Vancouver – Week 2-3

Howdy Folks,

That’s right we’ve been in Vancouver a whole 3 weeks now! Yes, the blog posts of the rest of Chile and Peru are still in writing i’m sure over the next few months we’ll get around to them.

What have we been doing? Exploring and of course, applying for jobs, jobs and more jobs. The job hunting is going ok, last week was particularly busy with interviews and phone interviews. I think in total we had about 8 between us and are now waiting to hear back or get an update. Keep your fingers crossed for us. If anyone has any contacts up here in Canada we’d greatly appreciate if you passed our details on, even if it was just to meet them and take them out for a beer or coffee.

Vancouver is a very beautiful city, the tall glass skyscrapers refelect the greens and blues of the forrests, mountains and water. We’ve been checking out the different areas such as coal harbour, yaletown, north vancouver, gastown etc. There always seems to be some festival or something on. For instance, we woke up one Saturday to music and drums getting louder and louder…turns out there was a Phillipeno parade meandering its way down our street.

To Jess’ great surprise and delight, we found out her favourite band Karnivool were going to be playing at The Venue in Vancouver for $15. Karnivool are a Perth band with a solid following down under but as we found out the rest of the world hasnt found out how great they are. Or they just agree with my summation being that they sound like a cat drowing amongst several garbage trucks. Fortunatley their live show was fantastic for Jesse and the Venue had a bar so i was happy. I even attempted to sing along which was easy when every word is a high pitched meow of varying lengths.

Street concert on the way to watch Karnivool

The Venue – Vancouver Downtown

Karnivool performing at The Venue

Karnivool lead singer Kenny

Kenny 2

Vancouver being quite hippy-ish should have good markets. It didnt let us down when we discovered the Granville Islands Markets. Think a bigger, cleaner more organised version of Freo markets right on the harbour.  Jess was more than stoked to potter around the markets. And once again for me Vancouver stepped it up, this time in the markets providing the Granville Island Brewery, a small version of little creatures which has some fine drops of beer.

Granville Markets Vancouver

Mmmm berriiess

Jesse @ Granville Island Brewery

Dooooowwwn heeaarrrrrted

Mmmmmm beeerrrrrr *drools*

Whilst we sipped our refreshing beverages, we noticed an older lady sitting by herself. Jess decided she needed a friend and went abducted her to join us. Jerry 80, heads down to the markets every week to grab her shopping and have a beer or a wine. She sat and talked, and talked and talked to us to the point where my attention turned to the wood on the table. Just kidding, Jerry was lovely and she appreciated us younger folk coming and talking to her. Bonus points i reckon.

It is summer time here, it gets to around 28 degrees which feels closer to 40 as the houses are built to keep you warm not cool. No fans or air-con here or anywhere except department stores and no seas breeze. Luckily, Vancouver is positioned a stones throw away from some fantastic national parks and mountains. One particularly warm Sunday we boarded the sea bus and ventured across to North Vancouver to the Lynn Valley.

View from the sea bus looking back at Vancouver skyline and cruise ships

Vancouver skyline

Seagull mascot, Jess was trrified

North Vancouver Quay markets

North Vancouver Quay markets

Business talk

The whole journey took us maybe 30-45mins before we were at the entrance to the Lynn Valley, home to the 30ft pool, a natural swimming hole and stream.

Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge – the suspense was intense!

Walking through the pine forrest

Lynn Park Canyon and up the river.

The 30 foot pool and yes the water did look like this. Speaking of the water, it was amazingly cold! Fresh from the mountain tops of imagine. Most people just stand knee deep to cool off then go find a rock to lie in the warm sun. Or downstream they sit in the rushing water half in half out.

People jumping in from different cliffs around the po0l

Knee bathing

Panaroma of the pool

The pool is fresh water so if you get thristy just take a drink. That is if there isnt a small child or dog peeing in it nearby.

This guy forgot his parachute

People even do it without legs

Panaroma taken down stream

Well thats about all the photos we have of our adventure’s around Vancouver. Hopefull this week brings us some exciting news like a job or lotto winnings.

We hope all is well with you wherever you are.
Cheers
Hutch