Rocking Vancouver

[lupestripe]

We have arrived in Vancouver safely, just getting over the hideous time difference (-8 hours) and the tiring nature of long haul flights.

The flight itself was largely uneventful. Flying from Manchester was a rare convenience afforded to us as opposed to having to go to London and, although we set off an hour and a quarter later than scheduled, we only arrived in Canada 25 minutes late. We flew with a charter airline, Air Transat, because they were cheaper and the flight direct. Fearing the worst, we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, legroom and in flight entertainment. Granted paying for headphones was a bit of a piss take but aside from that, I have few complaints apart from being sat in front of a newborn baby who was intermittently crying throughout the flight. Thankfully though it was in short sharp bursts so not too annoying and I could turn up the volume on the wolf documentary and blot out most of it.

For a nine hour flight, it passed very quickly, which is what cannot be said for customs. Seven international flights landing within a twenty minute spell created a crowded customs hall so we got chatting to a nice Scouse lady who had lived in Vancouver for 32 years. She was telling us all about the city and its habitants and this made the queue seem less long. Sadly, we were then called for further interrogation by the border staff who wanted us to prove our itinerary as claiming we were only staying for three days looked suspicious so it took us nearly three hours to cross the border. Still, we were treat with courtesy and professionalism, so I have few complaints aside from the long wait.

Eventually in the country, we headed to the hotel via the ultra smooth and ultra fast Sky Train which annoying charges five dollars extra if you want to use it from the airport. It was efficient though and everything in this city is so easy to find that we got to the hotel very easily indeed. Hooray for the American grid system road layout!

By this point it was 6pm local, 2am UK but knowing how jet lag works, we decided to force ourselves to stay awake a little while longer and headed downtown to the waterfront to an excellent microbrewery we had been pointed towards. The city of Vancouver was founded on a pub, built by a Yorkshireman in 1867 for local mill workers, so it makes sense that the brewing tradition is still so important here. We went to the Steamworks Brewery, with excellent views over the water, with the rugged steep mountains in the background. Steamworks brews eight beers in house including Lions Gate Ale, Empire IPA and Nirvana Nut Brown Ale, as well as serving exceptional food. We grabbed a couple of burgers and by God were they delicious, with Wolfie being amazed with the North American attitude of service with a smile, a novel concept in Europe.

The Vancouverites we have met so far have been lovely, really chatty and friendly, and very interested in us. This was particularly the case in Steamworks, which was like The Brewery Tap in Leeds but bigger, and with sports on the TV. CFL, NFL and MLB were the orders of the day yesterday and even I am amazed, and admittedly delighted, by how the Americans love their sports. I even saw some soccer, both US and English, here. I must get into US sports more - I edit and publish articles on the events and it was great to see recognised names on TV last night - I must get involved more.

Feeling tired, we headed back and were in bed by 8.30pm, sleeping through until 7am this morning. After a buffet breakfast which demonstrated how difficult it would be too lose weight here, we headed back to the room where I am writing this and watching trashy US TV which has an awful lot of religious programming, particularly of the evangelical kind. We are watching the news instead, waiting until 11am when we will meet up with some locals. Will probably go to the gym and pool in the interim as I want to avoid significant weight gain on this trip, particularly after all the weight I have lost this year. Looking forward to seeing the fuzzies later, it's going to be fun ^^

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Comments

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

Such a pity! Looks like Transat only fly to/from Canada - their prices certainly seem good, and it's always welcome to hear of more airlines that don't treat you quite like monied cattle. (Virgin have usually been good, although I've felt they've slipped a fair bit from, say, 10-15 years ago; I was quite impressed by the diversity of the entertainment selection with Air Canada, even if the software running it was tragically slow; all the American airlines pretty much suck, at least those running internationally)

Good to hear the local beer industry's going well! Indeed, it seems quite vibrant all down the Pacific - there's no shortage of good stuff coming out of Oregon, and there's not much that need be said of the thriving situation in California. ^_^ We will be expecting full tasting notes and photographs, of course.

Egh, Customs. A pain the world over.. but as long as there are votes to be gained in chanting "No room! No room!", such tribalism will persist, however much all the peoples of the world have in common in wishing to lead good lives, peacefully, and pass what benefits they can on to their families and descendents.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Customs are a necessary evil I guess, although some are better than others. I have written about the US customs now too.

Air Transat do just fly to Canada but you can easily get to the US from many Canadian cities. The main airlines are always far more expensive and probably not worth it overall.

The beer here is really surprising. I knew the West Coast was big on IPA but the sheer range on offer has been really eye-opening. My perception on the US approach to beer has definitely been changed for the better.

[elfasi.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure Canadians appreciate being called Americans :D

[fargowolf.livejournal.com]

The term for a Canadian is "Canuk" =P

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Is it? Not Canadians then?

[fargowolf.livejournal.com]

"Canuk" is a slang for a Canadian, the same way "Yank" is for an American and "Brit" is for anyone from the UK ( I know... The Scots and Welsh are going to bitchrant at me for that....).

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

No they don't, probably like Brits being called Europeans. I'm aiming for a continent collective when I use the term Americans - the Canadians don't like the usurpation of the USA with the adjective Americans.

[fargowolf.livejournal.com]

Customs can be real pricks at times. At least they were friendly about it.

$5 CAD for the skytrain is cheap. The line from the airport to downtown is also the newest line, having been constructed for the 2010 Olympics.

There's shit tonnes of stuff to see and do while you're there. Try to hit the N. Shore too and visit the Caplino Dam and Lynn Canyon suspension bridge (The Capilano bridge is nothing more than a tourist trap). If possible, try to get to Horseshoe Bay too.

Too bad you're only here for three days, otherwise you could have come up here.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Where are you based Fargo, it's a shame we can't meet up.

I do like the Sky Train, it is quite handy. Thanks for the tourist tips, we'll try and see some more on our return next week.

I can understand the customs situation and at least they were courteous about it.

[fargowolf.livejournal.com]

I'm about 5 hours driving time N.E. of Vancouver. The City of Kamloops to be specific. There's a fair bit to see here in the region. Some well known, some not so well known. Plan on spending at the very least, a week in the area if you do get the opportunity to come up here.

There's scheduled plane, train and coach services.

City website:
http://www.city.kamloops.bc.ca/index.shtml

How many days are you coming for next week?

[skawinski.livejournal.com]

Told you you'd love it here, I would still very much like to move here at some point :)

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I could definitely move to Vancouver, and probably other places in Canada too. Not the US though although the NW is fine.

[darkone238.livejournal.com]

Vancouver you lucky pup!

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Very lucky, I really love Vancouver.