My impressions of Canada

My sister, Corrie, and I went to Vancouver, B.C. for four days for a little road-trip/vacation. It was relaxing and fascinating to really tour this town that I lived an hour from for four years but never really went there. I feel like I got a good overall impression of the City, and here's my take on the tourist stops.

Granville Island: Very fun! Lots of art galleries, things for kids, and great food.

Yaletown: Upscale boutiques, lots of restaurants and bars, a great stop.

Gastown: Okay, but go before 6 p.m., when everything shuts down.

Stanley Park: Beautiful and huge. Wear your hiking shoes.

Chinatown: Skip this one. It was the grungiest Chinatown I've ever seen. And creepy bums EVERYWHERE.

Robson Street: They call it "Rodeo Drive North," which is ridiculously untrue, but this is like a crowded outdoor mall. Great stores at all price-points. Very fun.

Other observations about Canada:

1) Since our dollar is worth almost exactly the same as theirs, things are MUCH more expensive in Canada right now. Example: $13 movie ticket, $5.40 for a gallon of gas.

2) They really do say "Eh." All the time.

3) Vancouver Canadians love their dogs. Doggie shops, doggie parks, doggie restaurants everywhere!

4) Loonies and Toonies ($1 and $2 coins) are heavy and very inconvenient.

5) Canucks are very protective of their "culture." Every 3rd song on the radio has to be by a Canadian. Basically they don't want to be completely taken over by French and American culture. They are trying really hard to maintain a sense of patriotism and national custom.

6) Vancouver has work to do before they host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The biggest issue is the elderly bums. They look like they could lie down and die on the street, and there are TONS of them. And trust me, they are not shy about begging for money. It's unlike anything I've ever seen - worse than China.

Here are photos of us at Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Memorial Garden, the Cirque Du Soleil tents, and someone advertising for Obama - dont' know whose vote they are aiming to get, but whatever!