Part II of things lost, but found later

Bogumil Pacak-Gamalski

My previous post In Polish dealt with my panic, after I realized that I have lost two days. Can you imagine the truly cosmic consequences for the future if two days were really lost?! Entire galaxies might have never been formed, civilizations not born.

But that was not as tragic (or comic) the other day, when I realized I have lost a poem. My own, and one I was certain I have written. I have checked all my notebooks – there is unfortunately a big array of them lying on the tables, on bookshelves, in drawers. Hardly ever my poems are being written originally on a computer or typewriter (yes, I am old and used to have and used typewriters, the first one was not even electric, LOL). But the poem was nowhere to be found.

I was certain that I wrote it yesterday while being on a rocky beach in South Surrey. It was low tide in the massive Mud Bay. That water retreated quite a bit and exposed very shallow patches full of little life creatures in it, as in any healthy sea.

I was sitting there sun tanning and observing absolutely crazy dance-ritual of eagles helping themselves to this amazing sea buffet. That observation led me to writing right there a poem about the eagles, therefore it means that I had with me one of my notebooks. Another peculiarity of mine is always adding a date of my writing. The date connects it to indexing it, but – for myself anyway – opens an emotional connection within me with particular time of my life, particular place. Hence, when I rummaged through my notebooks I didn’t bother reading the text; instead I simply quickly glanced for the date ‘June 08, 2025’. And there wasn’t anything with that date in recent entries. Zilch, zero. The last entry in a notebook I suspect the most, had a date ‘June 08, 2024’. Yes, it even mentioned the place ‘Crescent Beach’. You would think I would realize that obvious mistake, since in 2024 I couldn’t have possibly be on Crescent Beach in Britsh Columbia. In June 2024 I was still in Halifax in Nova Scotia! Right? No, wrong! You see, there is one of the most beautiful beaches in Canada only an hour drive from Halifax toward Sambro. It is without a doubt a gem of unparallel beauty, a marvel. It is called … Crystal Crescent Beach, LOL. I have simply not registered one world ‘Crystal’ and it created the entire confusion. In exasperation I was left with no choice but to read the actual text under the date. Yes, it was my poem about the eagles from Crescent Beach in South Surrey. For some reasons, when I was writing down the date, I wrote 2024 instead 2025.

A partial return to sanity was possible. And a poem was found, as you can see below.

Eagle’s joy

The eagles are dancing,

they are dancing with joy,

with abundance of life.

Shallow waters before the tide,

brings Pandora’s box of snacks:

morsels worth the king tables;

the powerful emperors of skies.

Dance! I won’t disturb your joy,

I’m just a scribe to chronicle

your royal entourage, vivante royal,

above us, mere earthlings and scribes.

What do you see, when you look down

per chance at us, o Mighty Skywalker?

Eagles thought for a moment and answered:

We see you all like silvery fish thrown by wave

on the rocky beach. Your pink skin blinking

as a stardust, your eyes wide open and gills

quivering rapidly like leaves in the wind.

Trying to live a day longer, perhaps a season.

Having received their answer, I gathered

my belongings from the beach: folding chair,

towel, sunscreen, my notebook and sunglasses.

With my backpack full, I began heading home.

Two young naked boys under blue umbrella

were just finishing their picnic. Like a scene

from summery watercolour in a tiny gallery

somewhere in Dover on an English Channel.

Maybe it was Hastings, or Brighton, who knows?

The boys waved to me (from the watercolour?)

and yelled: finished already? Stay! It’s still early.

I laughed at them: No, darlings, I’m done.

But you are not. Enjoy and savor every second of it

A pair of eagles circled above my head approvingly.

Stanley Park w Vancouverze – gloria wiosny

Bogumił Pacak-Gamalski

Very few words about it, because words fail to describe the amazing display of nature of the Park, and especially it’s edges around the Rose Garden and Lost Lagoon. Let the camera tell the story. May brings to Stanley Park the volcanic eruption of colours and life. The crown jewel of the entire beautiful city.

