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May 23, 2007
Vancouver, BC
This week I'm in Vancouver for a Big Idea project (and a little vacation). The work is going splendidly, and the city is beautiful. It's been ten years since I was here on an ill-fated spring vacation with my college boyfriend (our intent was to go backcountry camping on Victoria Island--he just didn't think about the 3 feet of snow at the trail head or the hurricane coming in--I insisted that we stay at a hotel in downtown Vancouver). In the intervening years, the city has changed dramatically, some better and some not-so great. But it's still once of the nicest cities in North Amerca, and here's why:
#1 - You might run into a tiger.
Vancouver has this strange problem with tigers running about. Not tigers from the zoo so much as from people's homes and/or private ranches. I know--isn't it crazy? And it's not like it's just happened once or twice:
September 22, 2006. An escaped tiger has been caught by police and conservation officials. The tiger was being transported in a vehicle when there was a collision with a truck on the Alaska Highway.
May 11, 2007. 32-year-old Tanya Dumstrey-Soos was standing near the tiger's cage in a private zoo-like ranch owned by her fiance when the animal clawed her. She bled to death despite the efforts to save her.
May 22, 2007. A Siberian tiger cub was on the loose in the Vancouver Island community of Cowichan Lake. Police were called out to handle the 90-kilogram tiger, which was eventually captured by its owner.
How crazy is that??
#2 - Super swanky hotels.
I'm currently staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel, where at this very moment I'm lolling on a chaise lounge chair and staring at the harbor view from my 17th floor window. The room itself is plush and delightful (complete with $4 cans of diet coke in the mini bar), with a fabulous room service menu (mmm, west coast cobb salad with crab instead of chicken...) and a giant bathtub.
I might never leave, except for the hip coffee shops on every corner, the trendy boutiques lining every boulevard (I've made an executive decision to skip the Chanel store across the street), and the gorgeous weather that just begs you to sit in a cushioned chair on the balcony overlooking the water and take in the sights.
#3 - Friendly west coast people.
In the years since I've left the west coast, I had forgotten how nice people are here. Seriously, I walked back to the hotel last night and passed the police addressing a homeless person for some infraction and they could have been sharing a beer for all the cameraderie. Everyone smiles. All the time. I tried it, but my cheeks started to hurt after a couple minutes so I stopped. I have to maintain my east-coast mystique, you know. And get prepared for my trip to NYC next week, where random smiling will get you kicked in a New York minute.
Also fun - The delights of international travel (since when has Canada required traversing to the "international departures" line at the airport?), the rainforest exhibit at the Vancouver airport, and televisions in the taxis.
Comments
I'll give you a tip I learned in the Jungles of Malaysia about how to jeep tigers from attacking you... The key is that they will stalk you until they have a clean shot at the back of your neck - so all you have to do is keep it covered. Wear a bandana drapped from the back of your cap, and for extra protection, carry a large log over one shoulder. This will effectivly protect you on one side so you can focus all your attention on protecting the other side. If I get a chance I will make some drawings to illustrate the proper methods.
Posted by: Bastish at May 24, 2007 09:02 PM
