National Sport ?

I should talk about it ... hockey !

 It's not exactly that I didn't know anything about hockey before coming to Vancouver, but almost. Swiss guys know more than me about French hockey...

I went to one game to try, because this is something you have to do when you're here I think. I wasn't sure I would appreciate it because me and sports... well, we're not really friends... But I surprised myself. I mean, I'll never be a fan who has to watch every game, to know all the players and everything about everything, but once in a while, why not!

As a Vancouverite for a few months, you have to support the Canucks... and luckily this season seems good for them. I particularly appreciate the mood in the city on days when there's a game, people seem united and it doesn't end in fight - or I've never heard of it.

Have a look at this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ-M4-I0Xog&feature=topvideos_mp
Well done!


I'm not really interested in hockey (or any other sport in fact) but I think this is a big part of the Canadian culture and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to discover it.

Vancouver from the 32nd floor

You don't have enough money to pay the entrance fee for Vancouver Lookout and its 360° panoramic view ? No problem, just meet someone who lives in a nice apartment in Downtown, on the 32nd floor ! (just kidding)

It was a very nice evening, a good Taiwanese BBQ and a great time spent with some friends.
The view and the sunset were just an extra.

But what a view !

Some other places

For sure, I haven't seen a lot of things in Vancouver but there are some places that I liked.

- MOA (Museum of Anthropology), situated on the UBC campus, a lot of objects and art craft made by different communities of native people,  interesting if you just want to watch but there's not a lot of information or explanations about the meaning of the totems for example. The architecture of the building is also nice.

- Laughing Statues in English Bay - I don't know their real name...

- The Stop by Michael Zeng in Vanier Park near Kits Beach

- White Rock : a coastal city in the south of Vancouver, close to the US border

- Granville Island, not my favourite but I understand why people like it. However, the market is amazing.

Sunny day in Raincouver : Let's go to the beaches

First day of free time in Vancouver since I finished school and luckily it was sunny. Almost incredible!
I started by going to Jericho Beach. I wasn't really sure about the bus road but I always find my bearings easily and I finally found my way to the beach.

It's a nice place, different from what I've seen before in Vancouver - my only experience of "beach" here was English Bay. The beach is a beach, there's nothing more to say, but the view of the city is amazing.
There wasn't a lot of people but it's not hard to imagine how it is in the summer... crowded, without any doubt!

After that, I've decided to go to another beach : Kitsilano Beach. I walked for a while in Kitsilano and I've found this area very cute. I know it's simpleton, but I really think it's cute!
Then, I arrived at Kits Beach. Another beach, another view of the city. It's nice to walk along the seawall, especially when the weather is good. I've found the famous Kits Pool, apparently the Canada's longest pool, that I find a bit useless... I mean I can understand that people prefer swimming in a heated swimming pool instead of swimming in an ocean polluted by big freighters and I don't know if it's because the swimming pool is right on the beach but I think it's a bit strange.

On my way to go back home, I stopped on the 4th Avenue in a coffee shop called 49th Parallel Roasters, recommended by Dave. I didn't choose the coffee served in a siphon (or whatever it is) but I saw it, that's funny. I've just ordered a coffee with a chocolate bread... (I don't know how to translate the name in English...) It was just delicious, the first pastry I've eaten here which had a real taste of pastry... It was a good advice !

After this nice pause, I went back to Burrard Station by foot, enjoying the end of this beautiful day in Downtown.

Whistler

I went to Whistler yesterday. After all, this is THE place to see...
It was just a sightseeing tour, booked with ClubESL, but I had a good time. Departure from Canada Place at 9:30, driving on the Sea to Sky highway, stop at Shannon Falls.

We arrived in Whistler between 12:00 and 1:00 I think and we went to the Lil'wat and Squamish Cultural Center, a kind of nice (but small) exhibition about the native people who live in Whistler and in BC in general. Then, after a short presentation of the village and explanation of the schedule, I took the cable car from Whistler Village to Whistler Mountain with some people I met in the bus. We ate a quick lunch at the restaurant at the top of the mountain and then we wanted to take the Peak2Peak Gondola, a cable car between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, but it was closed due to the wind. Oh yes... I forgot to say that the weather was terrible of course... Heavy rain in the village and snow storm at the top... Great!

Anyway, we finally decided to go back to the village - there's nothing at the top, normal. We walked a bit but we were just wet so we went to Starbucks (they're everywhere...) and we met some other girls from our bus. After a long time in the famous coffee shop, we decided to fight the rain and explore the village. Well... except tons of hotels, luxurious shops and restaurants, there's not a lot to see. Only the Olympic Games' stuffs were "interesting".

Despite the fact that the weather was so bad, I liked this day. Meeting people, trying to find something to see, discover a new place... isn't it the aim of a travel ?

I think this company (ClubESL) is very good. It's not very expensive, the staff is great, and it's just easy when you don't want to plan everything by yourself. This is my opinion and honestly I would definitely book with them if I had to do it all over again. (I haven't been paid to say that...)

Tofino

Apr. 2nd & 3rd : Whale Watching Weekend with the school

 

Tofino is one of the best place to observe the migration of the whales. For people who don't know where it is, just click here. It's a tiny little place in comparison with Vancouver, probably bigger than a village and full of charm but not big enough to call it a town.

It was just an amazing weekend. I can't find any other word to explain it.
It takes something like 4 hours (at least) to go there by bus and ferry so going with the school was a good idea. On our way to Tofino, we stopped at Cathedral Grove (between Nanaimo and Tofino), a park full of old giant trees.

(This one is not as big as some others...)

Once arrived at Tofino, we just spent a few time on the marvellous beach at 5 min from the centre of the "town" before going to the restaurant for dinner. I hung out with some friends, on the beach, in a pub,... Just one word : great !

Next day : whale watching
12 people in a zodiac at 140km/h on the ocean... I just loved it. (the part when 4 guys threw up not that much... hahaha!)
We have been looking for whales for about 1 hour when we finally found some, but they were so far that it was very hard to see them. Fortunately, I got some pictures even if they're not good... We've also seen some eagles and sea lions; it was really a good moment.

In short, this is a place I enjoyed a lot but we stayed less than 24 hours in Tofino and I'm sure that you need more than this to see what this "town" has to offer.

Seattle

I went to Seattle on Sunday, March 27th if I remember... It was my first time in the U.S. but honestly, there's nothing special at all.

I booked a tour with ClubESL (Discover Canada Tour) and I chose only the sightseeing tour, not the shopping one. We crossed the border very quickly, almost a record for our guide. We were only 13 in the bus : 11 Japanese, Matt (our guide) and me. For a while, I thought I was back to Japan, because of the language.
I think we arrived at Seattle at 1pm. Matt showed us a few places and then we had free time.
I've just walked for some hours. From the Public Market, I walked on the 1st Avenue until there was nothing to see anymore and then I went to the waterfront. At the beginning, the weather was ok - not good, just ok - but then it was so windy and it was raining so much that there was almost nobody in the streets...

Anyway... At the end of our day, I was the only one who didn't shop and I spent all the way back to Vancouver talking with the guide.

Finally, I don't think Seattle is a special city but I have to admit that if I had seen more things like the EMP, the Space Needle or others, maybe I wouldn't think the same.
At least, the Market is a very nice place and I've got a US stamp in my passport now...