Vancouver Harbor: Weekly Photo Challenge – SHINE
“To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.”
Roy T. Bennett
BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL
This summer we enjoyed a visit to beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada. My first thought when I saw this week’s Shine Challenge was our nighttime view of the harbor far below the picture window and outdoor deck of our high-rise rental. Each evening it welcomed us back with its shining blue lights while the convention center windows below reflected perfectly on the dark waters.
DAYLIGHT ON THE HARBOR
“Better to illuminate than merely to shine.”
Thomas Aquinas
The shot above is the same scene at daybreak the following morning as Vancouver’s first cruise ship enters its berth. The floating hotels came and went most every day, filling the streets with tourists and visitors. Interestingly, we learned that Vancouver is a very popular location for Canadians, such that rental properties are extremely scarce. Short-term rentals like ours are almost impossible to find due to serious zoning restrictions.
“People are like stars in the night sky, all are not equal, but still, everyone shines.”
Joe Mari Fadrigalan
From our lofty location we also had a view of Vancouver’s Lookout Tower, the highest point in the city. Sitting atop the Harbour Centre, Vancouver’s tallest building, it also houses a revolving restaurant. – not for the faint of heart or those with a fear of heights!
COMMERCIAL HUB
“Like Sun, from the East, may you continue to rise, smile and shine.”
Ogwo David Emenike
Beyond its role as a tourist mecca, Vancouver is also an important commercial port, Canada’s largest, a portion of which is shown above. From our vantage point, we looked left to the passenger ships and right to the commercial dock for cargo ships and its outbound railroad tracks. Our birds-eye-view kept us entertained quite nicely when we weren’t out and about exploring the city.
RED AND YELLOW
“Shine like the whole universe is yours.”
Rumi
Finally, lest we think Vancouver’s harbour has no room for the whimsical, I captured a pair of colorful houseboats fronting its highrise skyline. If you ask me, they shine just as brightly as their surroundings.
Here’s wishing you a week filled with shining light – especially within 🙂.
Travels and Trifles 
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Reblogged this on City Living – Vancouver and commented:
Great post from one of Vancouver’s many visitors!
As a proud Vancouverite… I have to say Thank-you for showing such a beautiful and stunning aspect of our city!
Beautiful shots! Vancouver really is a beautiful city! Have a good night 🙂
Beautiful photos!!
“Shine like the whole universe is yours.” – my favorite quote 🙂 Somehow, Vancouver has been coming up in several conversations lately and I found out that a distant relative of mine lives there. Great shots of different parts of the city. I hope you had a great time there.
It was terrific Annette, thanks!
What a great take on the challenge! You shine brightly, Tina 🙂
How lovely, thanks Tiny!
Gorgeous pictures
Many thanks Naturfreak!
Hi tina, wonderful pictures my favorite is last one.
Regards Robert.
Thanks Robert – glad you enjoyed that one.
The harbor view is lovely!!
Thanks Nora!
Very nice photography. You have a great eye. Your night shots are superb. I also wish to thank you for dropping by my Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge.
Thanks Cris, appreciate your visit and comment
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loving all the detail in these…love how the background city lights shine on ‘blue light special’
and just adore ‘red & yellow’…..so HAPPY!!!
Many thanks April!
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Hey, I recognize those places! Beautifully shot!
Thanks BTB!
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Vancouver is a wonderful city and your night shots capture the vibrancy. Glad you had a great trip there, Tina.
Thanks Jane!
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Looks like a lovely visit to Vancouver, Tina. Cloudy, but still there looked like plenty of boats and seaside views to see. So much port activity, and I’m guessing it’s a bustling city.
Love the first quote by Bennett. There is nothing better than being ourselves 🙂
Thanks Mabel, it’s a lovely city indeed. We did have some clouds but lots of sun too. And gelato 😊😊
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Lovely tribute to a special city that you have captured so beautifully with your photos Tina. You’ll just have to come back for some of that gelato 🙂
Truth be told, it would be WORTH the trip back Andrew!
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I was born in Vancouver. You have captured some beautiful shots of the city. I don’t know if you made it to Granville Island but whenever I go back there, that is one of my favourite places to visit. Looks like you found found a great place to stay with amazing views!
Thanks Cynthia, we wanted to go to Granville Isl but never did make it. It’s a beautiful city tho, with great restaurants and very good gelato 😉
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Glad you enjoyed your trip. I do miss the restaurants!
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Love the harbor picture!
Many thanks Arv
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You are welcome Tina 🙂
Where did you stay? We were there two months ago for our cruise to Alaska. We stayed an extra day to see the city. In fact, the cruise ship in your photo may be the same one we were on. At lesst for sure it’s the same line, Holland America Line. I like the view you got of the houseboats! They’re so colorful and charming. We also went up to the Vancouver lookout – you got a beautiful nighttime shot. Thanks for the memories! I loved Vancouver.
To see my photos of Vancouver, check out my blog. I posted them a few weeks ago with the title “Alaska 2016: Vancouver.”
Hi there, and thanks for stopping by. We stayed in a private apartment. Pretty sure the owner was in violation of the new zoning laws since we only stayed 4 nights.
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Wonderful shots that could be part of their tourism brochures. 🙂
😊 thanks Judy!
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You are a superb photographer. I love your work. Who knew? ??
LOL, believe it or not I started shooting when I lived on the Main Line. One would hope I’d have learned something after all these years 😂😂. Thanks Girlfriend!
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I especially like Red and Yellow…perfectly placed with the great clouds in the background.
Thanks Sharon-me too😀. Just incongruous enough to be photogenic! Sent from my iPad
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Thanks for the fun tour — Red & yellow stands out . Great shots ! ds
Thanks Diane-maybe we need a “red and yellow” challenge 😉😉 Sent from my iPad
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Thank you Tina, your lovely pics make me want to go back!
Thanks Leeanne–one of these days we have to compare notes!
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I, too, enjoyed seeing Vancouver through your lens…and enjoyed your selection of quotes, especially the first one
Thanks Sue, that one hit home for me too!
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Your post inspires me to shine!
Many thanks Ruth–happy shining 😊
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Great shots. Glad you visited 🇨🇦.
Thanks Victor–we loved Canada and its warm, helpful people!
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A fine advert for Vancouver, Tina
Many thanks NL–a terrific city filled with lots of interesting adventures!
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Thanks for the tour. Especially liked the night scene in the first shot.
Thanks Jane–definitely needed a tripod for that one!
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Excellent. I especially like the night shots.
Many thanks Rabirius. Something about night shots always catches ones eye, don’t u think?
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Yes. It does. And as I hardly ever have a tripod with me I’m always very impressed by them.
Shine says it all! Enjoyed seeing Vancouver through your lens!
Thanks Jeannie–it was a wonderful city. Best gelato too😀😀 Sent from my iPad
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