Kilka tylko słów, bo słów brakuje na opis tego zjawiska, gdy natura budzi się z zimowego letargu. Początkowo jeszcze senna, jeszcze rozleniwiona delikatną zielenią świeżych pędów na gałązkach, na łąkach. Ale maj, maj to już co innego. Wybucha jak wulkan symfonią kolorów życia płatków kwiatów, świeżą zielenią gałązek i fauną u brzegów Zagubionej Laguny w Parku Stanleya. Wówczas, w tych dniach to korona piękna Vancouveru.

Iona Island by the airport, sea and the Watchman of the Black Order

Bogumil Pacak-Gamalski

I used to see it from the other shore, from the hidden and secretive trails at the bottom of Marine Drive or from the top, from the air, when flying anywhere from Vancouver Airport. I am not even sure if I truly went there physically for a walk. If I did it was really many, many years ago, maybe in 1990ties? Because everywhere you look from Iona jetty you see familiar and dear shapes of shoreline and sea – it feels that you were. But did you?

At least last Tuesday was memorable and I will remember this time. Sun was gorgeous, sand soft, almost muddy, the shapes of fallen white huge trees, their trunks and strange crowns of roots brought by an ocean from forests far away, the piercing sunrays from blue skies – all created eerie atmosphere of Cocteau theater stage or Hasior’s artistic installations.

Younger friend bringing the whiff of youthful air and contemporary world and a Black Watchman of yesteryear. Of an ancient Black Order.

Theatrical? But of course! It truly was a massive stage, with huge steel pterodactyls flying from the airport right there above our heads.

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Cocteau

https://culture.pl/en/artist/wladyslaw-hasior

Central Park w Burnaby

Bogumił Pacak-Gamalski

Urokliwe miejsce. Rozległa, z szerokimi alejkami, wąskimi ścieżkami w ramionach dwóch ruchliwych arterii ( Boundary i Kingsway), przestrzeń szerokiego oddechu, ucieczki. Odpowiednik słynnego Stanley Parku w Vancouverze u brzegów Pacyfiku. Sosny i tuje równie potężne, jak w Stanley. I masa kwitnących krzewów czarnych i czerwonych jeżyn (salmon berries), które czepiają się nogawek i rękawów, gdy wejdziesz w zarośla. Zdarza się ponoć i niedźwiedź, ale nigdy takiego tu nie spotkałem choć ostrzegające tablice były i wtedy i teraz widziałem.

Więc pojechałem wystukiwać laską echa starych spacerów…

Central Park

Pozostałeś ten sam, niezmieniony.

To ja się postrzałem, zwolniłem bieg,

nie ty Parku cudowny, stary, młody,

z legendą, wysokimi drzewami otoczony.

Nocą parną od spotkań pasji,

za dnia, jak w Lasku Bulońskim

na polankach zielonych z Renoira,

karminowe wino pragnienia gasi.

Młody mężczyzna przechodzi obok,

uśmiecha się oczami, wargami,

tańczącymi, jak gałęzie wierzb biodrami.

Bezgłośne szepty, spojrzenia, mowa bez słów –

Zmrok za chwilę cicho nadejdzie,

pochylą się, jak szyja Ledy, zielone gałęzie …

Where the river bends at the intersection of today and yesteryear in New West

Bogumil Pacak-Gamalski

In 1856 Major General Richard Moody founded the City as a Capital of the colony of British Columbia. Actually he named it originally as a Queensborough. It was no one other than Queen Victoria, who called it a Royal City, and because the Seat of the Power was in Parliament in London – it was formally called a New Westminster.

Hence, it retained that old charm and European – in the Island flavor, of course – style of streets and architecture. The two main streets are Columbia and above it, you guessed it – is naturally Royal Avenue leading to – again, of course – Queens Park.

Eventually much later, in the 1920, Vancouver overtook it by size and population. But the Royal City remained with its stiff upper lip, LOL.

Enough of these ahs! and ohs!. Better turn to pictures and see for yourself. Why not start with the stately Queens Park. Loved it very much in my days here. The ‘better’ version not so much – too many spaces and land taken by activities other than strolling, perhaps jogging or even biking. All this big parcels cleared and gates for tennis courts, for dogs of leashes, huge parking spaces. Not my cup of tea. I liked better the old, majestic and a bit wild park. Still enjoyed the walk, the old trees, little art gallery.

