Day Seven & Eight in Vancouver, Canada

Not only did today mark the first time I’ve been on a bicycle in 18 years (or thereabouts) but it also marked our first ever JAPADOG – a Japanese style hotdog (please to report no actual dog). I had the “Avocado special”… in short a beef hotdog, smothered in Japanese mayonnaise, cream cheese, with a whole slab of avocado decorating the top. It was a beast to eat but bloody tasty. So were the shichimi and garlic chips. A meal there will cost you about ten bucks.

Having consumed about one million calories, we figured it would be a good idea to burn them off on a bike. For four hours. In the pissing rain. We picked up our bikes at Simon’s Bike Shop on Robson Street ($28 including taxes for a whole day’s hire) and headed off at a modest pace. There are bike lanes all over Vancouver (apparently) but pick up a map from Simon and study it a bit before heading off. We cycled down Hornby Street, all the way down the end, and somehow managed to get on Beach Avenue. From there, we cycled up to and all around Stanley Park. Before we passed out, we grabbed a coffee and took a snap of the famous Totem Poles.

 

 

We didn’t want to be responsible for the bikes overnight, especially as we had a flight to catch the next day, so we had to race back to Simon’s shop (it closes at 6pm). This would have been fine if a) we didn’t have any wine, b) there wasn’t a monsoon, and c) we didn’t break every highway code known to man. Regardless, we managed it. And we didn’t kill ourselves. Or anyone else. Hurrah.

We were soaked through to the bones (pack waterproofs) so we sought shelter at our hostel and showered off the day in preparation for our last night in Vancouver. We met Irish for a spot of dinner at The Factory – every dish is $5.95. And after a few beers (Lucky Larger was on offer), we continued partying at The Cellar, followed by L.E.D. We didn’t last long. Mainly, because we were knackered but also because Vancouver’s nightlife doesn’t quite match up to what we’re used to back in the UK. That’s not us being bar / clubbing snobs (well, it is a bit) but even the Canadians we met said it was a bit on the dull / quiet / restrictive side. That’s another thing – if you look under 40, you’ll get IDed. So take ID.

Our flight was at 3pm the next day so we just had time for a final wander down Granville Street. We caught the Canada Line from Vancouver City Centre to YVR-Airport.

So, to summarise… A few firsts this week: first time in Canada, first mountain hike, first time on a bicycle in 18 years, followed by a 4 hour bike ride in a monsoon, first encounter with wild bears, and – above all else – my first JAPADOG. Thanks to Irish & the girls for being part of the adventure. Would I recommend Vancouver? Well, if you like the idea of popping down the beach one day and heading up a mountain for a bit of skiing the next, if you wanna eat and chill out like you’ve never eaten and chilled out before, if your greedy eyes are fond of spectacular scenery and if you’re the active kind of tourist… then yes, I would. There’s something for everyone in Vancouver.

 

 

Day One & Two in Vancouver, Canada

We landed at lunchtime – however, since it was 10pm in our heads (and around midnight by the time we found the hostel), day one consisted of a jet-lagged munch on a Roxy Burger, followed by crawling into bed around 8.30pm. We girls know how to party on a Friday night! In all seriousness, stepping into an 8 hour time warp takes its toll… but on the plus side, we woke up bright and early the next day – very, very early. At the crack of dawn, in fact.

Having stuffed our faces with the free all-you-can-eat breakfast at HI Vancouver Central, we had enough calories in us to fuel an all day walk across the city. We strolled down Granville Street (heading south) and took a right down Davie (aka Davie Village / Davie District, Vancouver’s gaybourhood).

Rainbow tarmac met each foot as we wandered up towards English Bay, which – even with the dodgy weather – was stunningly beautiful.

Then we headed north down Denman Street with the intention of crossing the city and seeing Coal Harbour, but somewhere between The Body Shop and a Starbucks, we took a wrong turn… and ended up grabbing a beer at Back Forty. In true Vancourite spirit, we ordered a pint (or whatever the Canadian alternative is) of Granville Island Honey Lager. And then I downed the dregs of a Dead Frog (another Vancouver-brewed bevy). We made friends with a Canadian who told us to check out Wreck Beach, a naturist beach… but we never got round to it because the weather wasn’t really… well, nude-friendly. Same story with Kits Beach (Kitsilano Beach)– this one isn’t nude, granted, but beaches and monsoons don’t really go, do they? If you fly to Vancouver during a dry spell, I’d listen to that guy’s recommendation and check it out if you can.

Having quenched our thirst, we wobbled over to Gastown (we’re not used to drinking beer) and checked out the steam clock (a clock that is powered by steam, you guessed it!).

We had a spot of lunch and a drop of wine at The Flying Pig. The food was lush and the barmen were friendly and it was right in the hubbub of Gastown, the city’s oldest neighbourhood. This place gets two thumbs up.

Stomachs sated, we hopped over to China Town and wandered around the Dr. Sun Yat Sen classical Chinese garden. By this point, it was pretty late in the day so we headed back to the hostel to spruce up and get ready for the evening.

We started the night at Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug… quite fitting, since we were meeting up with our Irish buddy. Great atmosphere and cheap beer. What else do you need?! We finished the night at Granville Room – this bar was fun and lively, and everyone was pretty hammered, including the barman / manager. He said our accent was hot and, thanks to our “Britishness”, he offered to put us down on the guest list for a neighbouring club (which we politely declined). If you’ve got a British accent (and if you’re female), I’d suggest milking it.