Vancouver Refreshed...

Vancouver Part 1:

I was raised in Vancouver and lived there on and off over many years having finally decided to live in a smaller community some 22 years ago to raise our family. I know the city well and while I have no interest in living there, I again discovered why so many visit it. I recently heard from some friends in Germany that they watched a documentary about Vancouver and were intrigued. I wrote back that I was pretty sure the documentary they watched showed the city in all its glory on sunny days, but probably not when it was having a bad day! When the winter rains come and stay for weeks, the skies are steal grey, colours are muted and the storm winds howl.  For me, that's the depressing side of Vancouver that haunted my memories for years. The ever increasing numbers of homeless folks, the oversized ugly homes in many areas, the heavy traffic and the usual things that are part of many large citiy experiences when you live there day in and day out. This stuff likely didn't make it into the documentary. It seldom does.

However, I promised that I would take some 'snap shots' and send them to Germany with a few comments, but not to expect too much as it was late Autumn heading into Winter, a notoriously stormy and unsettled time of the year. 

Well. I was to discover just how wrong I could be. To visit central Vancouver as a tourist with good weather at ANY time of the year is quite another experience from what my memory recalled. Frankly, it's quite stunning. 

The amazing mountains to the north and east on the shores of English Bay and the massive natural harbour area creates a setting of extreme beauty. I was again reminded of this during our visit.

And of course we started to explore by foot as is our habit and pleasure. We walked and we walked. In all, over 40 kms during the three days (hence the post into the walking blog). 

Usually I was in the city for business (when I worked) or to visit family and friends further out in non-touristed parts of the city. This time I was able to see it through the eyes of a visitor in the core area...through new eyes. 

The days were cold at -3 and warmed to about 4 (below normal temperatures) but the sky was clear and blue. On the first day it was amazing with full sun, full on colour, the mountains and the water. 

It was pretty special. We started with an 18 km walk that included circling the Stanley Park sea wall.

These are Blue Herron nests that are usually nearly impossible to see in the summer when the trees are  in full leaf. I was shocked to see at least a hundred nests in just a few trees.

Looking out over English Bay where massive freight and commodity ships sit at anchour waiting for their turn to pass under the Lions Gate bridge and into the massive inner harbour for their turn to be loaded. I have fond memories of dingy sailing through these giants when I was just a young boy. Amazing to think of the freedoms we were granted in those days! Young kids in big cities these days seldom have the same access to discover. It's just not as safe as it was in the late '60's.

The park still holds the same magic I remember from when I was young and would ride my bike through and around it.

Of course the Lions Gate Bridge is ever present. 

And even the locals on the sea wall seemed friendly!

A little First Nations colour was also most welcome. Of course these lands once were inhabited for thousands of years by these peoples, and remained honoured today.

Late in the afternoon I was able to slip away to meet a very close friend. The walk and ferry ride to the Quay was refreshing and very scenic...if only the beer had been half as good, eh David? Another brew pub next time for sure!! 

I was able to end the first day of walking with an excellent sunset over the city scape from across the harbour. Quite magical!

Part 2 will follow...