Olive's sister Chris and brother-in-law Wu kindly offered to let us use their timeshare at Whistler just north of Vancouver, Canada during the first week of July.  During most of the year, it is a ski resort, but it's beautiful mountain scenery and many Summer recreational attractions keep it open all year around.

The icy mountain lakes with their clear, cold waters were a nice change from swimming pools in steamy Manila.  Swimming there was very magical.  Not sure exactly what it was -- maybe the towering alpine peaks around us, maybe the azure skies above us, maybe the fresh mountain air, or perhaps the shock of the frigid waters -- but we felt so alive.

There were many recreational activities at Whistler -- mountain biking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, wall climbing, trapeze flying (really), and that last patch of summer skiing.  Coming from Third World Asia, the prices seemed higher than the mountains.  We did let the kids indulge in a few things.  Both Mac and Maya impressed us with their wall climbing skills.  They had both studied climbing at the International School of Manila.  Mac conquered one of the more difficult climbs.  Maybe Everest next summer.

Our favorite part of Whistler was getting away from the overly commercial resort village and up into the natural beauty of the mountains.  We were able to take a series of three chair lifts which were an hour ride up to about 7000 feet elevation.  High above the valley,  the scenery was spectacular.

We spent most of one day hiking a beautiful alpine trail at the timberline.  The Blackcomb mountains on the horizon were our constant companion.  There were still patches of snow and the first wildflowers were just starting to bloom.

Not a lot of snow in the Philippines.  For Mac and Maya, this was their first and only snow this year.   Maya had to make her obligatory snowball.

We were feeling kind of sad to miss the Fourth of July in the States, but Canada Day (July 1st) proved to be the perfect Canadian equivalent.  The town of Whistler had a little Canada Day parade.  What they lacked in floats and marching bands, they made up for in enthusiasm.

And we did not lack for fireworks.  The Canada Day fireworks against the backdrop of the mountains was one of the better pyrotechnic displays we have had the pleasure of seeing.

But even more spectacular than the fireworks were the alpine wildflowers.  Maya and Denny took many pictures of the wildflowers which were all in bloom.  The month of July is Spring in the mountains and everything felt so alive.  Denny especially liked the Mountain Heather with its delicate beauty that survives in the harshest of climates.