Well hello, Vancouver!

Why didn't I come here sooner? It's June and the weather is the most perfect weather I've ever experienced anywhere. The sun sets well past 9:00 pm, the people are refined and polite, and the natural landscapes are friggin' majestic. I definitely rate this city in my personal top two favorite west coast cities. (The other being San Francisco, of course.)

I came here expecting to see little more than moose, maple syrup, and a homogeneous civilization of anglo hockey fans. Instead I found myself happily steeped in diversity and urban sophistication. From Punjabi to Japanese, Lubavitch to Sikh, there is a place for everyone here, and that is the mark of a great city.

I'm enjoying my hotel in the heart of Vancouver's lovely upscale downtown near Robson Street. Five Star hotel! Score! Also, Vancouver has an olympic length heated pool right on Kitsilano Beach, overlooking the city skyline and some pretty epic mountains. Note to self: Convince my local municipality to construct public beachside pool so I can live like a Canadian. Better yet, perhaps I may move here. I'd love to spend every summer here, at least. Either way, Vancouver, I'll be back, and that's a promise, eh.

departure - arrival