ICIAM: Day 4

I did my morning run on a different side of town, loaded up on breakfast, secured bus transportation for tomorrow's journey to Seattle, and took the 20 minute walk to the conference.  The plenary lectures have been mixed in quality, and today's proved to be a lesser temptation than answering my email.  The WiFi at the magnificent conference venue is first class.  After the coffee break, I went to a mini-symposium organized by my friends Hans and Tasso Kaper.  Both spent many years in Downers Grove, with Hans at Argonne National Laboratory.  Hans is now at Georgetown U. and his son Tasso is at Boston University.  The morning talks they arranged were very good.  My student Josh and I walked north to lunch at noon.  Below is a scene on the walk to lunch.

Scene of Vancouver Harbor

The harbor has an active group of sea planes taking off and landing all the time.  Some are pictured below.

Sea planes in Vancouver Harbor

 Josh located an excellent lunchery in an upscale grocery store.  Italian chicken, rice w/ sundried tomatoes, and steamed vegetables for me.  Josh and food pictured below..

Josh and lunch

After lunch there was another forgetable plenary.  The fellow in front of me was snoring loudly.  The remainder of Hans and Tasso's mini-symposium was from 3-5. Josh gave his talk, which was well received.  My colleague Sam also gave a talk.  Afterwards Tasso and I found some local beer and salmon and had a nice conversation.  I took a pleasant walk through peaceful and crisp Vancouver to my hotel on return.  The weather here is absolutely wonderful, in contrast with the midwest, which is currently similar to the Amazon.