Vancouver

Vancouver city from Stanley Park. We are staying on the North side of Vancouver so each trip to the city is over the Lions GateBridge which is only 3 lanes wide the centre lane is controlled by lane indicator lights to facilitate a smoother traffic flow.

The park is like Virgin forest impenetrable except for the walking trails. It is a two lane one way road, with the occasional paid parking area. Bicycles and walkers are well catered for with all the walking trails providing good views of the waterfront and city. The speed limit is in metric and limited to 30kms per hour. We travelled on the slow side of the roadway at between 25-30kms per hour trying to enjoy the views. The tranquility was broken by people driving with their hands in the the horn 'encouraging' us to speed so they could rush to the closest car park. Even the Park Ranger pulled alongside blocking the road in a beaten up ranger truck and informed us we couldn't stop along the route as we were blocking traffic, we were the only vehicle visible from either front or behind on a 2 lane 1 way road,  with ample passing space and vision. The park is on both sides of the main road, we didn't bother exploring the other side. The designated picnic area had no tables, chairs, garbages, restrooms or facilities of any kind, bar a football field sized grassed area with no view of the area but a good view of the PAID parking lot. We carried our picnic lunch back to the hotel room to enjoy the view of a blank wall. At least no one honked or hassled us there.

This is The Steam Clock a famous landmark in gas town. We came back at night to hear it chime in the hour, with each chime there is a puff of steam emitted from it.

At Granville Market we bought strawberries and a Nanaimo Bar. 

It's like a coconut rough base with a buttery custard filling and a chocolate topping. There were all sorts of specialty foods and produce here, it was very busy and the fruit and veges were the same as the supermarket prices. Local salmon and cheeses were up to $60.00 CAD per pound. Canadian Maple syrup was at least $3.00 per bottle  more expensive than back home. Fuel was more costly than Australia and sold by the litre. Birkenstock sandals $ 50.00 dearer per pair too. The cost of living seemed to be significantly higher than the US, a fact confirmed by some fellow passengers aboard the ship who take their passport and do all their shopping across the border. I am so glad we can go shopping to Melbourne or the Gold Coast and not have to traverse a border, it does seem to be a bit more streamlined for Canadian and US citizens but we had to be fingerprinted and photographed to enter the US by the officers of homeland security. I think that is a good thing, there don't seem to be nearly enough anti terrorist measures and precautions in Australia. There will come a day when we will regret our civil libertarian promoted attitude to welcoming all and sundry with open arms, by then it will be too late.

Pastas of all shapes and sizes. These things called Cinnamon records which are very flat pastries about the size of an old LP record.

There was plenty to see. Specialty cheeses and a coffee stall that sold all different coffee beans was doing a roaring trade.

The flowers here are beautiful and the stalls actually smell like flowers.

There were handicrafts too, knitted stuff, leather ware, beads, carvings and wood ware. Some local,  some from China and other places. Our GPS is having a hard time finding places or streets. We are using the latest map and even in the city sometimes it is hundreds of metres out. We have never encountered that problem before. We have found a Chinese restaurant and had a lovely meal. The owner has been here 23 years and is a little difficult to understand but she is lovely, friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, so much so that we returned the next night to dine again. The food was good, fresh, fast, ample in portion and variety. The restaurant was clean and the owners were delightful, open, friendly and genuine. If you happen to be in North Vancouver we urge to visit the Jade Restaurant and try the combination meals you won't be disappointed.