Vancouver – a city that is always highly recommended.
For me, it was a nerve-wrecking experience at first:
When I wrote down the hostel’s address and directions, I somehow forgot to note the bus number, which was a HUGE mistake. There was a bus schedule at the Skytrain exit and NOWHERE else. Not at any bus stop or anywhere else.
Luckily, three teenagers helped me out and took me on “their” bus, but then I got lost in Westpoint Grey for 20 minutes. Finally, almost two hours after arriving at the Greyhound station, I made it: I was at HI Jericho Beach, just a three-minute walk from the wonderful, fine-grained, always exciting beach *sigh*.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t actually enjoy the beach on the first evening because I had to go shopping right away, as I didn’t have any supplies for dinner or ingredients for breakfast with me. So, for now: more stress 😉
Luckily, from the next day on, things got better. My first act was to go to the windsurfing school, where I signed up for a lesson right on the next day, Saturday, before my inner couch potato or lazybones could even start to pipe up.
23rd July: Sightseeing in Downtown Vancouver
Then I set off for some sightseeing (gosh, I was still motivated then…). First down to BC Stadium, where the awesome BC Lions play, but which is currently being renovated (so no watching football for me 🙁 ), then past the casino, and towards Science World, but before that, the unmistakable tents of Cirque du Soleil crossed my path once again.
Of course, I had to try my luck again, but the circus wasn’t on my side: the show I had in mind was at 4 p.m., but the ticket office didn’t open until 6:30 p.m. — they just don’t want me there.
After that, I took a quick tour of the streets and alleys of Chinatown and Gastown, followed by a short walk to the waterfront and back to downtown.
I spent the next few hours trying to figure out how I could still get a ticket but after the official ticket office couldn’t help me either and referred me to online sales, I gave up and went back to the hostel, where I could finally enjoy my home beach 🙂
Here are some pictures of my sightseeing tour:
24th July: Learning how to windsurf
On the next morning, the first windsurf lession started right at 9 a.m. —with the luxury of my own personal photographer: Isabelle, whom I met at the hostel, who agreed to take photos of my first encounter with sail and board :).
if you’re, curious, here are some photos of my first windsurf lesson
25th July: Excursion to Bowen Island
The following day, Sunday, I went on a “hiking” tour on Bowen Island organized by the hostel. What would normally have been a walk of two hours our tour guide managed to turn into a 4-hour tour by greeting almost every tree personally. Fortunately, there was delicious food at the harbor pub afterwards, and after 4 hours of strolling around, we were ready to eat 😉
Some pictures of this great excursion 😉
27th July: Not a park but also no forest: Stanley Park
On Tuesday, I went to Stanley Park, world-famous, but really “just” a small wooded area.
So, not a real park, but not a real forest either—what to make of it?
As a former Bruehl resident and Ville forest fanatic, I was definitely disappointed by “Stanley Forest”: the paths were wide and uninteresting, and all the trails that looked promising as alternatives ended after 15 minutes at the latest in the middle of the wooded chaos, forcing me back onto the forest highway 🙁 It was still nice, of course, but if I had researched Stanley Park a little more, I would definitely have rented a bike. After the walk to Prospect Point and back to the city center, my feet were pretty finished and I was glad to be able to hop on the bus at Devonian Harbor Park.
If you’re looking for a bit of greenery, click here :):
29th July: Granville Island
The following Thursday, I visited Granville Island, where I stumbled across the recording of an introduction for a music channel.
Overall, it was a nice outing: a large market, interesting little shops, musicians and jugglers, and, as always, lots of tourists everywhere.
Some more pictures of Granville Island 🙂
Later and in between
The rest of the time was mostly spent lying on the beach, walking on the beach, relaxing at the hostel after being at the beach, doing a bit of windsurfing and watching fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. I was there during the fireworks competition, which Spain won—hmmm, pure coincidence that they were so good at soccer too??? 😉
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