Do not worry though about the mistake general Moody made in naming the city. Queensborough does exist next door, sort of another district of New West. A very modern, very European (Continental to the boot – no British Isle in architectural style, no sir).

Once I went on the Waterfront pass the famous River Market on the Esplanade, I had to stop for a moment and reminiscent. To look across my arm if … he is still walking behind me. Yes, my John. The last time I walked here was with him. That was very long time ago. Probably about 2010, maybe even 2005? But it felt like yesterday. These special moments come to me suddenly, without conscious choice. Just a certain spot, street, maybe even store, a park, a street corner. Anywhere and anytime. That is, when my joy in rediscovering the city I love so much becomes dark and heavy. On this walk – it was a sweet reminiscing. Sad – ye, but in that sweet, sentimental sadness. Almost like a melancholy. Wanted to turn and place my arm around his neck and place a kiss on his cheek. I know how he hated public display of affection – but how he sort of secretly liked it, too. Sometime we all do …

Queen Victoria would have smiled

Bogumił Pacak-Gamalski

Hence, it retained that old charm and European – in the Island flavor , of course – style of streets and architecture. The two main streets are Columbia and above it , you guessed it – is naturally Royal Avenue leading to – again, of course – Royal Park.

Eventually much later, in the 1920, Vancouver overtook it by size and population. But the Royal City remained with its stiff upper lip, LOL.

I have not been here for almost a decade. But it feels and looks like nothing has changed. Naturally, it did. But almost just superficially: it used to be that every second store was a wedding dresses, long tails and suits. There are still few of them and prominently displayed but the majority was replaced with new, metro-style trendy cafes, little restaurants with excellent cuisine, boulangeries –patiseries (It will be the death of me, considering my weakness for a good cake and pastries, aj wej!), even an excellent exotic and elegant (very handsome perfumer) salon with perfumes called ‘Aromatica’ – that will be the death of my bank account, LOL. Did I mention that salon is exactly next door to an entrance to the building I’m living in? Aj wej!!! There is also rather visible (or audible) musical life here. Back in my first years here there was a popular restaurant/club ‘Heritage Grill’. Used to go there many times for a good music and good drinks. Often with dances, which my Mom used to like very much. While still living in Halifax, the owner notified me that the club was consumed by fire. so now the musicians move to little drinking hole ‘Judge Begbie’s Tavern’ and at least twice a week old singers and players and new aspiring ones gather there for impromptu concerts. Little corner by the door where they perform is called Heritage Grill Corner. Nice. Spent an evening there and had a nice chat with two young singers.

Enough of these ahs! and ohs!. Beter turn to pictures and see for yourself.

Futuristic City – Miasto Jutra

Bogumił Pacak-Gamalski

(in English and in Polish)

Specifically and accurately speaking it is not ‘a city’, entire town – rather a specific fragment of Burnaby, major part of Greater Vancouver. Even more specific – a small but prominent section concentrated around intersection of Kingsway, Willingdon and Beresford streets. What is popularly called a Metrotown. A city of glass towers with massive commercial mall in the middle of it.

Któż nie pamięta “Przedwiośnia” Stefana Żeromskiego (jeśli ktoś nie pamięta, to nie powód do chwały – pewne kanony literatury polskiej winny być podstawą tego, co określa się mianem świadomości inteligentnego [czyt. mądrego Polaka]) i jego wizji szklanych domów Baryki? Symbolu nowoczesnej, sprawiedliwej i pięknej odrodzonej Polski. Nawet jeśli “Przedwiośnia” nie bardzo pamiętacie – to bez wątpienia, co te hasło Polska szklanych domów oznaczało, jako metafora.

