The rains and the dipping temperature are sure signs that summer is almost over . It has been a warm and sunny summer and a very busy one for me . I would not have sat down and played with my pen if it not been for the thought of my mother , whom we lost four years ago today . How can I forget the passing of a loved one , specially my beloved mother , whom I consider a woman of substance . I still miss her very much . Perhaps , a short prayer for her would make a big difference for me . Thank you for that !
Let me turn the days back when summer just started . Vancouver has always been a paradise-like mecca for visitors during summertime . Out-of-towners flock to our city to enjoy the mild weather .
By April , visitors start coming to Vancouver . One of my former classmates in Santo Tomas High School , Olympia Mercado Ferrer , who was one of the active organizers during the 50th Jubilee Celebration of our Class '59 in Mangaldan last February , arrived in Vancouver to visit her sister , Perla Mercado Garampil . Her arrival became a mini "mini" class reunion for some of us . Venus Jimenez Dioquino , Lita Sarzaba Torio , Olympia and I spent some days driving ( with me at the wheel ) around some beautiful spots around Vancouver .
This is Olympia at the backyard of her sister Perla's house in Vancouver .
The three "musketeers" welcoming the " 4th " one , Olympia , to Vancouver with a simple dinner .
The two visitors , Lita S. Torio is a resident of Seattle and Olympia , a resident of Mangaldan met in Vancouver for the Mini-mini reunion of STHS Class'59.
The four Class '59ers in their red attires ( no, we did not talk about donning the same color )
The next destination was Squamish with a stop-over in Horse Shoe Bay Ferry terminal , Shannon Falls and Porteau Cove .
Olympia in Horse Shoe Bay Ferry Terminal in West Vancouver where wine was served to us as guests at the Boathouse ..
Porteau Cove is a small but a scenic park along the Sea-To- Sky Highway , one of the most scenic highways in North America
Olympia with Venus at Shannon Falls in Squamish ..
A picnic at the Eagle's Sanctuary Park in Brackendale . Inspite of the wind , the threesome had a great time ! ! !
Next destination was Richmond where notswithstanding the rain , the " fantastic four " did what people do in Richmond , buy seafood ..
A taste of the Vancouver rain while at the Richmond wharf . This was an April rain, typical of Metro Vancouver . TIP : When in Metro Vancouver , always bring not only your purse but your umbrellas .
Finally , the three , Lita , Oly and Venus finally found what they were looking for ; salmon fish heads for sinigang.
After a long day , Venus treated us to a Chinese dinner . Ah.. the fish sinigang can wait !! A hot tea was what this foursome needed after the rain in Richmond ...
We were joined by another classmate in early July , Serafin Serafica and his wife Rebecca ( nee Aquino ) whose home base is in Yorba Linda , California . They made a two-day stop-over ( for Oly's sake ) before their Alaska Cruise . We just went on a picnic at a beautiful Park , Lawson Park in West Vancouver . It turned out to be a truly relaxing and enjoyable day . We just strolled down the seawalk , and chatted along the breezy but comfortable seaside .
This time , the foursome are Venus J . Dioquino of Vancouver , Oly M. Ferrer of Mangaldan , Marie Aquino Junio of West Vancouver and Serafin Serafica of Yorba Linda , California . A picnic in Lawson Park was what they planned .
Chowtime at the park with Becky , Serafin , Venus and Oly ...
Time for a little " swinging " of the four "kids " after a big lunch ... The " child " in us manifested itself as we reminisced the good old days .
What an incredible view ! ! This was taken at the Sea Walk in West Vancouver with the five picnickers , Oly , Marie , Becky , Venus and Serafin . A jogger generously clicked the camera for us ...
CHATTING AND RELAXING ARE THE BEST WAYS TO SPEND THE DAY FOR OLY , VENUS SERAFIN AND BECKY AT THE WEST VANCOUVER SEA WALK ..
It was almost the end of the day when this taken , almost ready to call it a day .. This is Prospect Point with a breathless background view of West Vancouver ..
Here's Olympia about ready to board the Stanley Park shuttle and head for home ....
