Flick 2014 Journey: Vancouver, British Columbia

We entered into Canada, Eh, on May 6. Vancouver was the 1^st destination. The city is located in a natural setting with vistas of green coastal mountains on the one side and the deep blue Strait of Georgia on the other. Capt. George Vancouver, British Naval officer, sailed into the inlet June 13, 1792 in search of the Northwest Passage. Mandarin and Cantonese are the mother tongues in almost 1/3 of Vancouver’s homes. Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, yes the Canadian men’s hockey team won the Gold after 7 minutes of OT. The city and its suburbs have numerous beautiful parks.

Stanley Park named for Lord Stanley, Governor General of Canada, when the park officially opened in 1888. The park is over 1000 acres, North America third largest urban park. Yes, the Stanley Cup is also named for Lord Stanley. Vancouver has had a dry spell on wining this award for many years.

Viewing the city from Stanley Park. Cruise ship headquarters, the sod roof structure served as the Olympics’ main arena and now serves the cruise industry.

Yacht Club – this located off Stanley Park

Looking north across Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver with Mount Seymour in the background.

Lions Gate Bridge connects Vancouver with North Vancouver.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch at this site overlooking Burrard Inlet and Lions Gate Bridge in the north end of Stanley Park.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The bridge – 450 ft. long and 230 ft. above the river! Yes there is some “sway”! For the readers who do not like height you would not enjoy this area. The bridge was originally built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and park commissioner for Vancouver. It was originally made of hemp ropes with a deck of cedar planks, and was replaced with a wire cable bridge in 1903. The bridge was completely rebuilt in 1956. The bridge has been featured as a setting in episodes of several television series, including MacGyver, Sliders, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, and Psych.

River flowing under the bridge.

The park also has a “Treetops” adventure where you cross 7 suspension bridges connecting various tree houses.

An example of a treehouse.

Treehouses are attached to the Douglas Fir tree via this strapping system, no nails or screws into the tree. Straps are adjusted as the tree grows.

Real fish in the pond!

There are trees in this park that are 1000 years old! Not the good looking guy between the trees!

Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Totem poles may recount familiar legends, clan lineages, or notable events. Some poles celebrate cultural beliefs while others are mostly artistic. Certain types of totem poles are part of mortuary structures, and incorporate grave boxes with carved supporting poles, or recessed backs for grave boxes. Poles illustrate stories that commemorate historic persons, represent shamanic powers, or provide objects of public ridicule.