Adjustment time made easy here on Vancouver Island. The change from hectic cosmopolitan life in Buenos Aires to a slower pace of 'Island Time' is easy, with spring bursting out all over, nature showing itself at its most irresistible, and enough tango in the offing to keep the addiction to it under control.
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| My Apple tree is LOADED this year. Hundreds of thickly amassed blooms giving hummingbirds, bees and various other insects a smorgasbord of delights. |
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| The azalea bush is biding its time....a couple of days of warm sunshine, and it's peach coloured blossoms will burst forth as well |
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| The Globe Hotel in Namaimo, location for almost weekly milongas, which are very popular due to their welcoming and friendly atmosphere. One would have to be a brick cemented into a wall, not to dance lots of tandas (sets of tango) during the course of a late afternoon. |
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| Enjoyment is as deeply felt here as in Buenos Aires. |
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| The Globe has a pleasant historic bar to help the ambiance along. The Globe, by the way, has a chequered history - it used to be a house of ill repute a few years ago. Now, it could not be more 'respectable'. Apart from tango, it hosts events for salsa and a number of other dances and musical events. |
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| A Milonga of a different kind 'La Gatita', the 'Little Cat', named after the house cat, which tolerates that her owner puts on a 'private' milonga evening - complete with not only music, but appetizing snacks and libations. Some of the differences to Buenos Aires milongas are not that hard to take.... |
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| La Gatita milonga takes place in a skillfully and tastefully converted garage of a private house in a beautifully secluded wooded area near Nanaimo. A smooth hardwood floor makes dancing a pleasure, a little woodstove keeps the chill at bay (it was a little cool that evening), mirrors along one wall allow self appreciation, and the overhead garage door will be open during summer milongas to expand dancing to a patio outside... |
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| Meanwhile back at the home-front, spring brings out the local flotillas of sailing vessels, shipping vessels, coast guard vessel, and ferries on practice runs. |
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| Rhododendron in my garden are covered in heavy blossoms |
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| Waking up to a view like this, makes the morning coffee taste even better. |
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Even the humble 'ground cover' lights up with white flowers
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| Farms in my vicinity a 'greening', lambs frolic in green meadows, and fresh asparagus is being sold at every corner. |
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| I found myself a pretty little (very fat) horse to lease, and enjoy life from five feet up instead of six feet under - definitely the preferable alternative. |
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Not only the 'real' White Headed Eagles' soar in the skies again, but Duncan's Totems seem to shine with fresh colour and totem tourism is starting up again
Mount Baker, the grand volcano on the 'mainland' glitters in the far distance.
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Life in Laid Back Vancouver Island turns out to be a new 'vacation' time...
