Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Day 226: Vancouver wins me over
So after returning from the relative tranquillity of the island I was thrust back into the hustle and bustle that was Vancouver.But Vancouver was a changed city.Now scorching hot if offered a plethora of activities by day and by night to occupy oneself with.Unfortunately all that would have to wait for me as I had to find myself somewhere to live for the next month.I attacked Craigslist - the local listings website advertising everything from prams to pets and most importantly jobs and apartments - with vigour.
I lined up several 'apartments' to see the next day but was starting to realise from various conversations and replies from potential landlords that my short stay of four weeks was going to count against me.I rapidly scrapped any delusion of moving into the area of Kitslano, an expensive area close to Kitslano beach and decided I would give every other opportunity a chance.This with hindsight may have been a bit naive.
The first place I visited was in Metrotown, a good 15minute Sky train ride out of the city (this in London terms would be close but for Vancouver was fairly far out).In the searing heat I drudged around - rueing my foolish choice of black heavy clothing - looking for the house number that in my haste over the phone I'd carelessly scrawled and now was misreading an '0' for a '6'.It was too hot for these kinds of mistakes.
After speaking to the pleasant Asian lady land lord I found it and she showed me down into a deep, cluttered, dark (totally devoid of natural light) but spacious living area in the basement.I would have to share the kitchen 2 flights up with her and her mother at an extra cost.I expressed my gratitude and got out of there as quickly as I could.Next, a house that took as long to get to as my flight to Canada, then a room with nothing but a bed, a microwave and a TV and no access to any of the rest of the house(bar a toilet) or any of the people who lived there.
One apartment though had blown me away and I knew I had to take it.Located in a bohemian, cafe lined area on Main St some 10mins by bus from downtown a beautiful little house with a huge garden was to become my home for the next month.Ollie, a really affable Canadian showed me into the huge spacious house (see video tours 1-4: http://www.statravelblogs.com/smarsha78/videos) littered with unusual artwork everywhere.My room was large, unshared and had its own speaker system!!I was in love.I told Ollie later on I'd move in.Within a couple of days I had moved in my stuff.
Over the next two weeks I concentrated on getting a job and a bike (A job being my priority of course).The weather was absolutely amazing but drudging around in the heat going to employment centres and handing out resumes in the searing heat was exhausting.My main issue was that the clock was ticking.I only had four weeks in Vancouver and the longer I left it the more unemployable I was.I heard back from one employer for an interview at the end of the month.Getting desperate I visited a short term employment centre that had jobs in warehouses packing food or labouring.I was receptive to the idea until the adviser told me I would have to be there at 5.30am to get work!!The economic downturn meant there was a lot of people looking and few jobs so an early start was needed.I decided to cut my losses and just enjoy my time in Vancouver.
In the mean time I and Ollie had become friends as the good old recession had taken yet another victim and Ollie was laid off from his teaching job.Ollie was a very interesting Canadian of Hungarian and Mexican descent who spoke fluent Korean as a result of living there for 4 years.To occupy our days we intermittingly played play station, watched documentaries (on Sky plus thingy) and discussed Vancouver's housing and socio-economic problems.Ollie invited me to meet some of his friends at a UFC night (Ultimate Fighting Championship - many Canadians watch UFC, a brutal form of cage fighting, like a major boxing event).I had a really good time and got invited to a housewarming the following week.
I bought a bike from the local thrift store (like a charity shop) which I believe had been acquired by some of the more dubious residents of West Hastings (a street lined with alcoholics, drug addicts and individuals looking so hallowed in face they could be mistaken for dead) as it still had an unopened bike lock on it and used it frequently to navigate around the ridiculously hilly streets of Vancouver.
So, I've been asked.What did you do in Vancouver? Some of my activities included, partying with my friend Huy, dining with Michael and Natalie from Ealing in Kitslano, going to a BBQ on Commercial Drive around Sarah´s and staggering in at 11am the next day, relaxing on the beach (a lot), volunteering in a soup Kitchen in Kitslano, cycling around Stanley park, a crazy pub crawl with a hostel and then finally going back to Whistler to try my hand at mountain biking (see next blog).
All in all it was an active month and I really enjoyed it.There were undoubtedly lonely moments but towards the end I was starting to meet Vancouverites and settling in and unfortunately had to continue on my travels.Before I finished my time in Vancouver I decided to take one last trip up to Whistler to try my hand at mountain biking - it was to prove quite an experience.
- comments