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Vancouver, BC (July 2012): Canada, eh!

The reason for my trip to Vancouver was a work conference and it was also my first trip to the west side of Canada. To be honest I cannot think of a better place to have a conference: the Convention Centre is located right by Vancouver Harbour where you could see the seaplanes landing or taking off with the beautiful mountains and forests in the background. I instantly fell in love with this city and if someone had offered me a job I wouldn't think twice moving there! 
 Convention Centre with Vancouver Harbour in the background
Seaplane landing
Giant orca by the Convention Centre
Olympic Flame
I had two days of exploring after the conference and my first trip was to the Capilano Suspension Bridge which crosses the Capilano River. Now I don't mind heights, but being on a swaying bridge 230ft above ground was not exactly my cup of tea so I tried to make it across as fast as I could! Nonetheless the views were absolutely stunning and the forest on the other side of the bridge made me forget all my fears.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Capilano River
Trees so high you got dizzy looking at them!

I spent another afternoon in Stanley Park, a 400 hectare urban park bordering downtown Vancouver. I really recommend going there on a sunny day for a picnic or rent a bicycle and ride around the 22 km seawall path which circles the park.
Seawall - Stanley Park

View of downtown Vancouver from Stanley Park

My other excursion was a trip to Grouse Mountain, a popular hiking and ski resort as well as a refuge centre for the two orphaned grizzly bears Coola and Grinder who were found abondened in 2001. The Canadian Government does not support the release of grizzlies back into the wild and therefore a big enclosure was built for these two bears where they would be able to forage for their own food and have as little interaction with humans as possible. It was pretty spectacular watching them and I could have probably stayed there for hours if it wasn't for the rain and thick fog that day!

Up to Grouse Mountain!



Coola and Grinder






English Bay


Beach by English Bay





 Overall Vancouver has been one of my favorite city trips as you can have the sea, mountains and nature all in one place. People are really friendly and even though it is a big city the atmosphere is pretty chilled out. I must definitely visit again as there is so much more to explore in this lovely city!

Comments

  1. IamVagabond9 December 2012 at 02:14

    Neat images. I wish I knew about Capilano Suspension Bridge when I was there.
    Thanks for sharing. Reminds me of my trip

    ReplyDelete

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