When can I go back?

Here, finally, are some of my pictures from Vancouver. I already wrote out one entry, and it was eaten by the internet gremlins. This is try number two. I hope it's also the last one.

First, let me mention that Remo is a smartass and also correct, as far as I can tell. Patio doors have their handles near the light switch for the outside light. There is some logic in that, and I was happy to find some logic, even if the door slides backwards to my choice in my new condo. All those good looks and a brain too! Aren't those usually mutually exclusive features?

Vancouver is a city in Canada, on the west coast, in the province of British Columbia. The greater Vancouver area has almost 3 million people. It's culturally and racially diverse. I noticed a large percentage of Asian people there. There is a distinct accent in the area, slightly different than the Canadian accent I am used to. I got in lingual shape before my trip by listening to a local Canadian radio station (remember, I live about 15 miles *north* of Canada). I had my "aboot" down pat by the time I left home, eh? I still had a loonie in my wallet from my last trip to Canada (Canadian dollar coin).

From our hotel room, we could see Stanley Park. That is an awesome park. It's free to the public. I walked it, and easily covered 7 miles without wandering around. I didn't have time, or I would have been there all day. I saw heron's nests and a golf course, the ocean, a huge bridge, 5 billion high school students that must have been shipped in from several large countries (it seemed like it!), something floating in the ocean that might have been a seal, cruise ships in the distance, mountains in the distance, forest - just an incredible park. Really, words fail me. There was a beach for swimming, too.

The city, as are all Canadian cities thave I have seen, was very clean and safe. I walked many, many miles, lots of them alone, and never felt the least nervous. I felt safe at night there, too. Canadians are quite civilized and polite. Sometimes it amazes me that Canada is just across the river from Detroit. I wish their lifestyle would come to our side rather than the other way around. Police do not carry guns in Canada. In general, they don't need to.

I didn't see any freeways in Vancouver. I did see some very, very expensive estates. There are a lot of new condo complexes right on Coal Harbor, facing the water, overlooking the ports where the cruise ships dock. They have to cost a lot of money.

Being on foot is a good way to see the city. I didn't miss any of their gorgeous landscaping. There are flowers every where, planted with great precision and beauty. They have some excellent city planning going on there. No wonder it's considered one of the most desirable places to live in the world. If you are thinking cold, think again. They get very little snow there, I assume due to having the Pacific Ocean right there. They do get a lot of rain, but there wasn't any while we were there.

There are many very nice restaurants, although I didn't see as many "fresh fish" signs as I would have expected. A friend of mine has also been there, and she told me they farm fish there. I don't know, but I do wonder if it has something to do with the coal mining in the harbor. I am only guessing.

If I ever wanted to leave the United States and live in another country, I would head to Canada and settle in Vancouver.