Odwiedzając wczoraj spacerem środkowy fragment Burnaby, nazywany od molocha-centrum handlowego Metrotown, wspomniałem tą metaforę z “Przedwiośnia”. Całą tą przestrzeń wciśniętą między ulicami Royal Oak, Kingsway, Willingdon i Imperial. Ale podobnie, jak wizją Żeromskiego nie miała z rzeczywistością wiele wspólnego, tak i ta wizja z Metrotown nic o sprawiedliwości społecznej nie mówiła. Jeśli literackie skojarzenia to zdecydowanie Lem a nie Żeromski przychodził na myśl. A właściwie jeszcze dalej i konkretniej: merkantylizm, blichtr, popyt-podaż. Ludzie tam chodzący to nie mieszkańcy – to klienci. Trudno uwierzyć, że tuż obok są urocze, rozległe miejsca spacerowe pięknego Central Park; nieco w dół Deer Lake uroczy, czy choćby spacerowe alejki wzdłuż Sanderson Way. Jeśli nie wiesz – pojęcia mieć nie możesz , bo te szklanno-betonowe ściany ulic przesłaniają wszelką perspektywę widokową. Naprawdę szkoda. Trzydzieści lat temu mieszkałem tu niedaleko, na Capitol Hill. Metrotown już istniał, cały ten wielki mall. Istniało wiele ze starszych wieżowców, ale wszystko miało to ciągle jakiś ludzki wymiar. Nie było martwą (mimo ciągłego ruchu, bieganiny) pustynią megalitów.

Przyznaję, że te szklane ściany przy odpowiednim naświetleniu, niebie i chmurach są gratką wielkich luster. I jest to ciekawe zjawisko i wyzwanie fotograficzne. Kilka z tego dnia zdjęć poniżej. Co naturalnie nie zmienia moich refleksji powyżej.

The charm of Downtown Vancouver through camera lense

Bogumił Pacak-Gamalski

I posted here already photo galleries of Commercial Drive in Vancouver; of quaint sweet Ladner; of course of my beloved Stanley Park. Now it is time for cherry on top of it: the incomparable beauty of Downtown Vancouver.

Były tu już posty w ostatnich miesiącach z ruchliwej, uroczej Commercial Drive we Wschodnim Vancouverze; były z magicznego, zaczarowanego Stanley Parku, z uroczego małego Town of Ladner. Czas na koronę tego piękna zwanego Wielkim Vancouverem: Downtown Vancouver.

Trails, Sun and Moon above Okanagan Lake

Bogumił Pacak-Gamalski

During the long Pleistocene there were few glacial movements in what is known now as an Okanagan Valley. It created an amazing mixture of land and water formations near Kelowna. Of course Okanagan Lake, the largest depository and former deepest channel of the glacier as it retreated from these lands. But there is multitude of smaller lakes stretching to Shuswap and Arrow Lakes to the east and multitude of smaller lakes in the mountains and hills surrounding the valley. Between – a maze of streams and small rivers feeding middle size lakes (Maramata, Kalamalka and Wood – to name just a few) or the huge Okanagan Lake.

Today I went for trek to some of the high hills (mind you – still hills, not proper mountains) on the southeast above Kelowna. It is a mixture of grassland and small patches of wooded area with pines and shrubs. Human habitation is ever encroaching there, as people build more and more monstrous mansions higher and higher. Still, I hiked higher and further. At a certain spot, traversing a deep gully with very steep sides I have noticed a narrow trail from the bottom to the other side. As the gass was half frozen and numerous patches os snow made it slippery, I gladly took that narrow trail. I realized quickly that it was narrow for a good reason – it was not made by other hikers but by animals. The only marks I found were those of coyotes and very distinctive footprints of a bear. As the slopes were very steep, I couldn’t see what was on the other side and ascertain how fresh the footprints were. My chances of running very quickly on that terrain were rather slim. But today our paths did not cross… , LOL. I followed, were I could, old existing trails: aptly named Hoodoo Trail, Coyote Trail and Grassland Trail. In parts – mostly it was just the grassland and the trails appeared and disappeared under the grass and snow.

The view from these hills toward the city far away and the mountains above me was just amazing. An eagle was screeching angrily at me – go home! And laughingly I yelled back at him: never you mind, I will not bother you, go away! Which he did flown away from hi s nest on one of the tall pines. The eagle also gave sign that a true spectacle was just about to begin: the absolutely stunning sunset on the west side and almost full moon on the east. It was something to behold. Hope my camera captured part of it. Enjoy.