Following an unforgettable 11 day voyage from Vancouver to Seward with Seabourn Cruise besides an exciting 4 day stay in Alaska where you visit the famous Denali National Park, you fly back to Vancouver from Anchorage via Seattle. (Incidentally, as I write this blog a devastating earthquake measuring 7 on the Ritcher Scale with epicenter close to Anchorage is reported to have struck there).
Waiting is a limousine at the Airport. This is arranged by the tour operator who takes you to your hotel at Downtown Vancouver.
Astonishingly, this plush area of Vancouver with a population of over 90,000 has just a single Gas Station. Other Gas stations presumably have been converted into real estates over the past decade.
Soon after you check-in – Manjeet, my smart nephew and a Canadian citizen comes to take you to his residence. Manjeet stays at a place located south of Fraser River. A part of Vancouver metropolitan area called ‘Surrey’.
Amidst close relatives, drinks and dinner was spiced with nostalgia taking you back to the cherished childhood memories. After riveting four hours of conversation on politics, jokes and laughter it was time now to return. On insistence, they permit you to travel by the local Metro Rail back to the hotel. A journey that turned out to be a different experience.
Vancouver Art Gallery
The following morning, you have breakfast at a café on Robson Street before visiting the fabled Vancouver Art Gallery. This art gallery is reputed to be the largest Gallery in western Canada.
Incidentally you could also see the Gallery’s neoclassical style structure just across the street from the Cafe. Not being a great aficionado of Art Galleries, you spend most of the time clicking pictures and moving around visiting the Gift Shop/Gallery Store within.
Stanley Park
Next on your list is the visit to – “Stanley Park”, another iconic landmark of Vancouver.
With your Camera by your side, you hire a taxi and reach Stanley Park through Georgia Street Gate. As you alight at the visitor’s center, just opposite to you is the Coal Harbour.
Then on your left is the pleasant sight of three impressive old-fashioned horse-drawn carriages. One of the carriage, full of passengers, seems to be ready to depart.
From the kiosk you buy two tickets, one for an hour’s cart ride over this huge 1000 acres spread and the other for entry into the epic aquarium within Stanley Park.
You then swiftly occupy the vantage front seat of this 26 seated cart, pulled by two impressive Belgian horses. The coach-lady sitting besides you holding reins of the seemingly obedient horses also acts as the tour guide.
Once on the move, the Cart slowly passes through ‘Vancouver’s Harbour’, ‘Lions Gate Bridge’, a ‘Coastal Red Cedar Forest’. The first stop however is at the ‘Totem Poles’.
From there you pass from in-front of the ‘Statue of Girl in a Wet Suit’ and finally cross ‘Rose Garden’.
Stanley Park
Girl in Wet Suit
Vancouver Aquarium
Next is the visit to Vancouver’s splashiest attraction, its famous Aquarium tucked a little away in the Park. Five minute walking distance from visitor’s center you reach this aquarium and find the place replete with abundant marine Wild-life. This place is also credited of being a marine research, conservation and marine animal rehabilitation center.
As you enter, you are astonished looking at the lovely ocean creatures, exotic animals and beautiful birds. Most of them are the natives of the legendary Amazon forest.
First to welcome you is an impressive ‘Hyacinth Macaw’, a colorful bird with a massive beak, considered to be a large parrot. A couple of attractive ‘Emerald Tree Boas’ are around too.
Hyacinth Macaw Parrot
Emerald Tree Boa
Moving forward from near a glass enclosure you come across cute black tiny ‘Marmosets’, (tree living monkeys). Overactive and animated species, they keep hopping from one place to another.
Apart from an Anaconda in one of the enclosure, you see these incredibly attractive Jelly fishes (Mastiquias Paupa) and Australian Spotted Jelly Fish (Phyllorhiza Punctata). With their long tentacles floating behind them, they make impressive rhythmic movements that are inexplicable.
Spotted-Jellyfish
Jelly fish
Then walking along the corridor, you see some amazing Sting Rays like ‘Xingu River Ray’. ‘Red Footed Tortoise’, ‘Long-spine Porcupine Fish’, ‘Red Lion Fish’, ‘Zebra Shark’, ‘Sea Otters’, ‘Steller’s Sea Lions’, ‘Harbour Seals’, varieties of ‘frogs’ and much more are there to watch too.
Xingu River Sting Ray
Red Footed Tortoise
Red Lion Fish
Sea otter
Sea Lions
Frogs
Cactus Club Café
Later in the evening you use the coupon issued to you by your tour agent for a lavish dinner at “Cactus Club Café”. This trendy restaurant is situated near the harbor, at a place known as – ‘Canada Place’.