A month ago , Olympia's sister Fe , and her husband Gunther arrived in Vancouver from Germany where they reside . It was a reunion of the three sisters . Perla and Oly gave a welcome party to the new arrivals .
Fe ( nee Mercado ) and her husband Gunther flew to Vancouver to join her sisters , Olympia and Perla .
Here's the group who welcomed the new arrivals , Fe and Gunther : Glory , Marie , Olympia , Frank , Perla , and Tony
( Perla's hubby )
After three weeks in Vancouver , sightseeing and bonding with siblings , Fe and Gunther were ready to go back to go back home in Germany . A small going away lunch was hosted by Marie at the River Rock Casino Buffet in Richmond . In the picture are Gunther , Frank , Fe , Perla , Olympia and Glory . Bon Voyage ! !
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The first week of August was another busy week for me . My sister Lourdes , his son Victor Jr. ( aka Boy ) , his wife Eleanor and daughter Melissa drove from Sacramento to Vancouver . It was a great week for everybody specially for my children who have not seen them for sometime . After meeting them in Richmond in the afternoon , our first stop was at my daughter Charmagne's place where she , my son CJ and his wife , Janie , prepared a sumptuous barbecue dinner . The next day was just a day of relaxation and local sightseeing . Whistler was our next destination where we tried the Peak to Peak ride .
The family get- together upon arrival of Atchi Lourdes , his son Boy , his wife Eleanor and daughter Melissa . Picture shows Charmagne and Marie sitting on the floor . Boy , C J , Janie , my brother Frank ( also visiting Vancouver from Mangaldan ), Melissa and Atchi Lourdes . Sitting higher up is Eleanor , Boy's wife ...
Kuya Frank and Atchi Lourdes are trying to figure out what to do to help Charmagne in the kitchen .
Janie , Boy and CJ are outside looking after the food being barbecued . Boy had the first taste of the finished product .. Taste yummy , I suppose ...
Can't figure out what Melissa is trying to convey . Is that a part of your texting , Melissa ?
Lourdes , Eleanor , Melissa and Boy enjoy the natural beauty of Shannon Falls and it's environment ..
The Salvatins and Mom Lourdes in Whistler City Center.
Marie and Melissa inside the Peak to Peak gondola ...
Next destination was Kelowna where my eldest son , Jeremy lives . The days were so sunny and warm and the views were fantastic . Jeremy showed off his cooking prowess by preparing all our meals by himself . My sister and her family enjoyed bonding with Jeremy and his family . I did not fully realized how good Jeremy is in cooking as well as entertaining until this trip . He brought us to the Mission Hill Wineries and to the different beaches in Summerland , Peachland and Penticton . He lives in West Bank which overlooks the city of Kelowna .
First stop in West Kelowna was the Mission Hill Wineries . It is one of the most beautiful wineries in the Okanagan .
The Californians in the Okanagan , Lourdes Sampaga , Eleanor Salvatin , Melissa Salvatin and Victor ( or Boy ) Salvatin
Marie with her son Jeremy at the Mission Hill Wineries in West Kelowna ..
The Okanagan Lake is incredibly spectacular from the balcony of the the Mission Hill Wineries building .
Holiday is fun ! So , what better way to have fun than join a Go-Kart race ? That's what Victor ( Boy ) and daughter Melissa did and truly , they had fun ! !
Relaxation was what we needed after Go-Karting so that was what we did on the beach in Penticton ! !
What better way to end a long day ? A delicious home-cooked meal by Jeremy ..
After a great supper and unwinding at the verandah overlooking Lake Okanagan , we blurted out " this is life "! ( an original quote from a 3-year old girl , Lenina ). Those little dots of light in the background is Kelowna by night ...
My sister , Lourdes , my nephew , Boy , his wife Eleanor and daughter Melissa are back to their homes in Sacramento , California but the bonding and the reconnection established was beyond compare . It brought back memories of yesteryears when my sister's kids and my kids were all living in our ancestral home in Mangaldan . Truly , memories are souvenirs that time turn into treasures !
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