Canadians have this real need to tell the world that we aren't Americans. I know as a Canadian I really like the US and Americans. But some Canadians feel we are being suffocated by the Big Guys next door. I don't have a problem with this but Canadians like to have an identity of their own. So I've added a couple of videos showing the differences between us.
I am not American
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29g57XTYgLE&feature=related
But heck there are even some people in Canada who don't want to be considered Canadians. So the French Canadians like to joke about their differences from English speaking Canadians.
I am not canadian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TncdhLGjFTE&feature=related
Canada vs. America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i6CSoct4lE&feature=related
Blame Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOzG7bBylRo&feature=related
I must confess I don't care for these cheesy Chamber of Commerce videos but I've added it because it shows some nice pics of Vancouver.
Vancouver - Officially the best city in the World (I don't buy that myself but it's a great place)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aqjuKNyHoM&feature=related
Did you know that Vancouver's located on the west coast of North America? Also that it's laid back with very liberal ideas. Well I thought I'd include some videos of some liberal ideas that happen in Vancouver.
Vancouver High Life
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=GqdqSbcu-rw&feature=related
Marijuana Party Bookstore / Amsterdam Cafe - Vancouver BC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruY14XDKfzc&feature=related
Wake N Bake 04 Back to the New Amsterdam Cafe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8LCxsMieS0&feature=related
But who are we kidding as Vancouver has more than it's share of addicts, homeless & derelicts so now we show that side too!
Vancouver, Canada: Best City in the World??? (watching this might make some people's squirm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOdXjDacgwA&feature=related
Since I split with my wife I've taken up residence in the downtown west end area. It's convenient to walk to places at any time of the day and find people out. But I still need a break from all the people quite often. So I either run or bike around the sea wall to Stanley Park at least 2 times a week. But lately I haven't used the seawall as it's too crowded but I've used the trails within the Park as they are nearly deserted. Plus it reminds of North Vancouver and nature.
Here is how I describe certain areas of Vancouver and the various cities making up the lower mainland.
Vancouver (Hongcouver) not a racist anyway I'm Japanese descent but call it as I and others see it, and there are about 300,000 Chinese most coming to the lower mainland before China took over Hong Kong about 10 years ago hence the name!
Yaletown - trendy area mostly yuppies or wantabes living, hanging, clubbing or dining here. Don't frequent here too often
Robson Steet - upscale shopping mostly tourists and Asians shopping for trendy shit. Also kids coming in from the burbs to walk about. Don't frequent here too often here but have to walk thru it as live very close
Granville Street - clubs and night scene - mostly youths clubbing or hanging out to pick up or be picked up. Don't frequent here too often but also have to walk thru as live very close
Denman Street / English Bay - tourists and many locals who live in the area. Gets very crowded in the summer and events ie fireworks. I run or bike thru this area as I live very close.
Davie Street - gays and many locals who live in the area. I shop for food in this are as I live very close. I have no trouble co-existing with gays cuz whatever a person wants to do is OK with me.
Gastown - mostly tourist as locals only go there to work or live. Don't frequent here too often as nothing really there for me and can't see what others see there but each to their own.
Sea wall from Coal Harbor, around Stanley Park, English Bay, Sunset Beach around False Creek to Granville Island, Kits beach and further to Jeriho Beach, etc. - tourists and locals use this to walk, bike, blade or run. I use this area quite often.
Granville Island - tourists and locals who buy produce there. Don't frequent here too often as nothing really there and dislike the congestion.
Kitsalano area & beach - young working people like to live and hang out here. Bike or run thru this area but otherwise don't hang out there.
Commercial Drive - young working people who don't care for the Kitsalano area live here. has some funky shops and nice Italian, Greek & Portuguese restaurants & coffee houses where the they like to hang out whenever a big European Football match happens. Go there ocasionally to eat but kind of out of my way.
Main Street area - getting to become a vibrant and great place for young working people to live, eat, drink & hang out, much Commerical Dr. I walk or ride through the area quite often.
Some of the other suburban cities.
North Vancouver - I've actually lived mostly here since i've moved to the lower mainland which is beautiful as it's right in the mtns and across the Burrard Inlet from Vancouver. I'm really into nature so it's cool to be able to hike or run on trails in the forests in the city. Also head to a couple of my favorite spots to chill - Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and Deep Cove. I like Lynn Canyon suspension bridge as it's free plus I could walk or run there from my home. Plus in the summer u could go down to one of swim spots and jump in the clear, cool water from the mtns. I like Deep Cove also cuz I could run there and sit by the water it watch the cove & mtns. Could also have a drink or eat so if I wanted to get away I'd head there. The beauty of North Van is only a seabus or a 20 min drive from downtown.
West Vancouver - most expensive city in Canada, made up of older people who are either retired or moved with money from other countries. Used to check out Ambleside beach when I lived in North Vancouver but had a bit of problem with the snobby attitude of some of the old English (pommy) people here.
Burnaby - nice city which has not much of importants except it has the city biggest mall Metrotown which I dislike with a passion as it's full of teenages hanging out and Asians.
Richmond - city is home to YVR airport and the biggest concentration of Chinese. Has great chinese resturants and the worse drivers! Don't frequent the city except to go to YVR.
Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody & the other cities in the North East section of the Lower Mainland - home to cheaper homes and Richmond wantabee. Maybe been there 2 times in 10 years as no reason to go cuz I don't have a day to travel.
New Westminister - older city with nothing there for me to check out
Surrey - largest city and home to cheap homes with extended families and pavement for front lawns so owners can park their trucks on them. Yeah it's also home to the large Sikh (East Indian) population. Should go there to check out the Indian resturants as love the food. But it's an area of town that I don't frequent at all.
White Rock, Ladner and Twansaan - south of the city closer to the US border. which are basically just suburbs with no reason to visit except been to the White Rock beach quite often as had friends who used to live there. But really no other reason to go there.
So that's my opinion of Vancouver and the lower mainland. Hey I want to give an honest view of my city & country!
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