Friday, April 5, 2013

VANCOUVER


 

After four years on the road, we have come to realize that most of our traveling friends have never actually been to Vancouver, British Columbia.  Today I thought I would see Vancouver through the eyes of a tourist.  You know how that goes, you live somewhere most of your life but you never seem to do the touristy things.  Have we ever been to Whistler?  once about 20 years ago in the spring, no snow;  Have we been to Grouse Mountain, once many years ago, too expensive;  Stanley Park?  of course, hundreds of times when we were children and many times with our own children, but now there isn't much left of the original park for our grandchildren.
 

The polar bears at Stanley Park but I think this is gone now.

According to the 2011 census, the population of  the City of Vancouver is 603,502 and the Greater Vancouver area is 2.6 million people.  With 5,249 people per square kilometre, or 13,590 per square mile, Vancouver is the most densely populated city in Canada.  





Aerial View, Vancouver, British Columbia


Vancouver is one of the most ethically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada.  52% of the people of Vancouver do not speak English as their first language.
Vancouver waterfront with the Pan Pacific Hotel on the left.  That's where the cruise ships dock



For more than a decade Vancouver has been ranked as one of the most livable cities worldwide.  Ecomomist Intelligence Unit acknowledges it as the first city to rank among the top ten of the world's most livable cities for five consecutive years.

 Vanier Park, Vancouver, British Columbia


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Vancouver is located on the Burrard Peninsula between Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River.  The city has an area of 114 km (44 sq. miles).


Gastown Shopping, Vancouver, British Columbia
Shopping in the Gastown area of downtown Vancouver

Gastown is a historic neighbourhood of Vancouver that has a unique charm for a city where so much is new.  Once a district that attracted the down and out, Gastown was saved from gutting and underwent gentrification.  Gastown appeals to a hip crowd in search of non-pretentious restaurants, boutiques and furniture shops.

Vancouver's scenic location makes it a major tourist destination. Many visit to see the city's gardens, Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden and the mountains, ocean, forest and parklands which surround the city. Each year over a million people pass through Vancouver on cruise ship vacations, often bound for Alaska 

HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY BRIEF TOUR OF VANCOUVER.   

 

6 comments:

Sue and Doug said...

don't give away all the secrets! :)
they sure make it look nice when the sun is shining!!

Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009 said...

Wonderful tour. I knew it was a beautiful city and your photos show that. Hard to believe you don't get the snow I thought you did

Jim and Sandie said...

I was in Vancouver when I was a child but I sure don't remember anything about it. This tour was wonderful. Amazing that 52% don't speak English for their main language. I always think of Canada as almost a part of us - except for Quebec of course.

Striper said...

Oh Sure, tell everyone how great is it is just as I'm planning my Annual Cranberry Juice re plenishing trip. Now I'll probably have to wait for hours getting across the border. ROFLMAO

Linda Sand said...

Looks beautiful. We should probably have visited when Dave's niece was in school there. She chose Vancouver because it was easier for her Australian then boyfriend to live and work there than in the U.S. They married last summer and now live in Australia.

Wanderin' said...

Been there several times but you are so right in that we never seem to take the time to tour our own areas but only areas a distance away. Very nice blog!!