Back in Vancouver

Trip Start Mar 19, 2008

Trip End Aug 16, 2008

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Where I stayed

Hi Vancouver Downtown

(Vancouver hotels)

Flag of Canada Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Vancouver Island was great fun and very beautiful (shame about the crows though...they have learned to work the zips on backpacks, no undefended cookie or muffin is safe, no matter how far down you have stuffed it into your pack!) The coach journey through the mountain pass was just as stunning as it was on the way there. We caught the ferry from Depature Bay near the city of Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay just outside Vancouver. As we approached the ferry terminal we were greeted by the biggest rainbow I have ever seen in the mist between the hills, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to get a photograph!

Having now arrived back at the hostel in Vancouver I have started my search for work in the downtown area. I'm just looking for something casual to help cut my costs and to get to know a few more Canadians. It seems the most successful way to find a job here is the 'walk-in' method, there is such a labour shortage that most places are hiring most of the time

Bridge and North Van from Stanley

. I have an interview friday, wish me luck!

Unfortunately we had a bit of a bad experience at the hostel yesterday. They messed up our booking details so it looked like we were due to check out wednesday morning, when we actually check out on monday! So they decided to chop the padlocks off our lockers (of course!) and hold our stuff behind the desk, sigh. It would have been fine if they hadn't lost several items between the room and the front desk! They weren't exactly apologetic either, but we did manage to get them to provide replacement padlocks. I didn't lose anything much, but Paul lost his pricey hiking boots, so we had to go to the police station so he could claim on his insurance. We had to walk through the sketchy end of downtown to get there, which was fun. Vancouver has so many homeless people, I'm still surprised, there seems to be someone pushing their worldly belongings along in a trolly on every block. Anyway, these things happen I guess. I think I'll be moving hostels next week.

On Tuesday I decided to take a tour of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. I arranged this through the hostel and our student guide came to collect us and take us to the museum on the busses. It was good fun and I think I learnt quite a bit too

The Raven and The First Men

. The collection of totem poles and native art is pretty impressive. I also got to see Bill Reid's sculpture of The Raven and The First Men, which I remembered from one of my university lectures and depicts a creation story of the Haida first nations people.

Since arriving in Vancouver I have developed a bit of a taste for sushi! It's so cheap, it's surprisingly filling and quite fun just to look at all the different types! There is a huge asian population in the city and there are takeaway and sushi places on almost every block. I think you are probably never less that 100m away from sushi! I've had to find a substitute for pizza here, because that doesn't seem to be so cheap. Everywhere also seems to have a chinatown too, even the smaller towns.

Anyway, I now have to get on with securing a job and finding a place to rent. I'm considering Kitsilano, which is near the beaches and only a 20min bus ride from downtown, it's a popular student area to rent.