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the concluding part of this account of a journey around Canada from Andrew Clark. Vancouver Our last destination was Vancouver, a City of 1.8 million people, which we reached from Victoria by bus and a two-hour ferry crossing. At the Vancouver Airport Hotel, where we stayed, a Legion Guard of Honour greeted us. Later in the week, there was a Dance and a Sing Song at the nearby Legion, to which many from the party dropped by regularly. As tourists, we met many friendly Canadians, who helped us find our way round and often passed on tips on how to get the best out of our visit. At times, though, they found it hard to comprehend we had no car. We soon mastered the Vancouver transportation system called Tanslink operating an extensive network of Bus, Skytrain and Seabus, all covered by an integrated ticketing scheme. Against this backdrop, we made our way via Bus and Seabus to Grouse Mountain, 1,250 metres high with its excellent view over Vancouver, Stanley Park, the Pacific Ocean and the snow capped Mt Baker (Washington). There is a trail to the top called the grind; we took the eight minute Skyride Gondola. At the top, there is a collection of huge wooden statues, demonstrating the art of chain-saw carving. Each is named and there are details of the size and age of the tree used with reasons why it had been felled and how long it took to carve, often in the order of 30 plus days. There was a tree filled enclosure with two orphaned grisly bears sometimes playing in the open but as often as not hidden in the wood. There was also a theatre in the Sky along the lines of IMAX presentation using a wide screen showing the Province of British Columbia from a Bird's Eye view, the effect of which at times caused one to look away and even made one feel sick. On our return route, we visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge stretched 137 metres across the 70 metre deep canyon of the Capilano River below. This is an entertaining park; the visitor is encouraged to go round by following a map/passport and to get a stamp for each feature found. A certificate, valid for 3 years, invites you to boast that you crossed the Bridge. We returned by the Seabus to the Downtown original Western terminal station of the transcontinental CPR. Close by is Gastown one of the features of which is the Gas Clock, which whistles for the quarters and the hour, appropriately and blows smoke. The district is officially called Granville since 1869 but gets its nickname from a contemporary English saloon owner, 'Gassy Jack' Deighton, who was a pilot by profession. On the following days culture was abandoned in favour of trying out the Skytrain and, from its elevated rail track, one looked down on the neat suburbs of Vancouver and inlets full of logs awaiting the attention of the sawmills. Naturally, we did some shopping, looking for presents to take home, and even enjoyed our dinner in a Mall Restaurant, which had a two for the price of one promotion. We visited too the downtown Stanley Park, a wonderful 'green belt'. The historic fishing Port of Steveston, forming part of Richmond, the quarter of Vancouver in which our hotel was situated, close to the International Airport, made an interesting visit. In former times it was a premier fishing port from which hundreds of boats used to set sail and supported a salmon cannery, until 1979. It is still an active port today, attracting visitors to buy fresh fish or eat at the many fish restaurants. There was time on the last day to make a return visit to Steveston, before taking the Airport Shuttle bus in preparation for our flight home, in our case to Gatwick. Security remained tight but some of the stringency experienced on leaving the UK was relaxed so, for example, we were allowed to take on a flight bag, denied us before. Vancouver International Airport opened in May 1996; the authorities are still collecting an airport development tax of 15 Canadian Dollars from each traveller, which seems a bit ironic. On the other hand the same authorities remit GST levied on hotel bills in excess of 50 dollars and presents, provided one had proof of identity with a residential address such as a driving licence, which fortunately I had with me. Many from the party were not so lucky. The passport in itself was not sufficient identity, since it contains no address. One can submit an application from the UK, the amount refunded being put on a credit card. Using an office in Vancouver, I recovered 55 dollars in cash, which meant we ate better that night! The flight home was on schedule and much fuller than on the outward journey. Our taxi was there to meet us as ordered and dropped us home in the early evening on Saturday. We look back on an interesting and memorable holiday in the company of an amazing group of people, English and Canadian, with the common link of the Korean War and our respective Korean Veterans Association. Thanks again to all who helped to make the visit so successful. Andrew Clark |
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page last updated 16 MAY 2002 |
