Vancouver Day 4 - Calipano Bridge and Obs Tower
Trip Start
Feb 28, 2005
1
4
45
Trip End
Ongoing
Vancouver,
British Columbia,
Canada
Friday, March 4, 2005
Even though the back of my right leg is still aching, I walked all the way up Granville St to the Waterfront Station. On the way I did my usual stupid thing and walked straight through the filming of something. I only realised when the director said cut and everyone stopped and walked back to where they started. He said the take was 'awesome', they say that a lot here, so keep an eye out for me - I don't know what it was for and the gathered crowds really should have given it away! The only thing that I don't like about that street is the amount of beggars just like in any major city, though most are harmless it really is quite sad
Downtown from View Tower
.I got the Seabus across to North Vancouver - a smooth ride with fantastic views when it is sunny. Then bus no 236 from Lonsdale Qauy took me to the entrance of the Calipano Supension bridge where I had a quick lunch of blueberry scone before heading in. The bridge is 230 feet high by 450 feet wide over a canyon and a river, and surrounded by tall trees - that's as high as the chest on the Statue of Liberty, and as wide as 2 Boeing 747's. I found it quite fun but did hold on all the way - I felt a bit like someone out of 'Im a Celebrity...'. I wasn't scared looking down, though my heart did quicken when a heffalump (1 of the only 2 large people I have seen since I have been here), got on at one end and the movements sent the bridge going. The person on watch spoke over the tannoy (and it was aimed at me), "don't try and swing the bridge", I replied with "I'm not - just holding on for my life!).
Over the bridge there is what called a Temperate Rainforest with, yes you guessed it, even more trees (seems to be a pattern here). You can follow a walk round and also walk across more suspension bridges that are high between the trees. I managed to drown out the noise of the children and pretend like I was an Ewok in my tree house. It was so peaceful and chilled, I sat and listened to the trees, the birds and the running water- I would highly recommend it, especially when the sun is beaming through the branches
East Vancouver from View Tower
. I think I felt quite safe as the bridge survived a hurricane in 1962 though about 80 of the tress didn't, plus it can hold the weight of 1333 people, though I don't know what would happen if the all leant to one side!After catching the bus back to the waterfront I spoke to a couple of girls from England. One of them worked and lived in Vancouver and the other had got here less than a week ago with a and was hoping to do the same. However, her 'friend' left her and moved into an apartment with some girls she had met and left her on her own. She promptly booked a flight straight back home and the girl she was with booked the flight for her. I tried to persuade her to stay but she wouldn't'. It was so sad, I suppose that is why I have started on my own so that something like that doesn't happen, you don't have to rely on anyone else.
I got the Seabus back again and went to the Vancouver Lookout Tower, up the glass elevator (Willy Wonka style but I did not swoosh out of the top) to the observatory deck which is 581 feet high. After being on the suspension bridges and the sea bus the floor still did not feel like it was still, which was a strange feeling being up that high. From that high you can look across the whole of Vancouver and again because it was such a sunny day the views were fantastic. I could see the massive park I walked round yesterday, the mountains, the roof tops etc. I stayed up there for about an hour just taking in the sights and watching the city pass below me. I also got to watch a fire truck make it's way through the city at speed.
Returning up Seymour Street and across the bridge was tiring but I knew food was waiting for me on the other side. Today I had Chinese - honey and garlic pork with egg fried rice and veg. After getting back to the apartment and reading for a while (Madonna's Biogrpahy), Sean's buddy arrived who he is going to Banff with for a long skiing weekend. He's from Seattle so gave me tips on where to go plus his wife's telephone number so I have someone to call if I need to.
