Granville Street Photowalk

I have walked up and down Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver many times and depending on which direction you face, you can either watch the sun set over Granville Bridge to the South or enjoy the view of the snow capped mountains to the North.

The area closer to the Granville Bridge seems run down and sleazy with the occasional sex shop, tattoo studio and pizza place as well as a fair share of empty real estate space. Further up towards Robson Street, it turns into a pedestrian zone also known as the Granville Mall with department stores, shops, restaurants and bars. Granville Street is also a popular for panhandlers waiting for change given to them, while some just sit there with a cardboard sign in front of them, others actually are quite creative and recite poems or make music.

Apparently, Downtown Granville Street has been Vancouver's neon lit entertainment district for decades where cinemas and cinemas lined the streets along with pornography shops, strip clubs, pizza stores and arcades. Many of these businesses have been closed or replaced by bars and nightclubs as part of the city's "clean-up" in preparation of the 2010 Olympic Games.




















During a recent Photowalk with the Vancouver Photowalk MeetUp group I tried to capture some impressions of Granville Street as the sun was setting.

Stanley Park

During a recent photowalk with the Vancouver Photowalks Meetup Group, we discovered the beauty of Stanley Park.

Stanley Park, Vancouver's magnificent urban park, opened in 1888 by governor Lord Stanley, is great for hiking, biking, walking or running along the 8.8km seawall that loops around the park or along the numerous forested trails through the temperate rain forest. The seawall is divided into two sections, one lane is for cyclist and inline skaters and the other one is for walkers and joggers. On sunny days, it can get quite crowded along the seawall.

The park also has a couple of excellent beaches, ideal spots to take in the fantastic scenery and amazing sunset while enjoying a picnic.

Another great place for spectacular views is the Prospect Point overlooking the 'Lions Gate' Bridge, a suspension bridge that crosses the first narrows of the Burrard Inlet and connects downtown Vancouver with the North shore. Officially, the bridge is called the 'First Narrows' Bridge and the term 'Lions Gate' refers to two mountain peaks known as 'The Lions' north of Vancouver.



















Despite being Vancouver's main tourist attraction, it's a great place to relax and to spot the occasional wildlife such as blue herons, raccoons, seals, eagles, geese, squirrels and coyotes. Beaver Lake is a great place to spot waterfowl, beavers at work and the occasional turtle. In the summer, the surface of the lake is covered with waterlilies.



















There are also plenty of attractions for families and visitors in the park such as the Vancouver Aquarium, the horse-drawn carriage, the miniature train, the Second Beach Pool as well as several restaurants.

Granville Island

One of my favourite hangouts in Vancouver is Granville Island, an old industrial terrain along False Creek whose old factory buildings have successfully been renovated and now house artisan studios, arts and crafts shops, restaurants, cafes and theatres. On a sunny day it's a great place to sit on a waterfront terrace with a glass of wine listening to one of the many street artists and people-watching.

What draws me to Granville almost every week is the Granville Island Public Market, a food-lovers paradise with a fantastic assortment of stalls selling fresh local produce, seafood, meats, baked goods as well as international and exotic treats. Buskers are a regular fixture in and around the building and provide entertainment to the visitors. If you want to take your time and enjoy the market, come on a weekday when it's nice and quiet.

                        
                       

The market is not just a great place to buy food but also to taste it. There are many dining options on Granville Island, you can grab a bite from the small international food court inside the market or dine at a hip waterfront cafe or at a stylish restaurant. The choice is yours. 'Go Fish', a short walk along the seawall from the Granville Island entrance, is a popular seafood shack and is known as the city's best fish and chip joint. Their fish tacos, tuna sandwiches and daily specials - brought in by the local fishing boats - are also very tasty.

The highlight of my visit to Granville Island is the 15-minute ferry ride on the Aquabus back to Yaletown. Rain or shine, the ride along False Creek is always a pleasure and the ever changing light reflects on the high rise apartment buildings. Vancouver is just beautiful!