Chapter 117: What The Spring of 2012 Brought...

Tulips in Victoria BC

I live in flower city.
As soon as the spring shows his fingers, the flowers grow up every where.
Literally.

Now, it is important to define the fact that this is normality here.
The abundance of rain, the richness of the soil and the unique softness of the sun allow our friends the flowers and vegetations in general to how above the usual suspect.
Let me show you what I mean.
This is a usual street in Victoria, not in the recessive suburb, but right in the city itself:

Street in Victoria BC

Note the luxuriance of the vegetation.
Here is the other side of the street:

Street in Victoria BC

The cherry trees are amazing.
They come in so many different forms and shapes, many fragrances, they are the true queens of the streets.
But there is competition.
Trees invent and display the most astonishing display of colours, with the help of a stunning sky, the cover our heads with nearly perfect harmony.

Trees & Sky

You will notice that, I have been poling with the pictures again.
Some are simply colour processed, while some others are what is called HDR, which is a technic to show as many details are possible, also allowing a photographer to produce quite dramatic shots.
At last, some of the pictures have some texturing applied to them, some giving an interesting and intense feeling, others give an old 50's/60's feeling, that, I actually like a great deal.
And yes, I am planing of doing a couple of special posts to tell how I process my pictures...
Soon to come.

This said, let's have a look at something of an experience, a free daily present.
I leave our apartment at about 5.00 am every week day.
At this hour, the sun is barely rising.
It gives me some beautiful sky and shades to admire. It creates stories in a blink of an eye, the light changing so fast, it is sometimes incomprehensible.
Here is a series of morning, taking during a period of few days.
There is four particular spots that I particularly like.
- The parking lot in James Bay.
- The parliament Building.
- Chinatown-downtown, which, all in all, is still not as interesting.
- And, the amazing sky, I see on a daily basis in front of my work place, when I arrive there at about 5.40 am.
Ready?
So, let's start:

14 May 2012 - Parliament Building - Victoria BC

14 May 2012 - Glass Building & Sun Rising - Victoria BC

14 May 2012 - Classic Reflection - Victoria BC

14 May 2012 - Sun Rising On HillSide - Victoria BC

15 May 2012 - James Bay Parking Lot - Victoria BC

15 May 2012 - Chime Tower & Turkish Moon - Victoria BC

15 May 2012 - Empress Hotel - Victoria BC

16 May 2012 - HillSide Sunrise - Victoria BC

16 May 2012 - HillSide Sunrise & Pole - Victoria BC

16 May 2012 - From Work Doorstep - Victoria BC

17 May 2012 - James Bay Parking Lot - Victoria BC

17 May 2012 - Parliament Building - Victoria BC

17 May 2012 - Downtown / Chinatown - Victoria BC

17 May 2012 - Downtown - Victoria BC

17 May 2012 - Sunrise On HillSide - Victoria BC

And now, it's the week end.
Of course, the weather, today, is sucky.
What do you know??!?!
But it has been very nice recently, and so, once again, let me invite you for a walk along the water, let's walk that wall we have on Dallas Rd.

When you arrive at the beginning of that wall, as you are walking on it, you can see both sides.
This is the hidden side, the side that stays most of the time in the shade, the shady part:

The Hidden Side - Victoria BC

Then, straight ahead, you start to walk the wall.
By low tide, you can walk on the lower banks of the bridge, so to speak, all the way to the end of it, all the way to that small red and white light house, admiring along the way, the usually hidden ocean life.

Ethan on The Wall at Low Tide - Victoria BC

The Water Wall at Low Tide - Victoria BC

The Water Wall in 1963 - Victoria BC

Of course, Ethan runs back and forth constantly, making up some giant octopus, that possibly, is not alone in the universe!

Ethan on the Water Wall - Victoria BC

Or here too:

The Rocks, The Water & The Boy - Victoria BC

You can, of course, walk all the way to the end, it truly is not that much of a walk, but it is extremely enjoyable.

The End of the Line - Victoria BC

And, at last, you can take a well deserve rest.

Summer Time - Victoria BC

Along the way, you will see boats and sea shells, like that.

Sailing Boat in the Juan De Fuca Straight - Victoria BC

Hidden Shells Life - Victoria BC

Boating in Victoria BC

Life Within a Crevasse - Victoria BC

Boating the Black Sea Together - Victoria BC

And, there is that boat, the Wave Venture, it's parked in the port close to the wall, and has been there for few weeks now.
I wonder what that boat could tell... If it could tell something.

The Wave Venture - Victoria BC

Et voila, c'est fini!
Mr. Hollande is the new president of the French republic.
That is a big deal people!
Get ready to deal with that guy now:

Mr. François Hollande - French Republic President

Few things to ponder on:

Is Sarkozy Compatible with the Right Wing

The answer was obviously no.
And now, few images of the principal actors on that much stressful day, election day!

