Vancouver's Vivacious Value
- Oliver Trapnell
- Jul 18, 2019
- 2 min read
Sleeping off the jet lag is never easy... not even for an experienced traveller such as myself. But there's never enough time in the day unless you start bright and breezy. So marching out the door before 8 O'clock is essential!
After enjoying a couple of freshly baked all butter croissants at the Breka Bakery and Cafe (855 Davie St, Vancouver) I headed down Hornby street towards Cycle City (648 Hornby Street, Vancouver) the first major attraction of the day.
Descending down hill towards the destination, I passed a Fillipino market and art exhibit outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in the midst of being set-up. I was told this exhibit was an annual event, and so I vowed to return later in the day.
Arriving at Cycle City a little early, I was introduced to Michael who would be the tour guide for the day and introduced me to a family that would be joining us. Michael explained that we would be performing a 'stop-start' routine of cycling which came as a pleasant surprise to someone who considers themselves to be 'less than in shape'.
Michael took us on a cyclical trip from the bustling streets of Vancouver to the lush green of Stanley Park. Michael explained that the land on which Vancouver was built was never claimed (on paper) by European settlers, and so First Nation people still have claim over the land.
Returning from the tour around midday, I explored the Filippino exhibit as promised. Vibrant costumes, lines of market-style Fillipino businesses and upbeat modern music accompanied the artistic displays of national pride.
Heading towards the coast, I ate close to the Vancouver Convention Centre and learned that the centre is paving the way for renewable and sustainable engineering. The roof of the building is covered in 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses. Furthermore, the centre is home to four seperate beehives and has a unique heating and cooling system caused by the seawater underneath the building.
Following a hearty lunch, I stopped by Canada's answer to Starbucks - Tim Hortons. The coffee chain boasts a broad selection of doughnuts and sweet treats in which I enjoyed a very sweet, maple flavoured doughnut.
Heading South East I headed towards the the old downtown area of Vancouver known as Gastown. As I headed through the area, hipster shops and eateries screamed their presence with powerful colours and signs. Soon passing through this district I immediately found myself in the Chinatown. This neighboorhood held some delightful open spaces and gives Vancouver's large Chinese population great recognition.
Returning to the hotel, I again passed the Vancouver Art Gallery. Just behind the building, lies a small park in which an odd red spiral reminiscient of James Bond's opening gun barrel, or Junji Itou's 'Uzumaki', stands proud. The piece offered me the chance to explore some photographic ideas and have some fun in an already action-packed city.
© Oliver Trapnell Media and Oliver Trapnell
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