My first stop in Canada was in Vancouver where I arrived in time to catch the end of the Autumn colours as well as the rain.
This area is believed to have been the home of First Nation (Native American Indians) for more than 15,000 years before the Europeans arrived in the 15th Century.
Later the same days the views are not so clear as the rain and cloud moves in. Vancouver is known for its wet climate - made me feel at home!!
The view from my hostel dorm.
Throughout the city you can spot these bright coloured Eagles - they are sponsored and decorated by local businesses to raise money for charity. I have seen something similar before in a few different countries but it was called the Stampede and it was painted cows.
The harbour area was busy with floatplanes.
Fishing equipment sitting at the side of the harbour.
I went for a walk in Stanley Park and ended up completed a 10km loop that passed the built up area on the waterbank, though some beautiful tree lined walkways and beaches. I just loved the colours at this time of year.
Like most cities there are some funny characters about.
Inukshuks were stone figures in the image of man built by the Inuit Indians and were found on Canada's northern shores from Banff to Victoria Island and were landmarks to help in navigation and in finding caribou hunting grounds. This symbol is now adopted in Canada as a reminder of dependence we all have on each other, the value of strong relationships and is thought to be a lucky symbol by travellers and it has been incorporated in many Canadian logos including the one for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Lots of boats down at the waterfront.
Some interesting street graffati around the city.
It was a nice walk from downtown over the river to Granville Island - which in fact is not actually an island but part of the peninsular!!
The colourful market at Granville Island.
I took the long way back from Granville Island that took me through some nice gardens and past the Telus World of Science building.
Another strange sculpture - looked like something out of a horror movie.
Someone had gone to a lot of effort to make a lot of leaf patterns on some of the footpaths in the city.
Some views over the river area from one of the bridges.
Cheap n' Sleazy
Some of Canada's favourite mascots.
Feliz wanted to try the icecream but nearly got mistaken as an extra topping!!
Vanvouver started in this area of the city called Gastown which has a lot of older buildings, a cowboy bar and is now full of souveigner shops.
The gardens in China town and the Chinese Millenium Gate.
Vancouver has quite a few down and outs and beggars. Though I have to say any who approached me for money were polite and relatively clean unlike those in Glasgow!!
Vancouvers Police Museum gave an interesting insight into both the history of the police in this area and some of the notorious and unsolved crimes. The pipe band of the Vancouver Police is seemingly one of the world oldest police pipe band in the world outside Scotland. And the Morgue is where the Errol Flynn's postmortem was carried out after he died of a Heart Attach when visiting Vancouver!!
Quite a lot of big Hollywood movies are filmed in Vancouver - I past a few filming sets but never saw anyone I recognised!
One thing I noticed was a lot more woman working on the road construction and repair teams than you see at home.
Kitsilano was another nice area to go for a walk.
Someone had graffatied the little road crossing guy!!
The Vancouver Museum had some interesting dispalys and memorabilia from the 50's & 60's.
The taxidermy display explained how all the animals in here were donated or bought from other collections and none were killed for the museum and went on to talk about how they are used to educate people in particular about preservation projects. Rupert the Fox was bought on e-bay for $15.
Feliz compares his muscles with this big guy!!
For a city Vancouver was impressively clean an I liked the electronic buses and trams that they have.
Keep going more of my Canada update to follow.....
