Friday, May 12, 2006

Vancouver

The first thing I notice when I arrived in Vancouver was the absence of colour. Almost like if everything was being seen through a black and white lens in this ongoing magical outdoor postcard. Not that would disturb me when I was walking around the city, but that gives me a different attitude in mind, forcing me to look and chase the colour or the difference (maybe because I visited Vancouver at the colourless beginning spring and this period is an in-between nature spot.) But even in black and white, THIS is a city!!! Everywhere you look at you can have a good shot at the sea and the mountains. What a spot!

I found out that the sea makes you look far away and makes you wonder what is behind the horizon line, but in this case, with the mountain so close on the other side of the bay, you know what is behind the horizon, preventing you from wondering and force you contemplating. The nature is its splendour is in your face. From everywhere, every street, every spot, you see the sea and the mountain behind, and if you can see it directly you have a building reflection that draw you the shape of the panorama.

This is the first time in my life that I feel an expansion of the city from the centre. You want to look out of the city, and wonder at the same time what the city looks like from outside, like a dialogue between 2 different spots. This is intriguing and interesting. The nature is coming inside the city, inviting itself without the permission of the human nature, and imposing it rules, but human are fighting back by raising the skyline higher and higher everyday. This is a place where the nature nurtures the city and vice versa.





At the same time Vancouverians (I know it’s not that, but it’s my blog and if I want to call the Vancouverers, Vancouverians I do) are very diverse and really cool people. Always having the time to spare it with you, explaining what is what or where is where. I spend quite some time at the hotel asking question about where to go, listening to a far east seller in Chinatown andI might have experience the famous West Coast attitude, but I have definitely enjoyed my time over there. I stayed at the Buchan hotel (http://www.buchanhotel.com/) close to Stanley Park in a one-bedroom hotel room for around C$ 70 per night. The hotel was nice quiet and clean. The staff was cool and West Coast profile (now that I think that I know what it is, I am using it every time I can). It seems that the main problem in this city is where to live, and not what to do or what job you have. What an amazing place to wonder and be a traveller in. Not for long by the way or you need an unlimited wallet approval by your bank.


When you combine great location and wonderful people you have a unique place on the planet. No wonder why this is the number one city in the entire world to live in!


Thumbs Up

  • Stanley Park: this park is on the top of the head of the city and what a park! I biked around and spend most of my time in this quiet place in the city.




  • Bikes city: Around the downtown city, you have a trail for bikes/roller bladder and another one for walker. This is the way to explore Vancouver. Even buses have bike carrier for passenger!



  • Restaurants: Seafood is gorgeous; I went to Hapa Izakaya (www.hapaizakaya.com), a great fusion Tapas/Sushi place and had a great time. The Rodney's Oyster House is a must for oyster lovers that I admit I am part of.

Thumbs Down

  • Runners: They are everywhere, and make you feel bad about the 5 extra pound you carry over from one winter to other
  • Crack addicts: counter alley are not safe at night, and sometime at day as well
  • Constructions: Vancouver is a massive construction site for the Olympic games, and price going up for everything. Make you hesitate between visiting the city now or maybe after 2010.