Vancouver – Day 9

So after breakfast I hopped on the Big Bus again at Library Square with the aim to head to Granville Island.

This morning it was much colder (around 10 degree C) and as you can see from the above photo I had boarded a bus that had no roof. Well, actually it did but only for half of the bus. I sat in the open topped end so I could grab some shots.

Above you’ll see the local sports stadium (B.C. Place Stadium), where the Sports Hall of Fame is located. Interestingly, there will be a game of gridiron at the stadium the day I leave. Oh well, next time.

Also along the bus route is a local armoury and military training hall that is still used for this purpose today. Outside stands a few military displays including this Sherman tank.

The top of this building isn’t actually weathered copper, it has been pained to give that effect.

The bus now winds it way through Chinatown. The picture above shows the rear of the millennium gate, which marks the entrance to Chinatown. The Chinatown area here in Vancouver is quite large (I think the guide said that it is the second biggest in North America). The main streets are quite wide and it is well laid out when compared to other Chinatown’s I have seen.

After Chinatown is Gastown. Here’s the view from the Big Bus stop in Gastown looking west towards the Vancouver Lookout that I visited on my first day in town.

Next stop is Canada place, which used to be the Canadian pavilion when the World Trade Fair was here. Now it is an exhibition and entertainment area.

I suppose in the centre of town is the Vancouver Art Gallery which is south from the Canada Place stop.

After crossing the Burrand bridge and heading east I jumped off the bus to have a look at Granville Island. I suppose the only way that I can describe it is as cross between Darling Harbour and the Fish Markets.

Again, if you are interested in shopping, especially for ‘artistic’ nick-naks then there is plenty for you here. There is a food market and plenty of restaurants. Granville Island is also a hub for all sorts of water activities from yachts, kayaks and power boats.

 

I strolled around and had a look in a few shops and they certainly had some interesting stuff but the problem is that whatever you buy you have to lug it home with you and seeing that most had a web site I decided that if I really wanted something I could order it online.

The weather started to turn nasty and began to rain quite heavily so I headed back to the bus stop. On the way I called into Starbucks for a caffeine refresh. Another thing that I have noted about Vancouver is that there are more Starbucks here than in Seattle (or anywhere else I have seen). Like yesterday’s observation about the abnormal number of posh cars on the street my guess is that the economy up here must be doing ok. It is only the way that people can afford as many cups of Starbucks as they seem to need.

 

After rejoining the bus I rode it all the way through Stanley Park and then back to Chinatown to take a look at the Dr Sun Yat Sen Gardens.

It was very peaceful until I entered the local gift shop for a look around. Now I wouldn’t call it exactly being harassed but all I can say is that business must be bad. No sooner had I entered the shop was I followed around my someone who told me how ‘beautiful’ this was and strangely, how ‘cheap’ it was also. Now I agree there was plenty of interesting stuff but hey I’m just looking. After enduring the hard sell over a few more items I headed back to the bus.

My plan was to ride the bus once more almost around the whole loop and hop off near my hotel and have a quick look at the Stadium and the Hall of Fame.

Since this was the last complete bus loop of the day the driver actually took us a slight different way through Stanley Park.

At the northern end of the park he paused so we could grab this shot over the Lions Gate bridge.

I hopped off the bus for the final time, happy that I had gotten my money’s worth over the two days, and headed for the stadium.

I wasn’t going to have much time in the Hal of Fame, which is next to the entrance to the stadium but I admit that I was very impressed with what I saw. I can’t say that I really knew any of the people there but it was certainly a great tribute to all their efforts and achievements. I wonder we have anything like this in Australia? Because if not then we should.

In one part of the museum you get the above view of the stadium. Deceptively, it doesn’t look that big but I’m pretty sure it is.

As the museum was closing my time was up. I headed back to my hotel to grab something to eat and get ready for my trip to airport tomorrow morning. I’m going to have to lug my bags a few blocks to meet the airport shuttle so I hope the weather is going to be fine. Reports seem to indicate so. Fingers crossed.

I have enjoyed my time here in Vancouver but don’t feel I would need any additional time to see the city. I get the feeling that there is plenty more to do but much of that lies outside the city. Vancouver is a very pretty, green and progressive city. I look forward to returning sometime in the future to enjoy more of what it has to offer.