Especially at the Lost Lagoon.

This is a lake within Stanley Park – one of the largest parks in North America -  that is an unmissable spot for nature lovers.

Just make sure you watch your lunch, as there will undoubtedly be some opportunistic geese around that would love to get a bite of your sandwich.

I was happy to spot my first racoon here…

I thought he, or she?, looked across between a badger and a cat. This one was having a staring contest with me and my friend from the hostel, Catherine.

It was quite scary actually as the look seemed similar to that which a cat gives it prey, just before it is about to charge.

Hmmm, if looks could kill.

But, it turns out that these creatures are all front.

Instead of approaching us, the racoon scuffled off into the undergrowth.

There were a few more sightings later on and I thought this could have actually been the same racoon we had seen earlier, popping up in different locations.

On another trip to the Lost Lagoon, there were no more racoon sightings.

Instead, I stumbled across the cutest baby geese, right at the side of the path.

The male goose was on guard and snapped every time a bird approached from overhead.

But, surprisingly, he seemed to be much more trusting of humans and let me get really close to catch this adorable image of mother goose and her babies…

And some more cuteness overload…

Do these gorgeous goslings make you go arrrrr?

But after spending a couple of days in Victoria – the capital of British Columbia – I really wanted to share a quick introduction to this fantastic city with you.

So a break from Vancouver and hello Victoria…

Situated around an hour and a half ferry ride away from Vancouver, on Vancouver Island, Victoria is always brimming with visitors. And it is not difficult to see why.

This is such a picturesque city, which is famous for its abundance of hanging baskets.

Such as these ones in front of the Empress Hotel…

Walking around on my first evening in Victoria, the stunning British Columbia Parliament Buildings caught my eye…

There are totem poles all over the place…

And the street art is not bad either…

There are amazingly quirky buskers, such as the Darth Vader violinist…

Lots of statues and sculptures…

A fair bit of Englishness…

But my favourite part so far has to be the spectacular coastline.

This is definitely a case of photographs speaking much louder than words. So, here you go…

I spent my second morning clambering over a natural assault course of rocks and logs in order to take in the scenery.

I always enjoy finding pieces of art in natural surroundings, like this bright orange cobweb on one of the little beaches…

I decided to take the easy route on the way back, walking along the coastal path…

This is a tiny snippet of my time in Victoria so far. There are plenty of more posts to come on Victoria and Vancouver in the coming weeks.

Have you ever visited Victoria? What were your highlights?

I saw the same situation many times. A group of tourists accidently wandering into the cycling lane, right in front of a hoard of cyclists, only to be nearly given a heart attack by a coordinated attack of bell ringing and angry words.

Still, this was better than another scenario of being rammed into by bikes that are often going in excess of 20-miles an hour.

There are signs everywhere, warning people to ‘watch out for bikes’, and the cycle and pedestrian paths that run alongside each other are well marked.

But with just a mere line separating the two lanes and and an abundance of new visitors that are not used to this, you bet there are plenty of near collisions.

I am not innocent. There have been a couple of times when I have been walking along, happily looking at the gorgeous scenery, in a world of my own.

Then I would begin to walk in the strange zigzag formation I do when I see something, such as maybe the sign for the totem poles in Stanley Park, and begin to walk in that direction, forgetting for a few seconds about the warning signs.

My wits are quickly returned after hearing some bells ringing in the near distance.

I always apologize and then feel really stupid.

Believe me… it does not take long before becoming completely accustomed to the seamless divide between the worlds of wheels and walkers.

Have you ever visited the Seawall in Vancouver and had any issues getting used to cycle/pedestrian paths?

One of China’s greatest archaeological discoveries, the Terracotta Army, was the inspiration behind a public art project organised by the British Columbia Lions Society.

Thirty-three soldier statues can be found at various locations.

I am always keeping an eye out for them now during my daily wanderings.

The life-size creations are all different shapes and have been individually painted with original designs by local artists.

In homage to the prolific Chinese culture of the city, each of the statues comes with a snippet of detail about Chinese history and life.

The fibreglass designs have been erected since April and will be in place until October.

The real Terracotta Army was discovered in the Shaanxi province of China by local farmers in 1974, near the city-size mausoleum of the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

The find comprised of terracotta sculptures, including thousands of soldiers along with chariots and horses.

What do you think of Vancouver’s Terracotta Army?

Located on a peninsula, Granville Island, formerly a centre for industrial manufacturing, is today known as a haven for art and culture. Here is how it fits this description…

Food

Probably the most popular activity to indulge in whilst in this neck of the woods is a walk around the famous indoor Granville Island Public Market.

