Day 2

Up early for Tai Chi in hotel’s rooftop garden area. Good breakfast in hotel then off for bus tour of Vancouver. First drive through city centre and on to Stanley park. Huge park on edge of city. Very green with dense forests. Stopped to view and hear about story (totem) poles donated to city by First Nations people. Drive through park viewing “beaches”, yacht club, cycle and walking paths, view of bridge, city skyline. Then through residential area along waterfront. Very expensive real estate. Studio apartments start at $1,000,000. Next to great market area on Granville island. Huge food market with everything possible. Also craft shops with lots of Canadian specialties. Granville island site of still operating concrete plant surrounded by market buildings. Back through Chinatown and Gas town which is the historical area. Think of a mix of Rocks and Paddington. Most buildings retained original facades and modernised internals. Lots of pubs, bars, restaurants. Feature of steam operated clock powered by steam from under streets. Have small snack and drink in nice restaurant. Walk around and end up in pub near hotel meet up with others from group for dinner and drinks. Nice English style pub with many tvs showing sports. Early bed as bags out at 5:30 in morning before bus to catch train to Rockies.

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