On our last visit to Vancouver we went for a walk along the seawall around Stanley Park. It is wonderful to take a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge in the bright sunshine – especially if there is still snow on the ground at home. We had noticed stones precariously balanced, one on top of the other, seeming to defy gravity. It was very cool, but not half as cool as when we later saw the “artist” at work on another creation.

We probably watched for the better part of half an hour as he worked to fully understand a single stone, testing the balance in different orientations until he found the perfect position. It became apparent there was more to this than meets the eye. I rather suspect these seemingly fragile creations are a lot sturdier than they appear. I was reminded of my visit to Jordan. The stacked columns at Jerash consist of free standing stones that you can actually see sway in the breeze, and yet they have survived two millennia of conquest, earthquakes, and neglect. I’m not suggesting these will last anywhere near that long, but you get my point.

I’m looking forward to our upcoming visit.