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Published: April 1st 2008
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This weekend we managed to exchange one rainy, gray city for another as we headed north to Vancouver BC. When the stern looking border guard asked us for the purpose of our visit to Canada we replied with grave seriousness: “hockey”. He didn’t say anything, but I thought I saw a twinkle in his eye when he handed us back our passports.
I had been to Vancouver several times when I was younger, mostly for visits to the incredible Vancouver Aquarium. Returning as an adult, however, gave me an entirely new perspective on the city. One thing I noticed instantly was the diversity. Vancouver is in all aspects and international city.
There is a much different vibe than Seattle; one of the most obvious disparities is the incredible variety of nightlife in Vancouver. Our hostel on Granville Street was in the heart of Vancouver’s entertainment district, and the thumping club music that rattled the walls well into the morning was the first indication of the city’s vitality.
Seattle has proven to be a challenge when it comes to enjoying a healthy nightlife. In my case, this largely stems from not owning a car. The excitement of Friday night
tends to be diminished when one waits for half an hour at the bus stop in the rain and cold, being hit up for spare change. Many areas of town shut down past 10 pm, and the bus tends to stop running to certain areas not long after. The city becomes like a ghost town, and the challenge is to find pockets harboring after-hours entertainment, like Capitol Hill or Fremont.
Vancouver’s scene reminded me much more of my experiences in Spain: a central location packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants, easily accessible by public transportation. Everything-the coffee houses, bars, restaurants, tobacco shops, and grocery stores-remained open extremely late, if not all night. The bars were more crowded at 3 am than midnight, and, like Europe, the party didn’t even begin until 12 am and went all night. I found the energy of the city to be a breath of fresh air.
Craig and I spent the daylight hours wandering around Central Vancouver and exploring its many historical districts. We hit up Chinatown and Gastown, the waterfront and Granville Island. Unfortunately, it was extremely cold, and rained and hailed for a good portion of Saturday. We Pacific Northwesterners are
used to it, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t complain bitterly.
The true purpose of our visit, in addition to sightseeing, was in fact hockey: the Canucks vs. the Calgary Flames in one of the last games of the regular season. Canucks fans have a reputation for being particularly hardcore, and the team has sold out their last 200+ consecutive home games. I was very thankful to have been able to get tickets, and let me tell you, they were worth every penny! I greatly admire the Canadian passion for hockey, and being packed into GM Place with over 18,000 screaming fans was a memorable experience. I will spare you all the details of the game, but seeing the pros in action was incredible, and the Canucks slammed Calgary 6-2.
As a side note, I also had to mention how impressed I was with the gusto that the Canadian fans belted out their national anthem. In the US, at least in Seattle, we tend to mumble embarrassedly, glancing around, blushing, fumbling, and lip-syncing. But the hockey fans all sang with enthusiasm, practically drowning out the performer with the microphone.
We piled back on the bus early
Monday morning and left Vancouver with a heavy heart. It is definitely a city I would be happy to call home. Apparently I am not the only one who feels this way, as it is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. Unfortunately, it is also one of the more expensive, a trend that is sure to continue in the push toward the 2010 Olympics.
My spirits lifted as we arrived home in Seattle to sun and Mariners jerseys out and about for the first game of the season.
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