Happy US Independence Day! Hope you escape the aggravation of political posturing and are able to celebrate all the traditions and history of which we Americans may be proud…. and more importantly, that we should honor.
We did not know that Canada’s national holiday was observed so closely to our own – Canada Day is July 1, commemorating the consolidation in 1867 of 4 British colonies (now Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) into a single (still colonial) part of the British Empire called the Dominion of Canada. This was merely one step towards Canada’s complete separation from Britain, which did not occur until 1982! We were happy to celebrate this delightful country!
Here is one little example of so much that is admirable about this place. We stayed at a lovely provincial park in BC called Boya Lake, a busy weekend as Canada Day approached. When a camping area was vacated, an attendant was there almost immediately to tidy, clean and RAKE the campground for the next user. We are not making this up!
What pride goes along with this level of care! Even the presence of previously-mentioned flying biting insects is attributable in part to the purity of the water and the cleanliness of the air. The politeness of the people stands out as well.
Now we are in……
Beautiful scenery, such as this view from our small local hotel in New Hazelton and more lake views…
Yukon bursts into a fabulous display of wildflowers this time of year, including fireweed, so called because it is the first flower to appear after a wildfire. (Enjoying microphotography with the iPhone…..)
Aspen trees are a glistening part of the landscape (although closer inspection shows they too bear the mark of tiny parasites).
The wonders of Canada are just slightly marred by their bizarre choice of a national dish….. poutine, its basic form a greasy concoction of French fries topped with a strange brown gravy and cheese curds. From here, poutine can be dressed up with bacon, and maybe even a scattering of…… what? A green vegetable?
The wise connoisseur might pair poutine with a refreshing beer or glass of red wine….. unless he is watching his figure.
Another weight-watching strategy is to share one’s poutine with a fellow diner who is having a light and healthful veggie wrap.
The magic of Canada has not missed the attention of some of the most acquisitive and wealthy folks in our universe, however…..
Long live Canada and the Canadians! May they never compromise on all the qualities that make this place and its residents so special.
Emerald Isle to the Norse Lands 