Exploring the city

Monday, April 04, 2016
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
First full day and so lucky with the weather. Vancouver looks glorious in spring sunshine.

Started by getting a Compass Card, a reloadable card for all the transport in the city . Surprised they have only just introduced it. Took the Skytrain to Waterfront and walked around Canada Place. It's like Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong, a place for cruise ships to dock and of course, there are shops there, too. The architecture is amazing and the structure is designed to look like a sailing ship . The sails on the roof were very effective. You can see North Vancouver across the Coal Harbour. The combination of shimmering water, pine trees and sun rays was magical. Next to Canada Place is the Convention Centre and the Jack Poole Plaza. There is a lot of open space between the buildings and did not feel notcluttered.

A short bus ride took me to Gastown. Well, I had intended to go to Chinatown, but the bus stopped a couple of streets further north. Unlike like the one in London (now no more), it was a 'good value store'. I got out the other side onto E Hastings Street and walked towards Carrall Street and immediately the aroma hit me. We are now in the notorious part of Gastown. This is not the picture the tourist office wants you to see and I was amazed how sudden it shifted from a slightly less glamorous area to the homeless watering hole.

Anyway, I crossed the road and a few minutes away, I was in Chinatown. Of course this is the original Chinatown from the 19th century. The new, and much bigger, one is in Richmond, to the south of Vancouver. Many of the shops reminded me of the western part of Hong Kong Island (西環,上環) where dried seafood is sold from barrels and you can smell them before you see them . That was evocative. However, it wasn't exactly buzzing and I had to walk a few streets to find any restaurants. It is bigger than Soho, and the fact that it was a Monday afternoon might explain why it was a bit quiet.

The main attraction in the area is the Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden. Together with the one in Portland, they are the two authentic classical Chinese gardens in North America. Renovation works were being carried out so we could only see the garden party which meant it was free. Perhaps the renovation is needed as the garden did look a bit tired. I'm sure it will be great for our next visit.

Before meeting up with my niece and her boyfriend, Michael, for dinner in lovely English Bay, I walked along Davie Street, some of it is the gay village of Vancouver. Lots of nice cool looking places to hang out and , Goodness me, what a concentration of restaurants. So many places to eat, so few mealtimes left...!

English Bay is a very nice urban beach with lots of space for cyclists, joggers and those of us who are less energetic. It forms a long belt of open space from Stanley Park to almost Granville Island. Seattle ciy planners need to come here and see how their seafront can look. We need to go back there after they have buried the Alaskan Highway.

I had a lovely, lovely eveing with Louise and Michael, catching up, scoffing nice food and drinking gorgeous BC wine. Erm, I told them that I was a light drinker but somehow I managed to share a whole bottle with Michael. No hangover either.... The years of going to France on holiday has been good training.
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Comments

Louise & Michael
2016-04-05

Hurrah! So wonderful to have you here, Alan - and we miss Hamish too! We had a very lovely evening with you too. Glad all those holidays to France "training" have been put to good use.

Etsuko & JC
2016-04-05

Me gusta muchísimo leer vuestros reportajes.

Tim & Phil
2016-04-05

Are you going to Victoria and Tofino, well worth the ferry trip to Vancouver Island. Tim Phil Kornel xxx

alan-hamish
2016-04-07

Alas, no time for Vancouver Island. It will have to wait until the next time.

2025-02-17

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