16 — Friday, July 17, 1998 — North Shore News Portugal at centre stage B this summer § Expo ’98 runs through Sept. 30 Toni Dabbs Contributing Writer ; Is Vasco da Gama just a vagne recollection from some school history class? Then a visit to Lisbon’s Expo ‘98 will serve as a refresher course on the Portuguese explorer's accomplishments. Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea, effectively opening the Malabar Coast to European coloniza- tion and trade. Expo 98, which opened on May 22 and runs through September 30, commemorates the 500th anniversary of his vovage frem Lisbon to Calicut (now known as Kozhikode). TRAVEL eeemees §=urbs to the south and the 60- hectare Expo site that stretch- es along five kilometres of the river’s bank in northeastern Lisbon. A landmark tower on the grounds also bears the explorer’s name and offers panoramic views from a restaurant at the 80-metre level and from an observation terrace 100 metres high. -With the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming 1998 as the International Year of the Oceans, Portugal (which is more than half surrounded by water) has chosen The Oceans: A Heritage for she Future as the theme of its Lisbon World Exposition. Centerpiece of the site is the Oceanarium, reconstructing ecosystems from around the world, inhabited by 15,000 repre- sentatives of 200 species of ocean life. The Knowledge of the Seas Pavilion recreates scenes depicting mankind’s explorations of the oceans through the ages. And the Pavilion of the Future looks at how human activity affects the ocean and what mea- sures mast be taken to preserve this essential resource. In additicn, a recore, breaking 130 countries—includin, Canada—have displays relating to the exposition theme. These are grouped into two areas at the north and south ends of the grounds. . The Water Gardens, located between the South back On LOMmMEeErcia: in Search OF iOS a . Last weekend, I found myself on in along while... Not because I'm a soccer fan, but because I was at'the Hisvana restaurant and playhouse __ where my friend was directing and acting in * Deacon Blues, an original play written by another cast member. Our group thoroughly enjoyed the performance. And for $12 a tick- et, who can beat the entertainment valuc. For me, a few years back, Commercial . Drive was the site of an unusual house-sitting 1 Sia tp ong rotmeite tay ot one The new 17.2-kilometre-long Vasco da Gama Bridge spans the Tagus River between sub- “- . . h NEWS JERCNIMOS Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the final resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama. Although much more is going on at the Expo site, visitors. will want to devote some time to the city of Lisbon. A good place to begin is Belem, or “Bethichem,” a western region of. the cicy. It contains many of Lisbon’s finest monumenis-—sev- era! of which relate to the Expo theme. The Monument to the Discoveries, on the bank of the Tagus River, honors the Portuguese expeditions launched from here during the [5th century under the patronage of Prince - Henry the Navigator. [t was erected in 1960 to mack the International Area and the Oceanarium, is a space reserved for amusement and leisure. Water machines and hydraulic features operate along the course as it various shops and services, the Jules Verne Auditorium, and the Virtual Reatity Park, where visitors may make an imaginary descent to the ruins of — ~ an underwater city. At the foot of the Water Gardens are four floating restau- rants and the Nautical Exhibition Area, where vessels trom around the world—such as the Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker Louis S. St-Laurent—are docking during visits ro the exposition. into the hallway, and I groggily pursued. His “ long spine recoiled and his head lowered a5 I approached. ; aan in the feeling thar F was just visit- ing anyway. Afer a couple of hours, a cup of ; : : . coffee and some deft conversa- Reaching down with thumb to forefinger, I tional maneuvering to keep my had the ferret by the neck. Bringing his face to locai address to myself, we parted ¢ level, I momentarily considered ¢: it: ways. al right there by ringing his neck.” _ Te was a few nights later that I had Snapping out of it, F quickly vamoosed my serious run-in with the ferret. _ to the cage where he remained for his own It started with an ill-natured bite —_safety until his owner returned. I-did sec fitto © to my left foot. Continued with a —_ rake him out once for some fresh air in a near | frenzied dig in the houseplants, by park where he fascinated some local chil- spraying dirt in a four-foot trajec- dren and a resident street worker. On the downside, I had to look after a ferret. And ferrets are not, I think, friendly, nor fun, and they smell foul. On the first Sarurday of my stay, the sky was cloudless and the side- walks were full. i walked down to a k where I sat on the grass enjoy- ing an Orangina and magazine. I was soon joined by a loca? troubadour whe insisted on playing a song for me on his guitar. Why - not, I thought? HOWE SOUNDINGS experience. ; _ _ An acquaintance was off to New Mexico - for a week and thought perhaps I could stay at his condo and look after his houscepet, a ferret. The condo was at Broadway and Commercial. On the upside, there was sc much to do and to see in the area. Plus, I wouldn’t have to cross the Lion’s Gate Bridge to get to my job downtown. : British Pacific Properties months. scientists are surveying Public Notice with direction from the Limited is continuing its five year comprehensive study of tailed frog populations and habitat in West Vancouver's major creeks over the summer streams on both public and private Jands in accordance Afterwards, when it seemed clear that he was planning to stick around, | said I was going to continue my walk. Unperturbed, he saw fit to accompany me from one end of Commercial to the other, nodding to passers-by, wearing his guitar and no shirt. } couldn’t decide if he was mentally stable, but there was security in the crowds and also Tailed Frog Surveys Ministry of Environment. Follow-up surveys will be conducted and the results will assist in protecting and enhancing tailed frog populations. Teams of biologists and other British Pacific Properties Limited Suite 1001, 100 Park Royai, West Vancouver, B.C. VTT JA2 tory. After this, the ferret crawled behind the fridge where he remained undl far past my bedtime. I finally gave up on the ferret and cried ¢2 get some sleep. A few hours later, I was slowly awoken by a scurrying sound below the bed. He was in the bedroom. New was my chance to get him. He ran It was fun to be back on Commercial Drive’ and to remember these events. - ; Now, of course, it’s my one-year-old who |...” rouses me at 3 a.m. (I’m a lot nicer to him than the ferret). a And if I go to the local park in Horseshoe Bay, the only serenading I can expect comes from the local gulls ogling my fries or a departing ferry horn. And that’s okay with me. The Cloth Shop's Edgemont Viilage Location will be closed Monday, July 2C - Friday, July 31st due to filming of a movie. The Cloth Shop's Vancouver Store will be happy to help you with any of your quitting requirementel We apologize for any inconvenience. >, The Cloth Shop 4415 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC VGR 2H& (604) 224-1325 3068 Highland Blva., N. Vancouver, BC V7R 2X4 (604) 990-1325