Vancouver, BC

We were still on the sunny side in downtown Vancouver. To prevent us from walking both directions we took a taxi to Gastown in the morning. Gastown was Vancouver's first downtown core and is named after a Yorkshire seaman. Gastown's most famous landmark is a steam-powered clock that is promoted as a heritage feature although it is of modern invention. Gastown is a mix of hip boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs, poverty and newly upscale housing. When leaving Gastown we took the SeaBus to North Vancouver where we strolled through Lonsdale Quay Market.

Our next 'big thing' was the Vancouver Lookout Tower that showed us the city from a bird's eye perspective. Now it was time for the girl's highlight: Victoria's Secret. Two and a half hour later we've been ready for a beautiful trip through the Stanley Park. The park has a long history and was originally used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before British Columbia was colonized by the British. To bring this beautiful day to a glorious end we had dinner at 'Earl's' close to our hotel.

 

So much sun in Vancouver? The next day we crossed the Lions Gate Bridge to North Vancouver where we hiked around at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The bridge is 140 metres long and 70 metres above the river. One has to pay admission fee and it's kind of a leisure park. Before to much 'Japanese sightseer' arrived we left the park – and therefore the coast – around noon because we had more 500 kilometres to go!