Well, travelling home to the UK I met two lovely chatty Canadian women who enlightened me that I had not seen Vancouver at all. I had spent two weeks in New Westminster, a different city to Vancouver. They enlightened me that I had not seen beautiful Vancouver and that is why I had been so confused and not enamored with the locality at all. They showed me pictures of beaches and mountainous terrain that was stunning. Now it all began to make better sense and I felt I was not going mad. It was further highlighted by my Virgin flight companion, Tanya, who again reiterated what I had missed out on and showed me beautiful pictures of her own stay in the real Vancouver. It was a long way to travel and not be immersed in the real beauty of Vancouver.
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Sorry to anyone I may have offended or insulted with this particular blog...but sadly this was my experience of the Vancouver I ended up in!
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Nestled on the west coast just above the US border between pine forests, working rivers, industry and bridges for as far as the eye can see is Vancouver. There must be over eight different design bridges I can view from the penthouse apartment I am staying in. The locals try to tell this true Brit that Vancouver, British Columbia is just like England but am sorry to enlighten those of you living with this illusion that is it nothing like my England or the my UK.
Surrounded by
wide roads, freeways, American style road signs, scarlet fire hydrants on every
street corner, houses that resemble the east coast of the US and primarily
Virginia and row after row of high-rise apartment buildings and neon this is Vancouver. Out walking
I come face to face, on every cross street, with the classic American “don’t walk
tangerine hand sign” resembling the Arabic Hamsa which symbolises protection. Then
when I am given permission to walk
I see the USA white walking man; nothing close to my UK. Oh and I almost
forgot, no roundabouts, but the other classic American four way stop. Not to mention
the yankee range of stores.
Us Brits do
not have anywhere close to the range of stores or the size. The breath taking
variety and range of produce in each supermarket here is Vancouver can only be
compared to the US, not my England. The weather is about the closest comparable
to England. Seasons appear same time of year although Vancouver winters can be
much harder and colder than the UK. Summers tend to be warmer.
Areas of Vancouver
are very pretty and obviously wealthy but many areas are extremely industrial and grey. The
river is a working river with tug boats pulling and pushing containers in and
out all day. The freight train runs day and night with a slow low long horn blasting
out across the city every few minutes and runs all over town. It’s good to see
a hard working river but it does not paint a pretty watercolour. Someone commented
to me that Vancouver is ugly and grey in the rain and I have to say I agree.
An attempt
has been made at the waterside areas to make attractive eating spots and
interesting walkways, but sadly not my
cuppa tea, although I have drunk an awful lot of tea since arriving in a variety
of vessels and situations but none of them served in a bone china English tea
cup. And just like the USA tea is poor and weak and not English at all. I have bee lucky enough to drink good ole English
Typhoo but still not as good as my home brewed PG Tips. Cheers.
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