A Year in Vancouver- Part 3

I only spout poetry when my feet hurt…

 And having managed a fair amount of walking this weekend, I have to say my feet were starting to ache.  Having managed a cursory tour of Vancouver already, on bus, I decided to venture slightly further afield and walk around a few of the slights and places I had previously driven through. 

 First stop was back to Stanley Park, one of the largest urban space sin North America and a fact I didn’t know until the weekend, some 20% larger than NYC’s Central Park.  While I didn’t manage to cover anywhere near the 22 miles of trails that it contains I did manage a stroll along the Seawall to the Totem Poles, an aborted attempt in the late 1880s to recreate a whole village.  Most the ones in the park today seem to be more recent reconstructions, yet they still manage to show a wide range of symbolic creatures and my favorites even manage to retell a story.  The link to the local history being somewhat appealing. 

 From there it was a short drive, well I couldn’t walk all day, around to English Bay to take in the atmosphere and to stop for lunch.  Really, what could be more pleasant that BC pacific salmon while watching the waves creeping up the beach and lapping to the shore.  Possibly a little too much on the tourist trail, but I was aiming to mix and match a local and tourist experience.  Unfortunately I couldn’t stay to see the fireworks planned for the evening, but I will make sure I’m back later in the week to the next set.

 The final stop of the day was Gastown/ Chinatown, and having moved the car one more time I did at least manage to walk the fix or six blocks between sights here.  The first point of interest was the steam powered clock in Gastown.  The clock was created by Ray Saunders and was built in 1977 following a design that had been created more than a century previously.  It is reportedly powered by an underground system that could be used the heat the surrounding buildings, and I’m told it is the only one in the world.  I have to say I was expecting slightly more than four toots on the quarter hour, but the big surprise is reserved for the hourly chime.

 Not far from the clock is Maple Tree Square, unsurprisingly named after a maple tree that was to be found there.  It was the spot on which, in 1886, the people of Granville settled on the name Vancouver for their new and ever growing city.  Today a statue of Gassy Jack- a Yorkshire man who couldn’t keep his opinions to himself, of Gastown fame, stands on the spot and a new tree stands nearby with a plaque commemorating events.

 From there is only a short walk to Chinatown and the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden.  Chintown is one of the biggest in North America, has a very original and authentic feel and some of the more historic buildings in the city.  The garden itself was created for the Expo in ’86 and has two halves to it, it was the first authentic, full scale garden to be created outside of China.  Here everything was planted and grown using traditional method and a balance of Yin and Yang create the different moods and embrace the nature and changes found throughout the garden.  Definitely a spot to return to as the seasons change and the area and garden cycle through too.

I’m not sure where I’m headed to next week, but I’m sure it will be interesting and entertaining…