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A city of mountains, forest, sea and sky….
Vancouver is a city in a pretty spectacular location. With mountains close by its not uncommon to spy snow covered peaks in the gaps between city skyscrapers. And then there's the harbour, with stretches of parkland and forest on the foreshore. Its winter colours are green and blue with a light dusting of white at the very top.
With such a spectacular backdrop its no wonder Vancouverians are an active bunch. Most either mountain bike, paddle canoes or kayaks, ski or all of the above. Its an outdoor playground, which we did our best to take advantage of during our stay.
We flew into Vancouver the day after the closing ceremony. The city oozed Olympic hangover. Streets were still closed, venues blocked off, Olympic signage everywhere and most things were half price in the Olympic store at the airport. Our friend Steve collected us which was a huge help as we seemed to have accumulated a lot of junk during our two month stay in Fernie. As we drove back to Steve and Jo's place we discussed the Olympic experience. It seems that not every Canadian is the well meaning, humble and noble fan that we have been led to believe. Stories of abuse in the street seemed to be common. it's a shame really because the Cannucks are generally quite lovable people.
After a late night catching up with Steve and Jo, our first day in the Olympic city was slow to start. We caught up with my Uncle and Cousin for lunch in downtown Vancouver (somehow we all managed to be in the city at the same time!). My Uncle showed us the broadcast centre where he'd spent most of the last two weeks covering the games. We also saw the Olympic Cauldron (unlit) and the Olympic rings floating on the harbour. There was still a lot of fencing up and restrictions on access to certain areas so we weren't able to walk along the waterfront. It would be worth doing at another time as there are great views across to Stanley Park and of the convention centre that looks like a space age boat!
We rose a little earlier on the second day and hired some bikes for a ride around Stanley Park. As I said previously, Vancouver is a city well set up for exercise. There were great bike paths all the way from Steve and Jo's place around the harbour foreshore to Stanley Park. And then as well as the path around the headland at Stanley Park, there's also numerous gravel paths through the park itself. The path around the headland is a great place to start as it gives you views of several different aspects of Vancouver. There's the city across the harbour, the Lion's Gate Bridge spanning the treacherous entrance to the harbour and the beaches, where Vancouverians spend summer days sun baking.
It was quite windy on the ride and we felt a little windswept and rugged, just like the landscape!
Yesterday, we went to Capilano Suspension Bridge, just north of the city over the Lion's Gate Bridge. (Tip: take the free shuttle from the centre of town). The Bridge was built in 1889 and is suspended 230ft above the river. We wobbled from one side to the other, with views of the forest descending into the canyon below. No one seemed to be able to tell me why the bridge was built in the first place, but I'm guessing it was for access to the forest for logging. These days the trees are protected and well cared for, with lots of exhibits on forest conservation. There's also a tree-top walk through the forest, which gives you a squirrel's eye view!
Tonight we're heading to Whistler for the last runs of the season. Fingers crossed the snow Gods are beneficent!
(P.S. A huge thanks to Steve and Jo for putting up with us in their loungeroom for a week. And thanks to Jo for helping me pick a wedding dress!).
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