| Stanley Park is Vancouver's famous urban | | | | to the seawall and quickly came to the Lions Gate |
| paradise and I knew weeks in advance that I | | | | Bridge which is surrounded by Prospect Point, the |
| would need to explore it in detail, preferably on a | | | | highest point in the park. From there I soon |
| bike. So this afternoon at about 1:30 pm I set off | | | | reached the northernmost point of Stanley Park |
| from the UBC Campus, and navigated my way | | | | and started cycling westwards again. Just past a |
| downtown by bus, taking 3 buses to get to the | | | | single outlying rock called Siwash Rock I arrived at |
| eastern edge of Stanley Park. This was my first | | | | Third Beach that was just completely teeming |
| chance to glance at the city of Vancouver. It is a | | | | with people. I bought a drink and relaxed for a |
| relatively new city and according to some | | | | while until I resumed my trip and passed a group |
| accounts, its origins date back to 1792 , the year | | | | of inukshuk builders close to Second Beach. |
| when Captain George Vancouver explored this | | | | The crowds were intensifying and every |
| region. Most buildings downtown west of Granville | | | | conceivable spot on the burnt-out grass was |
| Avenue were built relatively recently as | | | | taken up by sun-worshippers. The largest beach, |
| Vancouver has experienced a huge building boom | | | | located closest to the city, is English Bay Beach, |
| over the last few years. A large part of | | | | replete with daytrippers. The crowds were a bit |
| downtown is covered by modern residential | | | | too much for me, so I crossed False Creek over |
| skyscrapers and Vancouver's building frenzy | | | | the Burrard Bridge and explored Vanier Park and |
| continues unabated. It's evident everywhere that | | | | Kitsilano Beach. The view from the bridge is |
| this is a very popular place to live. | | | | simply breathtaking. On the other side again there |
| My rental bicycle was waiting for me at a place | | | | were thousands of people, barbequeing, |
| called Spokes Bicycle Rentals, a place that had | | | | sunworshiping, and picknicking. |
| been mentioned to me several weeks ago by the | | | | I turned around and headed back on 4th Avenue, |
| Vancouver's Visitors Association. I met one of | | | | crossing back to downtown Vancouver via the |
| their managers, a young sporty guy named Phil | | | | Granville Street Bridge and headed straight across |
| who was extremely helpful in helping me lay out | | | | towards Canada Place and the seashore west of |
| my itinerary for this discovery on two wheels. | | | | Burrard Street. Since my stomach was growling |
| We started chatting and I found out that Phil is | | | | after about 3 hours of cycling, I returned the |
| originally from Montreal and moved to Vancouver | | | | bycicle to Spokes and asked Phil for advice as to |
| 3 years ago. He loves the outdoors and has | | | | where to eat. He suggested an Italian place |
| gotten involved in snowboarding, mountainbiking | | | | named Ciao Bella almost right across the street. I |
| and diving and he mentioned that Vancouver is | | | | took his advice and plunked myself down on a |
| among the world's top dive sites. | | | | nice patio and thoroughly enjoyed an Italian meal |
| After laying out my route for me and giving me | | | | in the evening sunshine. |
| information on all the important sights along the | | | | At 8 pm I was ready to head back to UBC and |
| way, Phil selected a comfortable bicycle for me | | | | walked up to Robson Street, one of Vancouver's |
| that would be able to handle leisure riding as well | | | | main thoroughfares. Thousands of people were |
| as some mild offroading. Once outfitted I hopped | | | | coming towards me since they were planning to |
| on the bike and started my tour along the seawall | | | | catch the fireworks. The sidewalks were just |
| of Stanley Park. At 20 times the size of Central | | | | totally full with people. I was walking in the |
| Park, Stanley Park is the 3rd largest urban park in | | | | opposite direction and ended up doing a quick little |
| North America, and its setting is just stunning. | | | | photographic tour of downtown, including the Hotel |
| From the east side you have a view into | | | | Vancouver. I saw a few more interesting buildings: |
| downtown Vancouver towards Canada Place and | | | | the Vancouver Block and the Art Gallery of |
| the cruise boat terminal. Several ocean liners were | | | | Vancouver. |
| docked in town. | | | | Quite exhausted from a full day I started walking |
| One of the first major sights along the bike path | | | | down Granville Avenue, still surrounded by throngs |
| are the Totem Poles, imposing in their height and | | | | of people and had to wait 45 minutes for a bus |
| number. I circled around Brockton Point towards | | | | since all buses were going down Davie Street to |
| the north-facing side of the peninsula, and a | | | | take people to the fireworks. Finally the bus came |
| stunning view towards North Vancouver and the | | | | and I was listening to a bunch of teenage boys |
| Lions Gate Bridge opened up. As per Phil's advice, | | | | that were planning their under-age drinking |
| I cycled up to Beaver Lake which is a quiet little | | | | escapades at the occasion of the fireworks. After |
| oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the | | | | a really long day I finally arrived back on the UBC |
| seawall. It is a large pond surrounded by lush | | | | campus at about 9:30 pm. Now it's 11 pm and I |
| forest, covered in a water lilies. I cycled all the | | | | can't wait to hit the hay. |
| way around the pond and then headed back out | | | | |