Upon entering, I was immediately overpowered by the sumptuous smells of a variety of culinary concoctions being cooked up.

Then I looked around and my subtle hunger pangs suddenly stepped up a notch.

Piles of perfect cherries were temptingly laid out on one stall…

Plump pasties and delicious cakes seductively stared up at me from behind glass counters…

Dishes from across the world were displayed for the passing traffic, with people evidently eager for a bite. Everything from Thai and Mexican to Italian and German cuisines were available.

Fresh seafood, cheeses, herbs and spices were also amongst the fares.

This banjo player was keeping the market-goers entertained…

Art

What film would you use to describe your last shit? This is not some random, inappropriate question.

This was a feature in a piece on display at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design’s Degree Exhibition 2012.

The artist, a graphic designer called Olivia Harrison, had me in stitches with this…

A variety of artisans – from painters to potters – can be found housed in converted warehouse buildings in the Railspur District.

There are also many galleries specialising in First Nations art.

Even the bins have an artistic edge…

In typical fashion, I got lost on my way home and wandered off course slightly. But this meant I stumbled across some amazing street art under the Granville Bridge – not far from the Granville Island entrance…

Quirky shops

The first quirky shop I noticed upon arriving at Granville Island was the hammock shop. Yes, you read it right, a whole shop dedicated to hammocks. There were lots of different types, but how lovely is this one hanging in front of the window?

I have never slept in a hammock. To be honest, if I tried, it would probably topple right over – similar to what happens when I try to lie on a water lilo.

Then came the Granville Island Psychic Studio, claiming to be “home to Vancouver’s best psychics”…

A shop I really liked was called Make. This is an embroidery store with a difference. It sells funky items such as bags made using car seatbelts and beer bottle top brooches.

But the quirkiest of the lot has to be Dragonspace – a shop pretty much dedicated to dragons and other elements of the fantasy genre.

They were very strict on not allowing food inside the shop…

Do you like the look of Granville Island? Have you ever been here?

Sunsets never fail to evoke powerful emotions; not to mention they are always so beautiful.

Vancouverites and visitors alike flock to English Bay as the curtains of darkness begin to close.

Once I saw the stunning sunset show for myself, I discovered why it was so busy…

I also took some photographs shortly after dusk at Sunset Beach, which is a a short walk along from the main English Bay Beach…

Do you enjoy watching sunsets? What do you think of this one at English Bay?

Here is why…

Gorgeous views

The coastline along English Bay is breathtaking.

And it does not look too bad at night either…

This steel sculpture in Vanier Park, called the Gate to the Northwest Passage, frames a great view of Downtown Vancouver and the mountains in the background.

Delicious food

Granville Island Public Market is a culinary dream, with piles of fresh fruit and vegetables everywhere.

There is also plenty of naughty food such as cakes and these tempting caramel apples.

Vancouver has an abundance of Japanese restaurants and you do not have to go far to find delicious fresh sushi.

Wonderful weather

Most days since I arrived, there has been glorious sunshine and a clear blue sky. It is true that with this kind of weather, comes lots of smiles and a general positive feeling.

For a place that gets to much rain, it makes sense that sun and dry weather would have people beaming.

Daily hiking

I have been walking for miles everyday, taking in the different neighbourhoods of Vancouver.

Along the Seawall…

In the Capilano River Regional Park, North Vancouver…

Following the trails in Stanley Park…

Plenty of spaces for reflection and relaxation

In this city, there is no need to go to an expensive spa to find a peaceful spot. There are idyllic spaces scattered all over the place.

When the sun is shining, which it has done pretty much every day since I arrived, my favourite spot to relax and have an iced coffee are the sunbeds next to the conference centre on the waterfront – not far from the cruise ship terminal, Canada Place.

I could sit here for hours enjoying the mountain views. Some people use them to have a nap, catch up on some reading, or just have a quick rest.

Mini urban paradises, complete with greenery and water features, can be found everywhere.

This one is located along Burrard Street, outside the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. If there is any such thing as Feng Shui, this has to be it.

Spotting colourful flowers always cheers me up and, at this time of the year, there are plenty of tulips.

In fact, Vancouver is blooming lovely generally.

A few more days in Vancouver and then I am off to visit British Columbia’s capital Victoria over on Vancouver Island.

Have you ever visited Vancouver, or would you like to visit?

The fourth and final part of the day trip might sound like an exciting experience when put into words, but, for me, the reality felt a bit like an anti-climax.

This could be because the first three sections of the trip had left such an impression on me.

