We were pretty late leaving Jasper, but a positive outcome of this was that morning dawned high up in the Fraser Canyon in BC, as opposed to down in the valley. We were able to see the dry, scrubby hills become greener and more lush, and the Fraser River rush through the canyon walls before widening out in the rich agricultural lands south-east of Vancouver.
Vancouver's setting really is amazing. On my first full day I walked a rectangle downtown, emerging at English Bay, near the entrance to Stanley Park. Harbour out in front, mountains to the north, Stanley Park a beautiful green garden between the two...it is impressive. Yesterday I took the bus to Kitsilano, a seaside neighbourhood which felt a more earthy version of San Francisco's Pacific Heights, with its chic boutiques, cafes and organic foodstuffs. Beautiful for strolling (and for buying expensive handbags - gulp!). Many of the food scents on the breeze are of korean, chinese or japanese cooking - Vancouver has a solid asian demographic. (Mark, the friend with whom I'm staying, lives in an inner-east nighbourhood and is quite happily in the minority). The city looks shiny and clean - I was very impressed by the scarcity of any trash on the shoreline walking along English Bay - and, after cities like Montreal and Winnipeg, so new.
Plans for the rest of my stay include Stanley Park and Lin Canyon, going up to Whistler for the w/e and over to Victoria for a night next week. And I really want to get in a swim! I went sight-seeing for the last two days sans swimmers and waded a little instead, looking longingly out at the (rather chilly!) swell. I stayed on the beach for a long while, unwilling to turn my back, struck by this profound sense of familiarity and well-being. I think it's only when I'm back near the sea that I realise how much I miss it.
Not many more posts to come! A little sad, really. And apologies re the dearth of snaps - all the wireless I find doesn't end up supporting upload of photos! I'm working on it.
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