Exploring Vancouver
I woke up at around 6am, to find that Dave had already gone to work, and Ruth was up and about. Debbie slept on, until finally Ruth’s stomach and mine led us to wake her at around 7:30.
Before we left, Dave phoned Ruth saying he’d forgotten his work shoes — he had cycled to work. We now had a task for the day: get Dave’s shoes to Dave.
Bearing shoes, we set out on foot, to Naam, a venerable local cafe that’s been running since the hippie 60s. I had a Mexican omelette, Debbie had pancakes, and Ruth had huevos rancheros, and they were all lovely.
Set up for the morning, we walked to the sea, and walked back East, through Kitsilano Beach, and Point Grey foreshore to Granville Island.
Granville Island used to be an industrial area, and still contains a cement works, but now it’s mostly funky shops, craft workshops and markets. A cement mixer leaving the works was painted up as a strawberry, to avoid offending the shoppers.
Ruth led us to the kids’ market, and it’s kite and puppet shop. Temptation was too much and I bought an awesome box kite that just springs into shape when you undo its catch. I look forward to trying it out.
It was hot, and I really needed a hat. Ruth led us to a hat shop, but the hats were just too designery for me. I don’t want to pay $60 for something to keep my head cool.
On our way to the Aquabus, to get us to the Downtown area, our attention was grabbed by a street magician. He had an English accent, so I felt obliged to help him draw an audience, just by sitting down and watching. He kept us entertained for half an hour or so, and his last few card tricks were very impressive.
We caught a bus towards Dave’s workplace. Due to some failed traffic lights downtown, traffic was a mess. It was hot and crowded on the bus, and none of us enjoyed it. We agreed to get off and walk, but it was too late — we were already there.
We met Dave, gave him his shoes, and went to a local chain named Earl’s, where the non-working among us drank Mojitos. Earl’s seems to have a discriminatory recruitment policy, of only employing gorgeous nubile women as waitresses. Dave had to wolf his burger down, because he suddenly realised he was going to be late for a meeting. The rest of us ate our huge and tasty salads at our leisure.
After eating, we took another bus to Stanley Park, Vancouver’s biggest park. It’s mostly trees. We took the free trolley that goes around the perimiter. We got out at Prospect Point, a clifftop area overlooking Lion’s Gate Bridge — a kind of prototype for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Prospect Point was a little under the weather: it was being ‘repaired’ after storm damage to its trees. Still, we ate ice cream and enjoyed the view.
On the way home, an odd man asked me about my kite. I was glad to show him its popping up action, and he said “DUDE!”.
After relaxing at home for a while, it was time for OKONOMIYAKI! I had asked Ruth to find a restaurant that served it ever since I got a craving a couple of weeks ago. Tonight that craving was to be satiated. We caught a bus to “Modern Club” Japanese restaurant, which had basic seating and an “IRASHAMASAI” welcome. Ruth and Dave hadn’t had it before, so they were in for a treat.
Debbie and I had sashimi starters. Ruth had tempura vegetables. Dave had gyoza, and we all had okonomiyaki. It was lovely but we were all struggling by the end. We got the bus back, happy and full, and we’re sitting drinking wine and watching a random slideshow of Ruth’s photos.