Ooh, beautiful.

(Thought it best I just type what I said aloud when I saw that pic before I even read the post.)

My reaction, too.

Yes, a stunning natural setting. However, under years of socialist governments Vancouver has become a drug-infested, crime-ridden, over-taxed and expensive city with a huge gang problem and lots of murders. A nice place to visit, if you are lucky enough not to get caught in the cross-file and don't mind the panhandlers and general filth, but not a place to live or raise a family, and a horrible place to try to run a business.

Sorry, should have read "cross-fire". Next time I'll preview.

"Cross-file" When bureacrats die in a hail of file folders

I don't disagree with DB in AB.

But lujlp's quick pick-up on his typo was priceless! I'll be using that joke for the rest of the year!!

Oh, WOW, how beautiful!!!

I'm always happy to hear Albertans spread these stories about Vancouver; presumably a wise elder spreads them to keep Albertans in their province.

Thanks, DB!

Nice try Gavin, but I'm someone who previously lived in Vancouver and still do a lot of business there (I now have a home elsewhere in BC), and I speak from first-hand experience. I really wish it were otherwise, but take a walk almost anywhere through downtown (not merely Gastown or the lower east side) and tell me you don't agree. Even Yaletown has a very rough edge to it. If you don't see this then maybe you need to travel more. A beautiful city does not need to have the social and crime problems that Vanvouver has. The lackadaisical attitude on full display in Vancouver means you will have more of what you tolerate - see 'broken windows' theory - http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198203/broken-windows. What Guilani did in NY would do wonders in Vancouver.

Very pretty. How socialism got dragged into a post about some pretty flowers is beyond me.

DB, I agree with everything you've said and I still live here!!

By the way, now Saskatoon has headed down the same disastrous path as Vancouver. If you're interested, I've written more about it here.

P.S. As a fellow Canadian, I'm curious, how did you come upon Amy's blog/writing?

> Next time I'll preview.

Relax: We all speak fluent Blog.

> "Cross-file" When bureacrats die
> in a hail of file folders

I hate liking you, Looger.

> How socialism got dragged into a
> post about some pretty flowers is
> beyond me.

I can't think, even for two seconds, about Canadians without imagining what their lives would look like if the United States weren't their southern neighbor... Their socialist impulses are an important consideration.

Also, I can't think about Canada for three seconds without thinking about what Lala looks like all the time... But especially in episodes 1 thru 10a.

Besides, the capitol of the United States of America is famous for cherry blossoms. (Apparently they're about the only graceful relief that comes from seating your government in a Southern swamp.)

Anyone wanna go to Google and try to find out upon which coast of the north American continent Cherry trees are native? Shall we gamble?

What can I say crid, I'm a guilty pleasure

Hang 'im high.

hi Robert W.

Not sure how I first came across Amy's blog, but it was probably a link from Instapundit or Powerline or something similar. I don't drop in here regularly, just once in a while. Thanks to the photo credit, I've now looked at your blog too, and will occasionally stop there too. Good to see another Canuck blogging. I'm sure you check out Small Dead Animals and Ezra Levant, but if you don't then they are a couple of my favorite Canucks on the web.

Despite my misgivings about what Vancouver has become, it remains one of the most beautiful cities on earth, and that is a great picture you took. Oh, and go Canucks!