8/27 Vancouver
After a refreshing night of sleep, we decided to head to the Capilano Bridge. I had no idea what it was exactly, but I love bridges and everyone told us to go there. The drive was short but with few lanes and queueing cars, it took a while.
We were very lucky to arrive and encounter a celebration unveiling a new totem -- the Salmon Totem -- inside the park. A local artist had been working on this totem for a year and they had native dancers and speakers performing before the big unveiling. We headed over to the bridge, and I discovered that the Capilano Bridge is a suspension bridge hanging between the two sides of a high-sided ravine. People are able to walk back and forth across the bridge, or they can stop for pictures and not move out of the way for other people. Or they can jump up and down on the bridge, causing it to buckle and rock and scare some of the people on it. As friendly as Vancouver is, this tourist-filled place is not the mecca for consideration.
In any case, we enjoyed walking across the bridge and looking at the Capilano River far below. The river is beautiful, rocky and winding, and filled with salmon at times (thought not on the day that we visited). The walk was a little challening, especially in the center of the bridge, where it tended to move more.
On the other side of he bridge, beyond the churros y chocolate stand, were wonderful interactive activities for the visitors. We walked along paths hung high up between the trees, and marveled at the size and age of the Douglas Firs, hemlock and Cedar Trees filling the park. Then we followed along a second path on the forest floor.
While standing in the line to cross back over the bridge to the entrance, we met a couple with their dog standing behind us. He was an older yellow lab mix, very sweet, but not very keen on going across the bridge again.
in his nervous excitement, the dog pushed past us so we let them all move ahead. I don't even remember glancing down again at the water -- I was so interested in watching the dog. He was very brave, sliding a bit on the bridge as it moved up and down or side to side. He was so happy when they reached the other side! Then we gave him a good petting, and I gave him some almonds from my back pack. He enjoyed the almonds so much I thought he'd cross the bridge again!
After viewing the newly-unveiled Salmon Totem, we left the park and walked to the restaurant across the street. he day was hazy and chilly, but we still enjoyed sitting out on the terrace.
We left and headed up to Grouse Mountain, but it was too cloudy to see anything and my back was too sore to handle the hills. So we headed back to the hotel where I iced my back and read an Outside Magazine. Philip slept for 3 hours. Now we know that he gets tired after any flight -- even when he's not the pilot! When Philip awoke, we went for a walk through Stanely Park, along the marinas. We enjoyed watching all of the joggers, bikers and bladers, though I was sad taht my back prevented me from joining the joggers.
As the sun set and the night became chillier, we headed back to the Spotted Prawn for another wonderful meal. Why not go back to a great local restaurant surrounded by tourist joints? We finished dinner, then walked south to Robson street at the suggestion of our waiter. Robson is a lot like Queen St. in Toronto, filled with funky shops and lots of tourists. In fact, we felt that Vancouver was very similar to Toronto in a mixed-up, northwestern way. It felt a little like being in an Escher painting of Toronto. In any case, we walked along Robson for a while before heading back to the hotel for the night.
We were very lucky to arrive and encounter a celebration unveiling a new totem -- the Salmon Totem -- inside the park. A local artist had been working on this totem for a year and they had native dancers and speakers performing before the big unveiling. We headed over to the bridge, and I discovered that the Capilano Bridge is a suspension bridge hanging between the two sides of a high-sided ravine. People are able to walk back and forth across the bridge, or they can stop for pictures and not move out of the way for other people. Or they can jump up and down on the bridge, causing it to buckle and rock and scare some of the people on it. As friendly as Vancouver is, this tourist-filled place is not the mecca for consideration.
In any case, we enjoyed walking across the bridge and looking at the Capilano River far below. The river is beautiful, rocky and winding, and filled with salmon at times (thought not on the day that we visited). The walk was a little challening, especially in the center of the bridge, where it tended to move more.
On the other side of he bridge, beyond the churros y chocolate stand, were wonderful interactive activities for the visitors. We walked along paths hung high up between the trees, and marveled at the size and age of the Douglas Firs, hemlock and Cedar Trees filling the park. Then we followed along a second path on the forest floor.
While standing in the line to cross back over the bridge to the entrance, we met a couple with their dog standing behind us. He was an older yellow lab mix, very sweet, but not very keen on going across the bridge again.
in his nervous excitement, the dog pushed past us so we let them all move ahead. I don't even remember glancing down again at the water -- I was so interested in watching the dog. He was very brave, sliding a bit on the bridge as it moved up and down or side to side. He was so happy when they reached the other side! Then we gave him a good petting, and I gave him some almonds from my back pack. He enjoyed the almonds so much I thought he'd cross the bridge again!
After viewing the newly-unveiled Salmon Totem, we left the park and walked to the restaurant across the street. he day was hazy and chilly, but we still enjoyed sitting out on the terrace.
We left and headed up to Grouse Mountain, but it was too cloudy to see anything and my back was too sore to handle the hills. So we headed back to the hotel where I iced my back and read an Outside Magazine. Philip slept for 3 hours. Now we know that he gets tired after any flight -- even when he's not the pilot! When Philip awoke, we went for a walk through Stanely Park, along the marinas. We enjoyed watching all of the joggers, bikers and bladers, though I was sad taht my back prevented me from joining the joggers.
As the sun set and the night became chillier, we headed back to the Spotted Prawn for another wonderful meal. Why not go back to a great local restaurant surrounded by tourist joints? We finished dinner, then walked south to Robson street at the suggestion of our waiter. Robson is a lot like Queen St. in Toronto, filled with funky shops and lots of tourists. In fact, we felt that Vancouver was very similar to Toronto in a mixed-up, northwestern way. It felt a little like being in an Escher painting of Toronto. In any case, we walked along Robson for a while before heading back to the hotel for the night.
posted by Dev Holan at
11:23 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home