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Friday, November 26, 2010

Stanley Park was hidden in the Snow

Robert Burns statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Robert Burns statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver

"I insist that you shall write whatever comes first, - what you see, what you read, what you hear, what you admire, what you dislike; trifles, bagatelles, nonsense, or, to fill up a corner, e'en put down a laugh at full length" - Robert Burns.

Stanley Park was hidden in the snow!
In pictures you can see how amazing are looking some of the tourist attractions and some statues from Stanley Park today, top-coated with snow and surrounded by the surreal whited landscape.   


In first image is Robert Burns statue, an identical copy of the statue realized by the George Lawson in 1891 in Ayr, located in Vancouver, at the Stanley Park main entrance (I'll tell you more about it later). Nearly, toward Georgia Street,   Lord Stanley's statue welcomes us to visit Stanley Park.

Lord Stanley statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Lord Stanley statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver



On the left, when walking in Shakespeare Garden throughout the untouched white carpet under Daybreak Cherries, Eastern White Pine and Black Walnut...

eastern white pine- Shakespeare gardenblack walnut- Shakespeare gardendaybreak cherries- Shakespeare garden




...the Shakespeare's statue looks enlighten by so many snowflakes around it.
Shakespeare Statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Shakespeare Statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver


I turned my eyes to see the Rose Garden and the Ginkgo Biloba tree and I had a nice surprise to find few Ginkgo leaves in  the snow. The images are so different - you can remember how was looking in summer from one of my previous posts  about Shakespeare Garden and Rose Garden.

Ginkgo biloba tree, Stanley Park, VancouverRose Garden, Stanley Park, Vancouver









Before the end of this post, I promised you to give some details about Robert Burns's statue... Well, you can find this statue near Stanley Park main entrance, when walking  across from the Vancouver Rowing Club, looking southward across Coal Harbour, towards Georgia Street. 

Robert Burns statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver

On its frontal plaque can be read:
"This statue of Robert Burns, Scotland's National Bard, was unveiled by J. Ramsay MacDonald , a Prime Minister of Britain, on 25th August, 1928.
Robert Burns's sincere desire for friendship and brotherhood among all peoples is clearly shown in his many poems and songs. 
His poetry and letters, both serious and humorous are worthy of study by those who value liberty and freedom.
This memorial was rededicated on the 200th Anniversary of the Bard's death by the Burns Club of Vancouver.
21 July 1996
"Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a' that)...
That man to man, the world o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that"



 Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), the Scottish people's poet, named also "Bard of Ayrshire", wrote many poems which stands the test of time (was written more than 200 years ago) in his own "light" Scots (Ayrshire) dialect. His works were often based on his experiences as a farmer and included humour, pathos, horror, social comment and beautiful descriptions:
"But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white-then melts for ever;
Or like the Borealis race,
That flit ere you can point their place;
Or like the Rainbow's lovely form,
Evanishing amid the storm.
"

On the other 3 sides of the Robert Burns statue, somehow hidden by the snow blanket, I read few lyrics from his poems:


plaque with Tam o'shanter lyrics, Robert Burns  statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver"Tam O'Shanter ......    1790
Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg,
And win the key-stane o' the brig;
There at them thou thy tail may toss,
A running stream they dare na cross.








plaque with The cotter's saturday night lyrics, Robert Burns  statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver "The cotter's saturday night .... 1785
From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs
That makes her lov'd at home, rever'd abroad:
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
'An honest man's the noblest work of God'
"




plaque with To a mountain Daisy lyrics, Robert Burns  statue, Stanley Park, Vancouver

"To a mountain Daisy  ....... 1786
On turning one down with the plough
WEE, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r,
Thou's met me in an evil hour;
For I maun crush amang the stoure
Thy slender stem:
To spare thee now is past my pow'r,
Thou bonie gem.
"


Hope you like how are looking tourist attractions from Stanley Park hidden in the snow... 

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