I much preferred going hiking right into the forest where Twilight was filmed, learning about the salmon run along the Capilano River and seeing the stunning mountain views at Cleveland Watershed.

For the hefty admittance cost of around $30 for an adult, I was expecting much more.

Despite me not finding my walk across the suspension bridge too memorable, this is actually one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver, pulling hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Millions of people have crossed it since it opened in 1889.

While the sturdy bridge is today made from wire cable, it was originally constructed out of hemp rope and cedar planks attached to fir trees. Now that sounds a lot more like Indiana Jones!

It was created by Scottish civil engineer and land developer, George Grant Mackay, who had purchased 6,000 acres of land on eitherside of the Capilano River and lived in a cabin nearby.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is not the only attraction.

There is a chance to walk high up in the forest with the Treetops Adventure. This comprises of seven suspension bridges that route their way around the area, along with a number of viewing platforms.

Again, after all of the amazing forest and river views I had already seen during the day, I was not blown away by this.

My favourite suspension bridge was the Cliffwalk.

Circling out from a granite cliff, the narrow walkway provided the best views and allowed you to fully appreciate the setting, and almost become a part of it.

This is actually the newest bridge that was only erected in June 2011.

After being amazed by Grandpa Capilano in part three of the tour, an 800-year-old Douglas Fir, Grandma Capilano is located here and is a staggering 1,300 years old – the oldest tree in the forest.

We only had an hour at the end of the tour to see the park – and this was enough time to make our way around all of the bridges at a steady pace.

There were some elements of that I missed, due to time constraints, such as viewing the largest private collection of totem poles in North America.

If you are planning on visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge from Vancouver then I would highly recommend taking Erik Graff’s Hostelling International tour.

He is a Vancouverite with a wealth of knowledge, that he willingly shares with the group.

It is also cheaper and more interesting.

For $34, you get your return transport, a trek through the forest and other features such as the salmon hatchery and Cleveland Dam, along with the presence of an experienced, award-winning local guide.

As I explained earlier, the admittance cost to get into the Capilano Suspension Bridge alone is around $30 – not including transport costs or any of the extras included in this trip.

Free shuttle buses run to Capilano Suspension Bridge from Vancouver centre, but you have to make your own way back. So the tour is definitely the best value.

This is the fourth and final installment of my series on Erik’s Famous Capilano Tour.

Have you ever visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge? Did you enjoy it?

This huge Douglas Fir is one of many old trees in the Capilano River Regional Park in North Vancouver – the location where major films such as Twilight were shot, along with popular television series like The X-Files.

Grandpa Capilano

As a fan of both the Twilight films and The X-Files, my face lit up when I discovered this was the place that they were made. Prior to the trip, I had no idea.

All of my senses were activated. My eyes were transfixed by the numerous tones of green – from emerald to lime – and the different shapes and textures of the ancient trees and mossy undergrowth.

A Canadian science fiction show called Primeval was being filmed whilst we were there. There were a few signs attached to trees warning that shooting was taking place in the vicinity.

Then all of a sudden we were wandering through the area where they have the catering section for the cast.

None of the cast members were around. In fact, it seemed to be a ghost set. A quick glimpse into the catering tent revealed a few plates of sandwiches and cake that looked like it had already been dug into.

Then we spotted this cheery guy who, it turned out, was the ‘smoke machine man’. And there was also somebody with a stop sign, making sure no vehicles accessed the site. He must be so bored, I thought.

Aside from this brush with the world of showbiz (well, sort of) the main duration of the trek felt like we were in the wilderness.

Tour guide Erik told us how the area was inhabited by animals such as black bears, coyotes and cougars.

He assured the group that the bears would not come anywhere near us, explaining how they avoid humans and an attack usually only occurs when a bear is unable to detect a scent due to strong winds, and there is an unexpected encounter.

“There has never been a bear attack on a group of more than six,” explained Erik, saying he was glad there were 27 members in the group.

“But if we ran into a cougar, then we would have a problem,” he added.

Cougars are strong and powerful big cats, native to the Americas. Attacks on humans are extremely rare and, like the bears, they tend to avoid humans.

But, still, they were out there…

After walking for what felt like hours, we were finally approaching a road that would take us in the direction of the final stop on the tour – the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Emerging from the forest, there was a unique house ahead of us, high up in the trees. I thought it looked like a tree house at first, but a closer inspection revealed it was on top of pillars. The home itself was made of glass.

This amazing house is occupied. I can only imagine the spectacular views from up there…

Would you like to live in a house like this? Have you ever visited this forest?

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