From stressed to impressed

 - Carys -

We woke early in our hotel, earlier than I have been at home recently - I blame jet lag - and began to prepare for our day ahead. I enjoyed a nice hot chocolate (the powder I had brought from the last hotel) after mum called up a kettle from reception. I like to eat. so when the suggestion of finding food in the city instead of near the hotel was made, I was a little unhappy, however I wasn't too hungry so I was fine in the end.

pre hot chocolate

We strolled for a mile or so down the road, taking in the differences of Vancouver compared to home or any other places we have visited. I particularly noticed the roads, they are so wide and so plentiful. The signposts are all very similar too, as are the traffic lights.

Soon we passed a Tim Hortons, a tasty-sounding cafe that mum told as about, but decided not to eat here, but to wait until we found one in the city. We bought a day pass Sky Train tickets at the station and we were off. That first journey didn't take too long, and we didn't get to see much of the city as most of the travelling was in a large tunnel - so much for the 'Sky Train'!

After around 20 minutes or so we arrived at the Waterfront station, and headed off looking for the Waterfront itself, food in mind. We found ourselves on a lovely old-fashioned road - it made me think of what I'd imagine a little Dutch street would look like. It had many souvenir shops (or stores) where mum purchased a Canadian xmas tree decoration and dad got himself some glasses.

We also came across a beautifully structured clock with steam coming out of its top - I had read about this in the travel book. It also whistled a little tune every half hour.

Despite having a map, we stumbled across an upsetting section of Vancouver where many homeless people resided, as well as people who looked drunk. mentally ill, and drunk. However that is a part of the world, as saddening as it is.

In search of food, we escaped the area and stumbled across a Starbucks. It seems to be becoming a major part of this holiday. We 'freshened up' and enjoy some late breakfast.  Soon afterwards we found the Waterfront and took in the beautiful harbour views, as well as gazing in awe at what was possibly the largest cruise ship in the world. We later found out that it takes 2170 passengers on board. Gobsmacking.

An idea we'd discussed before the holiday was cycling, so we hired so,me bikes and took them around the beautiful edge of Stanley Park. It was a gorgeous route, with lovely views of the harbour, park and city. On our bike ride, we encountered some creatures I'd never seen before in real life (that I can recall) - racoons! A man and boy were feeding them bread, so I took the chance to snap some photos of the racoons. They were very intriguing. We returned the bikes 2 hours after renting them.

Still desperate for a Tim Burtons, we headed to the one that I'd seen a sign for earlier. There I enjoyed a delicious Canadian Maple Donut - may as well eat culturally - and a pineapple orange smoothie. Both were delicious.

Our stomachs full once again, we went to find an adaptor in a pharmacy for charging our devices since we hadn't brought the correct on es. After a while of searching, we found the correct one. Satisfied, we headed the to Sky Train station, stopping briefly at the science museum for views.

There was a little fiasco on the way back to the hotel, as we seemed to mess up our Train journey a few times. However, tired and slightly annoyed we arrived back at the correct station. Then we stopped off in a lovely bar and grill named Moxie's on the way back to the hotel. I went a little different to my usual food, and had a pasta with chicken in a creamy sauce. It was way tastier than I expected.

We then returned to the hotel, and settled down for bed after a long day of 'touristing'.

(Lloyd)

1 day in Vancouver, what to do?

A decent nights sleep as we adjusted quickly to time zone/ zonked out after no sleep for the best part of 2 days. (delete as appropriate)

I awoke first around 6am and keen to make the most of the day, got busy on the internet and watched a bit of Sunday afternoon football at breakfast time.  Also used the in room filter coffee machine to make something passable and then embrace the outside world. Love those first few steps in a new city, soaking up the small differences.  The weather remained quite hazy throughout the day, the sun looked pretty non plussed, those forest fires impacting on the local climate.

coffee and football

first sight of local icon

Walked for around 25 mins to the local Skytrain station in Bridgeport, where we bought a day pass on the monorail/underground system for Vancouver.  Good way to get around and also take in some of the sights and sounds of the city.  Arrived at Waterfront station as that seemed to be the natural pilgrimage in this City.

waterfront station

touristy stuff

Chrissi took the role of tour guide and led us left out of the station as that was where her radar suggested there might be some sights to see.  Lots of coffee shops, gift shops and came across the Steam Clock.

Jacks in Gastown #swans

We moved further into the port/industrial district, the founding streets of this city, coming across the statue of gassy Jack, the original publican of this rough and ready city.  Something must have then happened to Chrissi's radar as she strode purposefully up Blood Alley insisting this was the direction of the beautiful waterside.  Things seemed to get a lot grimmer very quickly, as we quickly realised we were in the homeless quarter, with many sad sights, clusters of rather wild looking folks, people shooting up, the odd policeman and a palpable air of hostility.  We cut back on ourselves, maintained a steady, firm pace, not getting caught up in any form of engagement, and retreated from what we later heard had been called by one local journalist 'the epicentre of hell' and licked our wounds in the middle class surrounds of a local Starbucks. I am being a little sarcastic here for the reason that it was probably important to see the real Vancouver, as opposed to the picture postcard version, but perhaps on our terms rather than in the way we did.  There are dark underbellys to all Citys, and this is no different.

By heading back to Waterfront and walking the other way we were soon in the Vancouver of the picture postcards.  The beautiful cruise liner terminal, sweeping views across the Bay (albeit the mountains shrouded in mist) and sea planes taking off and landing quite the sight to behold.

normality

Huge cruise liner

Deep Dock

Coupeland architecture, the guy who wrote Generation X designed this!!!

We hired bikes for a couple of hours (thanks Celia/Tom/Jane) and did a very leisurely circuit of Stanley Park, the rocky, picturesque outcrop to the North side of Southern Vancouver.  We were not alone in this activity, hundreds doing this beautiful route, checking out some of signs and sights of the original native settlers, a bit of local wildlife, and fantastic views across the Bay that we were travelling alongside.

family cycle

family histories, the totem way

tribal fishing techniques

Racoon

Following that we needed to take another breather, Chrissi had been hankering all day to visit the local coffee house chain (Tim Burton, Graham Norton, Horton hears a Who, Gone for a Burton)  Tim Hortons where we had smoothies and donuts - all pretty delicious.  Ardent travellers that we are, we had brought the wrong adaptors on this holiday so spent a little while finding a pharmacy that had one.  Then we decided to put our feet up and let the Skytrain do the work.  I had worked a little route out that meant we sat on the train and looked out of the window.  The first stop however encouraged us to hop off and take a look at the Science Quarter - some great environmental projects.  Then back on the train and out into the suburbs. Plan went slightly awry at the turnaround point where it became clear that the line to bring us back was not open on a Sunday. So we had to backtrack, but clearly tiredness took over as we ended up making a few mistakes and go back and forth on the same track a couple of times before sorting our route home!!

Chrissi gets her treat

Science

Sport ... Ice Hockey Stadium

No ones driving the train

Back in Richmond we visited Moxie's Bar and Grill for our first big meal of the holiday, an assortment of tasty dishes.  I quite fancied something Chinese, huge community here, but the restaurant we found reminded the kids of our Hong Kong local experience last year, and chicken feet and raw eggs not what we wanted today.  I went for a Thai Red Curry, as did Chrissi ....

Road to Gout

'Appies' Chicken Wings and Calamari

And then back at the hotel, very weary, close to a 12 hour jaunt in Vancouver meant we did our best to maximise time in this little bit of Canada.