Victory - Red Rose - French Emblem of the French Social Party

Mr. Hollande - Reaction to a Good News

Time to Leave Mr. Sarko

It Hasn't Be Easy Mr. Hollande

Nor Has It Been Easy for You Either Mr. Sarkozy

But It Has Brought You There Mr. Sarkozy

While It Brought Him Here - François Hollande & Valerie Trierweiler

And, one last one for the trip, bye bye Mr. Sarko, it has been some five terrible years.
You're fired!

Gone

Et voila, that's all for now folks.
I am really going to try to be more productive, answer the some 400 emails that have been waiting for a while, bla bla bla...
Behave, Beware and Go On.

Sincerely,

Serge
May 20th 2012 - Victoria BC

Chapter 116: En Mai, Fait Ce Qu'Il Te Plait!

That's another, somehow absurd, french saying...
Nevertheless, it resonate so nicely...

Rainy Day - Victoria BC

Once again, I have some images to share from some of my observations in Victoria.
We'll get to that in  a minute.
But right before, let's talk for a short while about the french elections, which have their second and last round tomorrow.
So, they will finally know who will be their president for the next 5 years, a man who will acquire an insane amount of power.
It's gone be Hollande or Sarko for another talk decade.
Now, my personal opinion, at the moment, is completely irrelevant. I ain't going to rant about it.
SO, let's have a look at some images I collected recently, while watching a french show called Le Grand Journal, on Canal+.
It is animated by a guy named Michel Denisot, and it is a pretty descent show, where they debate a fair amount about politics and daily french and world events.
Anyway, as expected, in recent days, they have been talking about the french elections a hell of a lot, to say the very least.

Michel Denisot on Le Grand Journal

Two days ago, their invite was Mr. Sarkozy.
The following are some screen shots taken seconds before he goes on stage for the show.
It's rather interesting to try to read his mind.

N. Sarkozy - 3 Seconds to Show Time

N. Sarkozy - 2 Seconds to Show Time

N. Sarkozy - 1 Seconds to Show Time

Also, along the interview, their started, for some reason, to talk about Sarko's profile.
Which he claimed, is quite attractive.
I let you be the judge.

Sarko's Attractive Profile 1

And Another One, Just for Fun

Ok, and now, let's focus a little bit on Victoria.
My back and forth walks to work are my main source of inspiration. As I already said, the way in is from 5.10 am till 5.40 am, while the way back from 3.00 pm till about 3.30, cause I walk super fast, cause I am eager to get home and see the kids.
So, anyway, early morning things include James Bay in the early morning:

James Bay

Cherry Trees, still in James Bay:

Cherry Trees in James Bay

Chinatown at dawn:

Chinatown at Dawn

Cherry Trees in Chinatown:

Cherry Trees in Chinatown

Then, there is the stores, with their products, and their advertisement, mostly in the form of posters.
First, let's look at some clothes.
Last time I mentioned the clothes in Victoria, I wasn't being nice.
So, let's try to change that, even though, i ain't certain it is possible.
On the ladies section, red and black presents:

For Ladies

On the gentlemen section, suit up of course!

Suit Up

Not my favourite suits though...


On the advertisement side, let's look at few of those:
You need twenty bucks?
Here you go:

The poster, is actually pretty good.
Very simple and extremely efficient.
Actually not that easy to achieve.
Thumbs up!

Or maybe, you simply need a new job!
Here we go again:

Again, a pretty good advertisement poster.
Their use of the colours is quite good, and I love the big picture in the middle.
Another thumbs up!

Then, there is that one, where the design is non existent, but the lines worth the look!
Do you want some cheese cake ice-cream?
Sure, here we go, but On A Stick, please!

On a Stick

Brilliant!
Or maybe, it is only funny for me!
Either way, it's great.


And, to finish the advertisement section today, here is an excellent logo, all done in vectors, I definitely can tell, and, I admire.
Sadly, the quality of the pic is very poor.
Let me introduce The Soda Shoppe Logo.

The Soda Shoppe

Then, eventually, it gets time to get home.
I walk fast, and pay less attention to details that in the early morning.
The streets are busy, it is early afternoon, and not really intimate.
Still, that's when you come across some amazing cars.
Here is a grey one right out of a James Bond movie:

Grey Car

Grey Car by the Empress

Also, as a reminder of the morning cherry trees, the afternoon flower petals in the dirt.

Flowers in the Dirt

It is now 9.14 am, on Saturday morning, and I need to go make some fresh coffee.
So, let's finish that post and move on with the day.
It looks like another rainy day in Victoria.

This is Charlie:

Charlie

He is not even 1 year old, and he is the cutest boy ever!
He is my younger son Ethan little brother.
Not mine, quite obviously!
This makes me smile...
Anyway, it's so cool when little people like that look at you and start smiling.
Here is a great meaning of life!



And, at last, but most certainly not least, a sad new, those have become a ghost in the past 24 hours or so:

Beastie Boys

R.I.P. Mr. Yauch.
I can't possibly describe how much you really have changed the way people play and listen to music.

Adam Yauch - August 1964 - May 2012

Voila, that's all for today folks.
Have a great week end.

Sincerely,

Serge
Saturday 5th May 2012