Beautiful, Deceptive Vancouver

Most everyone knows I consider Vancouver my home town and that it's more "homey" to me than most other places. Visitors mostly love it. And why not? It's nestled on the ocean and has the coastal mountains rising up on its edges? It's a food lovers haven and a perfect spot for people who love outdoor activities. There's a reason that Vancouver rates so highly for things like "Best Places to Live". 

English Bay at Sunset

These facts, plus others (money laundering *cough *cough) make Vancouver real estate ridiculously expensive, even after a correction due to various investment taxes put in place to "discourage" too much foreign investment. 

The Five Sails from Expo '86

The truth is that once you leave, it's really hard to get back into the market again, either as a buyer or renter. A one bedroom will set you back over $2000, on average. (A two bedroom over 3 grand!) Now the average income in Vancouver is around $78,000, not too bad, right? Well, this number is grossly skewed by the big income earners that pull down high six figures. This doesn't take into account the suburban centres around the city that earn less, either, but where property really isn't all that much different. The median income is only about $5000 more than the rest of the country, when property values, for Canada, on average are markedly less. (An example is the average 1 bedroom apartment rental for all of Canada (including the ridiculous rates of Toronto and Vancouver) is $1260.)

Vancouver skyline from North Vancouver

This is the deceptiveness that is Vancouver. It's like the weather. You'll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful city when the sun is shining.  Then the clouds come and you can't see the mountains, quite frequently, you can't see the other side of the street and the wind blows cold and damp through your bones until you wonder why you're even there. It, like all cities, has two faces and you either learn to love them both or leave. (Or you leave to go on a crazy adventure and devil take the consequences of ever returning.)

Siwash (Slhx̱í7lsh in the Squamish language) Rock

Sure the place has great parks, a good cultural scene, world famous First Nations art and traditions, plus a myriad of amazing tourist destinations and restaurants of almost every description and price point...it's just the weather and cost of living there. If you've already swung it; great! I almost envy you.

Inukshuk

Vancouver will always feel like home to me, but I don't know if I'll ever plant my shallow roots there again. It's a great town to visit, catch up with family and friends and then say good-bye when the weather turns. 

Vancouver's Not So Hot Spots

Being a Vancouver native, I've been to almost all of the major tourist attractions (Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, Chinatown, Commercial Street village, Main Street Village, Kitsilano Beach, English Bay, the West End, the Capilano suspension bridge and so many more)  and while always enjoyable, sometimes it's nice to break out of the travel rut and go to something new. Of course, the city is constantly evolving and, continually, offers more for visitors and residents alike.

On my sister's mad rush to fill in her Tourism Challenge book, we had a whirlwind tour of some of the lesser visited and newer attractions.

Here are some of the highlights:

Queen Elizabeth Park (an oldie, but goodie, don't miss the Bloedel Conservatory):

Views of the city

A sure sign of spring.

Pink Dogwood blossoms
(Dogwood is BC's flower)

Sea to Sky Tram (new) and Bridal Falls (an old friend):

Heavy run-off from the winter melt

Overcast, but always stunning

Heading up the tram, will it clear?

A flirtatious look at the Coastal Mountains

BC at its most beautiful...green and blue

Finally lifting

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens (there are also amazing bonsai trees here):

Nestled in downtown Vancouver

The water lilies were stunning

Day lily with interesting veining

Mayne Island (thank you Erin and Darryl!):

Mayne is one of the myriad of coastal islands that can be reached from Tsawassen or Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals. They all have a unique experience to offer, but you can count on abundant British Columbia beauty on all of them.

Rhinoceros tree

Interesting bark development

Inlet near our cabin retreat

 UBC Botanical Gardens:

Heart of a peony

Oriental Gate

Japanese maple

The old vine

'Chelle on the forest walk

A slightly confused leaf...still the symbol of Canada

So what's my point with all of this, you might ask? Vancouver is an amazing city with lots of known and hidden wonders. Go out! Wander! Enjoy every discovery and soak up the nature, the culture and the overall beauty. I'm forever proud that it's my home.

What to Do When You Can See Your Breath

As we occasionally do, we've headed, blissfully (dare I say naively?), off for a good visit home. Spring on the West Coast, what could be nicer? Just before we were ready to leave we were suddenly inspired to check out the weather. Highs of 11 degrees Celsius. Hmmmm...

The snow receding from the "Lions"

Repacking (long sleeves, lots of long sleeves), we felt we were ready for the "crisper" temperatures. On our arrival we stepped out of the airport at a crushing 6am and got slammed by a wall of..."crisp". It was around 11, as predicted, and the sun was shining, but heavens, it felt chilly. (We're obviously getting soft.) The day warmed and we were able to remove a top layer without shivering in our shoes.

Muddy waters of the Fraser River

This didn't continue. Come the weekend the clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped (below double digits) and our poor equatorial bodies went into shock. The solution? Stay inside or layer up and hope for the sun. First world problems, I know. I forgot how cool spring is here.

Pink Dogwood in bloom

We did actually see our breath, one morning, while waiting for the bus, but we didn't take our own advice and rush back to the warm confines of the house. I have been forced to buy closed shoes, to keep the chill wind from tickling my toes, but with appropriate layers, I seem to be surviving.

Fiddleheads uncurling

While I proudly state that "I am Canadian", I'm apparently one of the wimpy ones from the temperate lower mainland that can't handle the chill, a state that's exacerbated by warm Ecuadorian breezes. I suspect my new hiking boots might be my go to footwear for a while, at least until summer realizes it should be on its way. Or maybe I'm not cool enough for that "chill" west coast lifestyle.

Vancouver is an Amazing Place

I confess that I never really appreciated how unique Vancouver, BC is. I grew up there and took it all for granted, but having traveled a bit now, I`m coming to understand that it`s special. What makes it different, you might ask? Tolerance, that's what. And I'm not just paying lip service to a popular buzzword.

I'm not saying that there isn't racism/intolerance there, because there is, but there are also people of all races, religions, colours and sexual persuasions living together peaceably. I never questioned why there were kids from South East Asia, Asia proper, Africa or Latin America in my classes. I had a special needs student in my class, as well, and that also seemed perfectly normal. The two men who lived down the street from me (that occasionally held hands and kissed) were also perfectly normal. They were as typical as single mothers, kids playing hockey on the street and families picnicking in the nearby parks.

I wasn't raised not to be racist...I was raised with the idea of equality and so were most of my friends. I never had a conversation about "them" or "us". And the truly beautiful thing about it, was that we got to experience a whole other way of life: new foods, new customs, new fashions. It was kind of magic,in retrospect. The biggest complaint I had was that my Jewish friends got way more holidays from school than I did, or that the newly immigrated kids from Asia had cooler clothes.Our biggest divide was rich versus not and while it was tough, it wasn't something that was rubbed in my face. It still hurt to be different, but it was an excellent life lesson.

So, peace amongst people of different stripes is possible. I'm so tired of hearing that it's complicated, because it isn't. Live and let live. How can we be so self-centered as to rant against people inflicting their "agendas" on us when we're doing the same; expecting people to be just like us, with the same values, beliefs and priorities. I didn't grow up in a melting pot - the people around me weren't homogenized, They were beautifully unique and made up the mosaic that nourished my childhood. 

I know there are other places in the world like Vancouver. Places where, for the most part, you can be who you are without reprisal, but these days, they seem few and far between. So that's what makes Vancouver special - the inherent acceptance of things different. I'm so glad I grew up there.