By Maryanna Gabriel
"The present moment is filled with joy and happiness.
If you are attentive, you will see it."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
- Thich Nhat Hanh
A sharp intake of breath at my first view of Kaslo. Smitten. The historic buildings with the mountains and lake beyond had me. The hotel room was lovely, overlooked the water, had touches of luxury, and was worth every penny. Downstairs, there was a crackling fire. After sleeping like a lamb, and before more exploration, I visited the Blueberry Bistro and had to try Bao - an avocado deep-fried with panko and coconut, served with a fried egg, arugula and Korean hot sauce on a bun. A deep, earthy coffee accompanied it. Wow.
Later, I walked. At first, the miners came by rowboat. By 1893, Kaslo had a population of 3,000, mostly men, and bustled in its heyday. Silver prices fell, freak windstorms, fire, and flooding beset the town. The SS Moyie, pictured below, later serviced the residents and is now proudly retired. Kaslo has a music festival and a Shakespeare festival every summer, but I enjoyed the sleepy quiet of the town in the March morning sunshine.
