Tales from the Double V.

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Being from a tropical place, where would you think I’d find attractive as a vacation destination? For me, it’s obvious, someplace untropical as possible, yet, beautiful and not uncomfortable. Vancouver, I find fits the bill quite nicely. And since I’m in the area, why not a trip to Victoria and Buchart Gardens, on the island of Vancouver. Vancouver itself, however is not located on that island, but on the mainland itself. Confused? You’re not alone.

Vancouver City is a growing modern city full of life and many places of interest to the visitor. There’s Canada Place located on the Seaport, designed after the Sydney Opera House, and almost as beautiful. There’s relaxing Granville Island, bustling Chinatown, fashionable Robsonstrasse, historical Gastown and wonderful, healthy, Stanley Park. There was a Double 10 Celebration going on in Chinatown, which is Oct. 10, the Day when the Chinese overthrew the Manchu Dynasty.

Stanley Park is like a Grand Central Park next to the ocean. One can rent a bike at several shops near the entrance. Unfortunately there’s a section near the end where one has to ride on the main road, but for the most part you can ride pretty much traffic free.

One can take a tour on a bus which drives on to a ferry to Vancouver Island, which then proceeds on to Buchart Gardens, with it’s unbelievable riot of colors from the millions of flowers planted there. On the same island is the quaint, old but well kempt town of Victoria which is picturesque, yet quiet and low keyed. For the camera bug, there are the elegant, very British, Parliament Building and Empress Hotel.

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Photos

Canadian Sunset.
Remember the Song?

A Touch of Zen.
Chinese Garden, Chinatown.

Comments

[Monkey and Bear]

Thanks for your comment.
Hi Franco, Nice to hear from you that you like our travelblog and the pictures we made. China is a great country with lovely people, history, culture, great food and nature. But you have been in China too, so you know this. We like your stories about your home state as well. We have been many times ton the mainland USA, but we visit never Hawai. It's nice to learn a little bit more about Hawai from an insider like you. Your other stories and pictures are good too, so we enyoj your travelblog. I hope you stay tuned for our comming up travelblogs. Next year we are planning a trip to Tibet - if this is payable. We will see. Hope we will hear again from you. Nice regards from Monkey and Bear (Jacqueline and Adrian), Roden, near Groningen, The Netherlands

[Franco]

Yes, I've been to China too and being from a small island with only recent history, the size of things, the huge population and rich history was mind boggling for me. I'm surprise you've been to many places in Beijing I didn't know existed such as the Minority Museum and Old Summer Palace. Would've like to have seen those. I'd like to go to Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Province also. Tibet is nice, but the high altitude may be a bit rough. You should definetely visit Hawaii also. Culture here is so diverse. Also been you your country and loved it.