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Fri
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01/05/09
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We take the Greyhound down to
Vancouver. The 'Sea to Sky Highway' is well worth the trip. The
scenery is amazing with snow capped peaks, rivers, gorges, sea
inlets and spring awakening all around.
In Vancouver it's hot and
sunny and we only dump our stuff at the hostel, then head back
out. We go for a long walk up to Waterfront, through Gastown and
Chinatown to Broadway, then along 'False Creek'. I love how green
the city is, and all the new landscaping along the waterfront at
'False Creek' is gorgeous! To round the day off we head down to
'Sunset Beach', which certainly does what it says on the tin. The
sky is slowly turning more and more shades of red, while the hills
the other side of the bay are fading into blue. We watch a heron
fish for dinner, the peacefulness of the scene only a little
disturbed by the rave boat out at sea, and the thousands of
overexcited school children on the beach.
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Sat
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02/05/09
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We walk down to Broadway and
check out the vast array of outdoors shops around there. The
mountain equipment co-op is amazing, so is the 'Whole Foods' shop
just around the corner, where they are doing a charity barbecue,
which yields a tasty lunch. Unfortunately it starts to rain in the
afternoon – more usual Vancouver weather, to all accounts. We
make our way to the train station to buy tickets to California,
but you need a passport to buy the ticket, and we've both
forgotten to bring that along. Next we go for a ride on the sky
train, all around the two lines, to get an overview of the city.
It is big, end to end. When we get back to 'Waterfront' we're both
starving, and we go for a beer and a quesadilla at the pub just
next to the station. All the Canadians are hooked on the Ice
Hockey match on telly, but unfortunately the 'Canucks', the local
team, lose on this occasion. After food I'm ready to retire, and
we walk home in the rain. Alas, in the ground floor of the hostel
there is a club night going on with banging tunes shaking the
building. I finally go to sleep properly at about a quarter to
four and am delighted to be awakened again at 8, when the
breakfasting guests start slamming doors.
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Sun
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03/05/09
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We manage to purchase our
train tickets, then get on the 'aqua bus' from the Science Museum
to Granville Island, where we check out the market with all
nice-looking food stuffs and handicrafts. We then hop back on the
boat and get off at the 'Aquatic Centre'. From there we go for a
walk around the sea wall of Stanley Park and enjoy the fresh sea
air blowing in and the amazing views all around. It's a long way
too, and our feet hurt when we are only about half way round. We
stop for a little rest and see a raccoon, dripping wet, scuttling
up the beach to where James is sitting. The raccoon does keep a
careful eye on James, but still climbs up the sea wall just below
him, and then disappears into a drain heading inland. We also turn
away from the sea and make our way towards 'Beaver Lake'. For what
is more or less an inner city lake, this place is astoundingly
wild. We watch a heron fish, then spot the most amazing looking
little bird fly towards us. Later we read on a sign that he is a
marsh-dwelling 'Red Winged Black Bird'. Behind the lake the path
snakes into rain forest, with what appeared to be Redwoods, just
not quite as tall as they can be. Next we get to the rose garden,
which is mostly tulips at the moment, but utterly stunning. We're
nearly back in the city now, and in desperate need of a rest, but,
having spoken to Roger's friend Mike on the phone in the morning,
we figure we had better make our way over to his house, if we are
serious about leaving some of our luggage there. Loaded with a ski
bag, an enormous snowboard bag, two boot bags and a big rucksack
we decide to take a cab. Fortunately it's not too far and not too
pricey, and we find the house in Kitsilano fine. Nice house, too,
and to our relief there is an giant cellar. Mike and his wife
Rachel don't mind having our stuff there, and also say that it
wouldn't be a problem if we wanted to leave it there until next
winter season. Roger happens to be at their house, for a friend's
funeral sadly, but it's nice for us to have him there for
introductions, and we get invited to stay for a cup of tea.
Shortly after, two more friends of theirs, Rebecca and Connor,
make an appearance, and we all sit chatting for some time. Rebecca
and Connor are going to be in Yosemite in mid May, so hopefully
we'll all catch up again soon. Just after 10 James and I make our
way home on the bus, with me practising my Canadian accent. It's
not going too badly. At the same time James says it still sounds
very much like a comedy Canadian accent. Still, I reckon I have at
least about five words at my disposal, whereas my Scottish never
got beyond two words, and they were identified as Geordie, by Ian
from work, who is from Newcastle.
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Mon
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04/05/09
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We set out to walk the
remaining bit of the Stanley Park sea wall, which we didn't manage
yesterday, and go to the aquarium. On my vote we visit the
extensive section on the marine life of the B.C. coast first, and
soon we're both as excited as the children flocking around. The
variety and colours of the plants, fish, and other creatures is
astounding, and I just hadn't expected it, given that the sea is
quite cold around here. After the B.C. section, we visit the frog
section, where it transpires that James has a bit of frog phobia.
Fortunately for him it is time for the sea otter talk, and we move
outside to coo over the playful otters. We head on to see the
dolphins, when the announcement comes that the place is about to
shut. With a quick look at the belugas, and a visit to the gift
shop, we reluctantly call it a day. Back out on the sea wall we
soon find the totem poles of some of B.C.'s first nations, as well
as another raccoon, who is hanging out at the bottom. Back in down
town we stumble across a Japanese restaurant that is packed with
people who might all be Japanese, so we decide to give it a shot.
I love the seafood ramen, and also our seat by the window from
where we can watch the world go by.
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Tue
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05/05/09
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James want to watch the
football, and fortunately they are showing it at 'Doolin's Irish
Pub' just across the road from our hostel. Arsenal lose, but I
enjoy my “Caffrey's”, as well as the 'Celtic Breakfast', and
at least this way there is no danger of it turning into a drinking
session, when we were planning on doing some useful things today.
We go back to the hostel and write some postcards. I then get onto
writing my diary, and James gets his guitar out. Unfortunately he
snaps a string and is immediately bored. Still, an excuse to go to
“Tommy Lee's” music store, which is just up the road, and well
impressive, even to me. It's a beautifully restored building
dating to before 1920, and the guitar section alone is huge, with
guitars ranging from $200 to $47,000. After that we buy some
supplies for the train for tomorrow, then make it home just in
time before the rain.
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