Ready to explore Vancouver!
I’ve survived the border control. I didn’t get deported because of a protein bar or not reading my POE letter properly. So here I was in Vancouver airport ready to be released to Canadian wilderness (yeah, don’t take me literally here).
First steps in Vancouver
The way from Vancouver airport is pretty easy. You can take a Canada line train right to the city centre. My accommodation for the first 5 days was close to one of the stations on the line. I already got the message from the host on how to get into the house. Easy you say! I forgot to download the map (I wanted to slow clap to myself when I realised), and if I didn’t want get bankrupt on roaming costs right on the first day I was left to my own orientation skills and memory of the map.
I got on the train and almost immediately got stunned by the view of the mountains. I just kept staring at them until the train got underground after few stations. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day. And from that moment I started to feel that I am going to like it here.
With one little hesitation I made it to the house. I should have let myself in with a code I got from the host. I came to the door looking for a bell with keyboard. There was nothing. Hmmm… I check again the email confirmation with the address and picture of the house. I am at the right place. I get to the door again and try to open it. There is another door behind the door. And yes, there is a keyboard! I’m in!
I only half-listened to my host when he was explaining where is the nearest shop. I ended up walking all around the neighbourhood until I’ve found one (probably not the one he was telling me about). After being awake for more than 24 hours I just passed out in my bed early in the night. Woke up at 4 a.m. Next morning. Hello jet lag, nice to meet you!
Time to head Downtown
When it was finally time for normal people to get out of the bed I made my way to the city centre. Weather was perfect so I decided I will walk. It took me about an hour.The first thing I wanted to sort out was to get a local SIM card because, obviously, you need your data, right?
So now packed with the fresh new mobile number, unlimited calls in Canada and 4,5 GB of data I was ready to continue with my journey. I got to Waterfront, where, as the name itself suggests, I finally got to see the sea (love this alliteration!). And my jaw dropped. You see the Vancouver Harbor, then the North Shore with all the buildings of North Vancouver and then above it, the mountains silently overlooking it all.
This place fascinated me from the start and it still does. When you look to your right you see the docks with all the shipping containers and cranes. Behind you the buzzing city. In front of you, across the water those beautiful mountains with numerous trails with its greenery and wildlife.
Sightseeing, a life-threatening experience
Seawall in Stanley Park. That was my main goal of the day. This huge city park (looks more like a forest) with a paved path along the shore. “It is quite long so if you have some other plans for the day consider renting a bike,” said one of the tips I’ve read. So I did. Being on budget I decided to look for the cheapest bike rental. Mr. Google helped me here again.
“I just want to warn you, that the bikes we have here are already little worn out,” the lady from the shop told me.
“Ok, what does it mean specifically?”
She continued: “Well, sometimes the breaks are not great or the gear doesn’t change. So you have 10 minutes to try the bike and you can come back and change it for another one or return it without being charged”.
I gave it a thought. “I just want to go along the Seawall. That should be flat, right? It should be ok,” I say waiting for assurance. The lady just gave me a look, which I took for her agreeing with me. And so happy I set off exploring.
Wuuuiiiiiiii
The wind is going through my hair, I look at the sea and enjoy the view. Stopping at all possible places to take pictures of the same things from all the different angles because you are never really satisfied with the previous one. It was just beautiful, I started to fall in love with this place.
During this photo taking stops I started to realise that it takes quite a few more seconds/meters to stop the bike when I pushed the breaks. I took that into account especially when a lot of people or some obstacle were ahead of me. But then, the first slight uphill part came. No need to change the gear but when it later turned downhill I could understand what was meant by the term “worn out bikes” 😀
On this little hill I was pushing the breaks all the time because I couldn’t allow the bike to get speed higher than Granny’s wheelchair because I would not be able to stop the bike for a few kilometres (ok, this might be a slight exaggeration, but I want you to relate to my feelings of having not much control over the breaking process). Another, more downhilly part came. The bike didn’t really look like it wanted to stop. Ok, it’s time to help the physical forces and add some more friction. Use your own feet to slow down! Yey! Oh, what a ride! (This shout was a mixture of adrenaline, fear, utter horror and fun).
After an hour of a possible fatal injury (mine or someone else’s) hanging above my head I decided it’s been enough trying out my luck here and I returned the bike. If you happen to be in Vancouver go there (the Seawall, not the bike rental). It is a stunning place and with a bike you get to see the most of it. But maybe get a better bike, with functioning breaks and gear and you can go and explore also the trails in Stanley Park itself.
After this I continued walking and walking and walking along the Seawall and after maybe 15 km throughout the whole day I realised I’m almost sleepwalking and need to go to bed. Next day my eyes opened 4:30 a.m.
