So I woke up to another great and warm sunny day on Suday morning...we were going to New Westminister to walk along the Esplande, stroll the market, see the world's largest soldier.  I was leaving that afternoon to go back to Victoria, so this was a great way to spend the morning.  I got my very first job when I was 16 years old in New Westminister at AW as a car hop.  Boy did that bring back memories.....

It was great fun to walk around this place.  I had not been there in many years and was surprised at how much I remembered.  Old movies theatres, the AW is now a car dealership, stores that I used to shop in...and a walk along the Fraser River...

HISTORY TIME ONCE AGAIN

Twelve kilometers east of Vancouver, New Westminister actually predates Vancouver. (who would have known).  It was originally proposed as the provincial capital.  It was founded in 1859 by Colonel Moodie of the Royal Engineers, and named by Queen Victoria that summer.  In 1860, it became the first incorporated municipality west of the Great Lakes.  During the 1960's it was the boomtown that supplied the Fraser River Gold Rush.  It was known as the "Royal City" and until 1866 was the capital city of the mainland colony of B.C.

By the late 1860s, the gold rush ended, and the importance of this colony as a commercial centre declined.  This prompted the Crown to move the capital to Victoria.  This place reminds me of San Fransisco, with it's hills, and waterfront.   It also has a lot of gold rush history.

Today New Westminister is nestled in the middle of greater Vancouver, with Burnaby to it's North, Coquitlam to it's East, and Surrey and Delta to the South.  The Pattullo Bridge used to be a toll bridge...and has been nicknamed the "Pat-Toll-O-Bridge (gesh who thinks of these things).  You can ride the skytrain between surry and Vancouver in 27 minutes...new West has three stops.

The waterfront Esplande and Quayside is only one kilometer long which begins at the public market and winds along the bank of the Fraser River.  I loved it there nestled away by the water, the people that live in the great condos there are very lucky.  People and their dogs abound there for early morning walks and talks...coffee..meet and greet the dogs...and walk along the shore in peace and harmony.....

Enjoy the walk with me....