After this 4 course dinner and a little stroll along the harbor, you walk back to your Hotel and hit the bed for the night’s rest.
Vancouver Tour
Next Morning : 9.40 AM and the ‘Land-Sea Tour & Adventure’ Minibus is there on time. With few more guests already seated in the Bus, the day’s tour of Vancouver begins.
Driver cum Guide “Jana” is at the wheels. So after about 45 minutes, passing through the Trans-Canada Highway, you reach the first stop of the day – “Horse Shoe Bay Village”.
Horse Shoe Bay Village
This is the bay that’s akin Horse Shoe when aerially viewed. Jana gives a short 25 minutes to the guests to assimilate the gorgeous view of the bay.
Here on one side, within the sea, you see copious small-medium-big Yachts parked and on the other is the main-street lined-up with restaurants and galleries. And behind the main street is a small village with few dozen tiny but tidy houses. This place presumably accommodates around 100 residents.
Shannon Falls
Few miles ahead, driving towards the west, you reach a place that is touted as the third highest water-fall in Canada – The “Shannon Falls”. With 30 minutes in hand, you quickly walk up a small trail to come face to face with a huge frothy white water falling vigorously down from amazing height. Surprisingly, this aggressive water almost instantly metamorphoses into a cool silent stream as it touched the ground and begins to flow calmly between small rocks.
Sea to Sky Gondola
Next, you come to ‘Sea to Sky’ Gondola. This gondola may not seem exceptionally charming to an avid traveler, but the height to which this Gondola rises is truly stunning.
Ascending 2800 feet above the valley’s floor in the small car pulled by wires, you are exposed to a spectacular bird’s eye view of the town of Squamish as well as the rugged, snow-capped mountains to its north. The turquoise sea below dotted with small green islets that grow tinier and tinier as you gain height. A stunning spectacle for you to see.
Once on the top, a 100 meter Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is the first to capture your attention. You cower and quiver as you attempt to place your foot on this shaky bridge; the scare ironically, brings an unexpected smile of thrill over your face. Only a terribly phobic individual would like to miss the joy of walking over this architectural marvel.
Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge
View from treck
Britannia Mine Museum
Two hours pass quick and fast. You now proceed towards the Gondola for an equally exciting ride during descend. Once seated in the bus, the return trip commences.
Finally you reach the last stop before the day’s tour concludes – It is the visit to “The Britannia Mine Museum”. The largest producer of Copper in the British Empire (1904-1974) that once gave an output of astounding 17% of total World’s Copper produce.
Lara – a learned guide takes you towards a tiny station. Here, after supporting a helmet you board a small rail car for a 45 minutes sensational underground tour into the dark damp cramped, claustrophobic mine.
Within this environment, you are compelled to sympathize with the plight of those mine workers who worked here under such incredibly perilous conditions.
English Bay
As Jana drops you back at your hotel, it’s 5.30pm. The day looks still bright and you have time to visit a last place on your wish-list. It is the ‘English Bay’.
Not too far from the Hotel, ‘English Bay’ looks like a quintessential commercial place with Restaurants and Shops all around. In front you see the beach with vast sea with big ships anchored at a distance.
As the sun sets, the lights in these ships began to glow making the whole scene look bright and beautiful.
Walking back to the Hotel you find a restaurant by the name “Modern Handi Indian” mid-way. A perfect place probably to savor butter chicken and roti. Not disappointed by the taste, you pay the bill and return to your room; pack your bags and prepare to leave for the most anticipated trip to the “Canadian Rockies” early next morning.
Waving Good-Bye to this lovely Metropolis, you board the striking “Rock Mountaineer Train” taking along with you some of Vancouver’s cherished and unforgettable memories……
Nitin
Writing sense is God gifted but finesse in it that is learnt. And the combination is what your travelogues are all about.
Narinder Singh
One travelogue better than the other!Fantastic!!! Awaiting one on your Amritsar tour.
Anonymous
5
Anonymous
1
Renuka
Lovely write-up… keep it up.
Anonymous
4.5
Jon
Great post
Rhia
Excellent…..Excellent … Excellent.. is all can i say
Lois Mazza
This is a great post, as always. I am SO enjoying this blog. You are the best!
Susy
you write so well: ” no wonder Whenever I read your stuff, my eyes are glued to the screen.
Rhia
Hi !!!! great content as always, and inspiring!
Anabel
Great article..
Kiara
Absolutely great post here.
Jessica
awesome article. It’s been a while that I actually read an blog to the end. This is worths it.
Bhupender
4.5