Vancouver: I recommend it

So Vancouver was a fantastic experience. My only regret is that I did not have more time to see the attractions. Pesky conference getting in the way of my sightseeing. The conference was great. My presentation went fairly well. I would have preferred it earlier in the week (it was on the last day of the conference) so I could have had the week free without it looming, but c'est la vie. 

When I wasn't lollygagging on the beach conveniently located on the UBC campus, I managed to travel into the city. The waterfront was gorgeous with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. The Vancouver aquarium was a lot of fun. Sea otters are every bit as much fun to watch in person as they are on nature documentaries. The dolphin show was also quite impressive. And the trees! They were huge. I mean, we get some big trees in New Brunswick but they are nothing compared to some of the trees located in the rainforests of BC.  

The city itself was alright. Pretty typical big city feel and look. With the exception of one street in China Town that we chose not to travel down (picture a prison court yard complete with shirtless gangs, drug addicts and shall we say, unsavory ladies?) many streets are very tourist friendly. There were many oriental people snapping pictures all over the place. Perhaps thats why there was a sushi restaurant on every street corner.

The accommodations on campus were great with a full breakfast of bacon, eggs, french toast, ham, sausages, fruit salad, pancakes and cereal, all for 42$ a night. My only injury during the week were some nasty cuts I received on the soles of my feet from some sharp barnacles while looking for crabs along the shore. 

It was good to get back to Ontario and I got to hang-out with Jenn's friend, Becky, who was visiting. So the three of us spent the day in Toronto and had great meal and equally good beer in the distillery district. As for this weekend Jenn and I are heading to Canada's Wonderland to capitalize on the heatwave we have been having. Luckily we don't live in Calgary where I hear they have been getting a dump of snow ; )