Following on my recent, smash, now world-famous post, "The Best and Worst of Vancouver," here's more of the same - now that our family's four-day excursion has drawn to a close and we're back in the land of hacking phleghmy coughs and passive-aggressive politesse, a.k.a. my beloved hometown of Seattle.

MORE "BEST OF VANCOUVER"

The Vancouver Aquarium, especially the white Beluga Whales. They've got an ample playpen, good trainers, and are hard-working showboats. One in particular, a huge 17-year-old male, was practicing head stands, and doing some heavy-duty preening for the humanoids - an hour in advance of the 12:30 p.m. show, the other day. An exhibit on marine life forms in various coastal British Columbia locales was my other fave, including not only tanks full of various specimens, but also great big, beautiful scene-setting photos, plus maps.

Vancouver is a great stepping-off point for exploring British Columbia. If you've not yet glommed on to the great variety of coastal and island locales in B.C., get yourself a good provincial map, and Google up some vacation fun. Start with a primo vacation rental along Chesterman Beach in beautiful Tofino or a trip to Bamfield or Sooke - all on Vancouver Island. On the big island, do yourself a big favour and skip Victoria, unless you're an old bird enchanted with English Tea, and naps. Consider a few of the ferry-accessible Gulf Islands, such as Gabriola or Hornby.

What else do I like about Vancouver? People on the bus. We rode out east toward the multi-culti splendor of Vancouver's Commercial Drive neighborhood, thru the city's grittiest part, the Downtown Eastside on Hastings Street. Home to several raunchy country music dives; a brilliant (not) government-sponsored heroin "safe-injection" site; and now, and a mind-numbingly misguided goverment heroin project for hard-core junkies. A pretty smelly guy got on the bus, and assaulted my nostrils. He turned out to be a mensch. Heard me talking to my wife and kids about wanting to make sure we got off at Commercial (and what arterials preceded it on our map, etc.) and offered to let me know when and where to pull the chain. Well-spoken, kind, and helpful. Just needed a shower. Reminded me of my ongoing quest to practice acts of kindness on a more than random basis.

Marcello Pizzeria and Ristorante, 1404 Commercial Drive. Sleek, spacious decor. Delicious wood-fired pizzas, fried calamari, and antipasto. Go there.

Minerva's Mediterranean Deli, 3207 W. Broadway, in the Kitsilano neighborhood. Had a great family luncheon of pastitsio, souvlaki, gyros, Greek Salad, baklava and Greek coffee. Lots of groceries, including great Greek olive oils, and oregano. For stuffed squid, Turkish Delight and gallon jugs of feta, this is the place.

MORE "WORST OF VANCOUVER"

See "A Vancouver Shopkeeper's Death Wish For Bush."

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 14, 2005 10:00 AM

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