow=really slippery!
The next series of pictures are from English Bay. The snow made everything lovely and kids were out playing and everyone was talking about the snow. But people were starting to wonder if it would ever stop snowing:
These kids just love the snow:
These kids too, I bet:
Dogs and couples love the snow, too:
Burrard bridge:
My feets were getting pretty wet at this point, but I didn't care. More appropriate footwear would have helped. Whoops:
I have to go for the obligatory palm trees and snow shot:
Awww....
Inukshuk all snow-covered:
More palms and snow:
Not much of an ocean view today:
At least people are still enjoying coffee on patios outside:
So it snowed crazy amounts again on Christmas eve, but I was in Alberta visiting family so I missed out on it. When I arrived home in the new years, not much had melted. Then it snowed again, bring the total amounts to over 100cms. Here are some pictures of my neighbourhood after it stopped snowing for the final time and it's already melting. My area didn't get as much as some other parts of Van:
These next photos were taken a week later from West Vancouver, which didn't get as much snow as other parts, so most of it has already melted.
That's the Lion's Gate Bridge back there:
This is near the mall in West Vancouver:
Taken from on the Lion's Gate. These guys are looking a little deflated after the Holidays:
There's supposed to be a mountain behind that little mountain but the clouds were low that day, my friend:
Some birds doing what they do best:
Heading out to sea:
West Vancouver:
Now for some pictures from my 'hood, Commercial Drive. It was sunny at the time of these photos, but the fog rolled in every night and for most of the days, so the sun here has been a bit of a rarity lately:
There's still some lingering fog getting caught on downtown's buildings:
Grandview Park. Most of the snow in this area is gone now:
Hockey polo, I guess:
Good to see people out on the patios, although they are heated:
Fruit and veg shopping:
More of the same:
Citroen and Renault, having a French car jamboree!:
Some snow piles still existing:
That's one bizarre tree:
Trout Lake, which is not too far from Commercial Drive, still has a ton of snow:
Hmmm...good idea. maybe I won't go out there to take pictures:
The fog is coming back as the sun sets. This is from my kitchen window again:
And this is downtown from my balcony:
This has been a familiar sight lately. Lots of thick fog. I took this while driving across the Lion's Gate Bridge last week:
And I took this one while driving through downtown:
Some night shots, taken a few nights ago on a chilly but wonderful night:
Science world:
Olympic Village construction:
And finally, some pictures from Chinatown yesterday, which was extra bustling due to Chinese new year being on Monday:
Final shot, a car that most definitely belongs in Gastown:
Thanks for stopping by!