I reach the outskirts of Vancouver safely, but then have to go through the process of getting local currency, and working out what form of public transport to take to get to my hostel which is on the other side of the city to the greyhound bus station. With money in my pocket I then wonder over to the main street with my massive pack on my back to try and find an appropriate bus that will take me to where I want to go. In the process of waiting for what I think is the right bus, I have several local, very tiny Asian people walk up to me and comment happily on my height, with no other pretence for conversation. It’s mighty hard to hide such a thing. Especially given how inconspicuous I was with my pack. I thought the whole thing was highly amusing.
I make it on to the bus, along with one of said height commentators, only to then be talked to incessantly about where I’m from, where I’m going, where I’ve been etc etc. In effect, broadcasting everything to every other passenger on the bus. Again, I was happy to go along for the ride, although the blush rising to my cheeks would have indicated otherwise.
I get off at what I think is the right stop, but it turns out I’m still about 10 blocks away from my hostel. Goody, I get to hike through the streets with my now 19kg pack, smaller ruck sack plus my handbag. By the time I make it, I’m pouring with sweat. Delightful isn’t it, this travel business?
I settle in, find food, go through the process of adapting to my new surrounds. The first of many such occasions of staying in a backpackers, alone, fending for myself… In hindsight, maybe I should have celebrated. Oh well.
The next day sees me on an all-day walking tour with infamous Eric (he makes an appearance in my lonely planet guide). We start by checking out the amazing statue seen below. It contains every letter of every alphabet of every language of every country to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Very cool.
We then explore downtown Vancouver, get shown the new apartment buildings that have just popped up, plus a very plush grocery store which has anything anyone with too much money could ever want. They even have a round wheel of bread shipped over from France every morning, which only costs 100 quid. Bargain!
A ferry and bus ride later we are in North Vancouver and making our way to the base of the highest peak in the area, plus Capalino canyon. We wonder through the amazing forests surrounding the canyon, some of which have apparently appeared in the first Twilight movie.
We also explored a salmon farm where you can watch the fish in all their glory, leaping through the air to get from one artificial level in the river to the next. We traipse further through the forest, spot some bear prints in the mud, cross some amazing bridges, nibble on wild berries and explore the not so trodden path courtesy of Eric and his knowledge of the area. We then walk to Capalino Canyon suspension bridge which is the highest and longest one of its kind in the world… apparently. We marvel at the engineering, gawk at the river rushing below and all together take way too many pictures.
Eric sees us safely back to the hostel and so concludes a very interesting day out. I manage to catch up with my new bunk mate, plus one of the women from the walking tour, for dinner at a delightful little Lebanese place. The two and half hour wait for a table however, was not so pleasant, but we all stuck it out and were rewarded with some great food.
(To be continued in Part II).
