Just Need Some Shochu

I’ve been out of the loop here for a while. Boo on that. Spring is whizzing by so I want to stay caught up with its magic, bringing it to you in these posts. Two gorgeous Sundays ago, I rallied my troops (Janelle and Marty) and we loaded up for some good, old-fashioned sakura hunting. Yes, those elusive, shortly-lived beauties that explode into colour during the first warm weeks of spring. I’m not a flower enthusiast by any means…it’s just that my work told me that if I ever want to visit Japan during sakura season, well, I’d have to find a new job (accounting year-end…boo hiss boo!)

Our first stop was the lovely Queen Elizabeth Park, which the Internet seemed to think would be bursting with some of the early cultivars. Sure enough, there were people sitting under the trees on blankets, but nary a petal in sight.



Undeterred, we moved about to other areas of the park, searching for the exact trees I had penciled into my sakura strategy guide.










Psh…even looking over the entire city I don’t spot one.

As an aside, do you remember all those panoramic shots I tried to do in Japan? Well, I attempted another here with QE Park’s view of the Vancouver skyline. Clicky-click to enlarge.



Time to break out the big guns. I pull out my special dog whistle and call for my trusty sakura-sniffing coyote friend – TO THE RESCUE!


Okay, that story is fake. This is a real coyote though, roaming the grounds at the park. He was kind of freaky, baring is fangs and whatnot. Okay, that’s a lie too. He was real though – that’s true.

Continuing to wander, I was convinced that two trees at the end of the park must be in bloom. I led and the troops marched on.





Nothing. Well, onto the next destination in Erin’s Sakura Strategy Guide, some streets up in the Kitsilano area. Before that, I did manage to find something in bloom.



The streets that the ‘net had listed in the West End were disappointing. I was feeling quite dejected when we happened to pass a street which elicited a shriek out of me. Dangerous driving aside, Marty got me to my prey in an orderly fashion. Good man.





Oh you so lovely pretty little blossoms.



More streets down brought more variation in colour and density.











Uwaaaaa~! I am fulfilled. Being so close to Kits Beach, we decided to relax near the sand and surf for a spell.





We met this little guy who had a bum leg.





Once the heat from the day began to dissipate, we retired over to 4th Ave for some eats. We landed at Las Margaritas – quite a popular spot with a line up out the door. I was in the mood to wait (surprise surprise!) so waited we did, but not for very long.








HO MAN was this good. I had the salmon burrito and it was absolutely perfect. The black beans and everything have me almost drooling on my keyboard as we speak. Ah…too late. I think I want to go back there soon.

So that’s my first adventure for this busy April. The next weekend, we head over to gorgeous Victoria for the busy Easter weekend. Peeps not included.