Vancouver - Super Laid-Back !
Posted On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at at 11:30 PM by Alvin
Air Canada flew us into Vancouver in good time for a clear sunset and we took time to stretch our limbs after the 10 hours' flight. We noticed the air quality was pristine as we strolled along David Lam Park on the southern reaches of town and met joggers, canoe rowers and power walkers going about their sports amidst beautiful red maple leaves and golden hornbeam, robinia, ash leaves showing off their early Autumn colors. Vancouver was super laid-back, the downtown area was not huge like New York or even San Francisco and had a quiet and quaint appeal to it. We stayed near the main streets on Robson and Smithe but the traffic was quiet and the neighbourhood was even quieter. We had heard frequently that Vancouver could be an ideal place to retire and we were beginning to appreciate the peaceful surroundings. Vancouver had to be one of the most walkers- and cyclists-friendly cities we had visited as the following day we spent 6 hours walking around Stanley Park, Canada Place and back down the 3km long Georgia Street without having to fight our way through any major motor traffic. 
The following days we spent time visiting Granville Island where there was an colorful Public Market selling local artefacts like native scuptures and decorative jewellery; there were also numerous food stalls selling delicious cheeses, sweets and seafoods. Our visit would not be complete without visiting China Town as Vancouver had apparently one fifth of its inhabitants coming from Chinese background. We wrapped up our days of Vancouver urban hikes by snaking round the Science World, Space Museum and over the Cambie and Burrad Bridges. On our way, we found near English Bay Beach, the figure of Inukshuk which was constructed (probably) as a navigational tool and had traditionally symbolised "the right path". After these day-long walks as a gentle warm-up, we were ready to pick up our car near Hornby Street and tackle more strenuous hiking activities in the world famous Glacier, Yoho, Banff and Jasper National Parks.
