Vancouver II

Vancouver

Let's start the tour and, with it, the long series of breakfasts in the room, not for luxury but out of necessity. Breakfast is eaten in the room with a long coffee to which we add a couple of cookies. In fact, almost all motels have a coffee machine in the room. This will prove to be a very useful trick for those of us who cannot wait for a comfortable traditional breakfast. We need to make the most of the available time without delay.

The urban face of Vancouver

Let's start our visit to Vancouver at Queen Elizabeth Park, the botanical gardens overlooking the city. It’s Sunday and the first visitors are yoga or running enthusiasts, many of whom are from Asia. After all, Vancouver has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. We just need a good view of the city center. We quickly visit downtown to get a glimpse of Chinatown and the main streets (Granville Square, Gastown, etc.). We're lucky enough to arrive at 9:00 am at the Steam Clock and see the picturesque steam clock while it chimes the hour. The tour is made easier by the holiday, which allows us to avoid traffic. We complete a full circuit. on the scenic road in Stanley Park and we stopped near the totems Close to Hallelujah Point. From here you have a wonderful view of the city center with its skyscrapers and the Canada Place, recognizable by its sail-like roof.
We cross the Lion's Bridge to access Marine Drive, which runs along the northern coastline of Vancouver, and head towards the embarkation point. Horseshoe Bay Unfortunately, we are not the only ones planning to go to Vancouver Island, and the 10:40 ferry is already full. We have a snack in this village that starts talking to us about Canada as we expected. While waiting, we meet two elderly Dutch people who arrived in Canada at the end of May and are traveling around North America with their camper. We then leave on the 12:50 ferry, which takes 95 minutes to reach Nanaimo, passing through Duncan (with its advertised totems), to arrive at Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Although it doesn't have a long history, the city presents itself as elegant and pleasant, making us feel like we've taken a step back into Victorian times. Along the road, we encounter dramatic canyons and vast forests. The landscape on the island suggests that the summer was very dry, but in both Vancouver and Victoria, we admire the large flower pots hanging from the streetlights.

Museums and memory in Vancouver

In Victoria, we see the Mile 0 of the Trans Canada Highway, in Beacon Hill Park, the Scenic Marine Drive (the "city of gardens"), and the center with... Parliament Building, Bastion Square, Inner Harbour (we visited the marine life museum), Fisherman's wharf and the Empress Hotel (in a classic château style, built by the historic Canadian Pacific Railway)
Dinner at Garlic Rose with a delicious fresh salmon. Afterwards, a walk through the city center to see the illuminated parliament From 3300 light bulbs and a Christmas shop, where we discover the new frontier of kitsch: a box that reproduces a fireplace with crackling flames, complete with realistic sound effects. This allows you to pretend to have a fireplace instead of a TV. So cold in every sense!!
We are staying at the Craigmyle, a bed and breakfast located in the upper part of the capital.