Five Hours In Vancouver.

In Vancouver, the old blends with the new.  In the above photo, the old high-rise is named, 'The Marine Building' and is symbolic of the prevalent type of architecture of the 1930's.  The building, as a matter of interest, was featured in the film, 'Timecop', starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

You may have seen Vancouver in many a film or television show disguised as Seattle, or San Francisco, or Los Angeles, or New York, or even Washington, D.C.   I can be sitting here watching my television and a movie comes on, that to me, is obviously Vancouver.   'Hey!', I think, 'I recognise that tree!'

Out of thirty five days in British Columbia, I only spent five hours in Vancouver.  I recall getting off the light rapid transit system to meet up for lunch with my brother.  I looked all around and was completely lost.  I did not recognise anything.  Vancouver was a city I lived in for twenty five years and here I was, lost and bewildered.  The changes in the city have been nothing short of incredible over the last few years.  

And so, with so little time, I boarded the 'SeaBus' to go over to the city of North Vancouver to get a better view of the Vancouver skyline. 

In the above photo, directly in the centre front, is 'Canada Place', complete with the 'sails' on the roof.  Canada Place is one of the remaining landmarks from the world's fair in Vancouver named, 'Expo 86'.  Canada Place has been compared to the Sydney Opera House.  The building off to the left that looks like an alien space craft has landed on it, is named, 'Harbour Centre'.  You might just notice it the next time you watch a movie or television show that is supposed to be located in an American city.

Here is a SeaBus heading over the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver.

The Vancouver skyline as observed from Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.  If you click on this, or any photo, you can see much more detail.  

The Vancouver skyline in the background of a North Vancouver harbour.  

I shall now leave you with a few photos of  Vancouver.

And for five hours out of thirty five days, I spent a few fleeting moments to reflect and reminisce on the Vancouver of now and the Vancouver I once knew.  Yes, a lot has changed in this beautiful city, the 'Evergreen Playground', also known as, 'Hollywood North'.  It is a city that has been brought to worldwide attention for all the right reasons, Expo 86 and the Winter Olympics.  It is a city that has been brought to worldwide attention for all the wrong reasons, the taser shooting of a man by the RCMP at Vancouver airport, which sadly led to him dying and the riots after the Stanley Cup finals.  

Vancouver, a city of great diversity, will always have a special place in my heart.  Until next time, Vancouver. It's see you later,eh......