About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, August 03, 2014

D is for DOWNTOWN

This week ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the letter D.  I thought I'd give you a bit of an idea what Vancouver's DOWNTOWN looks like.  It's broken up into several districts like Chinatown, the financial district, English Bay and the West End, Gastown, the Granville entertainment center, and Robson Street. There are a few other districts, but smaller in comparison.

This is English Bay, one of the first views visitors have of Vancouver before cruising in under the Lions' Gate Bridge:
I can attest to it truly being a magnificent sight since I've cruised past here twice!  Stanley Park is also near here, but I'm saving that for our S week!  Here's a good shot of the skyscrapers that abound in downtown Vancouver.
Visitors from the cruise ships can walk up from the terminal into this area to find shopping, restaurants, the Art Gallery and museums, etc.  Also, you can meander down Robson Street (aka Robsonstrasse) to see all the high-end boutiques there.  This is Vancouver's version of "Rodeo Drive." Apparently, Nordstrom is opening up soon, too.
 
At Robson and Granville Streets, you'll find Vancouver's main entertainment district.  Here are movie theaters, the famous Orpheum Theater (saving for O week) more restaurants, bars, dance clubs, and nightclubs, along with the famous Rogers Arena (saving for R week). 
This last shot is of the dining room at the famous Vancouver Hotel.

In the Davie Street Village of Vancouver's downtown area, you will find the first rainbow sidewalks that were put in last summer to kick off Pride Week celebrations.  "Over its 35-year history, the Vancouver Pride Parade has grown to be the fifth largest in the world with over 650,000 people involved last year. More than 150 floats from every part of the community will cover three kilometres over three hours."  from the Vancouver Sun
At the other end of downtown Vancouver, you will find Gastown and Yaletown (which I'll save for Y week).  Gastown is a national historic site because it was Vancouver's original downtown core and is named after "Gassy" Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman, steamboat captain and barkeep who arrived in 1867 to open the area's first saloon.  This area is a definite "must see!"
Finally, I'll show you a bit of Canada's largest Chinatown - another popular tourist attraction. 
When I was a little girl, my parents used to take us out for Chinese food here and we also went to the annual Chinese New Year's Parade to see the dragon.  This is a photo of the gates into Chinatown. 
These were our two favourite restaurants downtown when I was a kid:
That's all I'm going to show you about Vancouver's Downtown but there is so much more than this.  I hope some of you are beginning to think Vancouver is a great place to visit!  Bring lots of film because you won't want to forget anything!

I hope if you're a newbie here, you're enjoying taking part in ABC Wednesday.  Be sure to remember the darling Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator and founder of ABCW, and the debonair Roger, our administrator.  Also, remember that "many hands make light work," so if you're interested in becoming part of the dastardly team by visiting a few posters each week, do let Roger know.

31 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

Another reminder that I need to visit. And to listen to Petula Clark again.

ROG, ABCW

Reader Wil said...

A good post dedicated to ABC Wednesday. You are a true city person!
Have a great week, Leslie!
Wil, ABCW Team.

Anita Sabat said...

Lovely Leslie!
It's a 'delight' to see great pics & 'discover' cities!
Even I wanna visit Vancouver :)

ellen b. said...

Such a great downtown. I really have enjoyed my times in Vancouver. Love your night time shots!

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

What great shots! I was in Vancouver years ago and look forward to the next time.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful shots of downtown. Very busy place.

Trubes said...

Wow again Leslie! What a wonderfully DIVINE place to live,
It must be DELIGHTFUL to go DOWNTOWN, particularly to China Town, We have one in Liverpool but probably not as big, although we do have quite a large Chinese Community, I do love Chinese food too x I guess I'll just have to start saving for that trip,
love frome your DEVOTED friend DI xxx

Susan Moore said...

You make me want to move to Vancouver! Or at least go visit again - such a great city!

Hildred said...

It is so any years since I've been in downtown Vancouver, - we used to stay in the old Georgia, and the Bayview(?) down by the water - nice memories and wonderful pictures to bring me up to date, - thanks Leslie.

Leovi said...

Nice place to enjoy the beauty! Stunning photos! Excellent views of Vancouber!

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I'm enjoying my virtual tour of canada through your series. Vancouver is truly a diverse city filled with life and excitement. Blessings!

Powell River Books said...

That first photo is just like a picture postcard. Thanks for the tour. We go downtown twice a year, once to the tax man and once to the boat show. Guess we should look around more. - Margy

Photo Cache said...

all the more reason to visit.

frankly my dear

Indrani said...

I enjoyed these glimpses of Vancouver! Makes me dream of visiting the place.

Maria's Space said...

Makes me want to visit downtown. Nice shot selections. Maria’s Space

Tanya Breese said...

i enjoyed my tour!

Gattina said...

Looks like a very modern town ! Except the China town, like in other countries too !

Shailaja V said...

That rainbow sidewalk looks lovely! Nice post on districts :)

Shailaja/The Moving Quill

SamuraiFrog said...

Fantastic pictures. I love to look at areas with unique and interesting signs, and I love that dynamic dragon!

Anonymous said...

Loved it, esp rainbow sidewalks :-)
Good Wishes Happy ABCD :-)

Black Jack's Carol said...

There are some fabulous photo in that post, Leslie! If I didn't already love this place, this post would have done the trick to win my over :)

Unknown said...

I LOVE stanley park....We came on a 3 day trip to Vancouver and ended up spending most of our time in the park....Next time I visit I will make a note of all these must see places too...The cityscape pic is beautiful

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Wow, you do Vancouver proud. It's now on my list of places to visit. Thanks.

Lmkazmierczak said...

We didn't make it to Chinatown on our June visit, but I recognized some of your other shots♪ Thanks for dropping by my blog!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

we have a Down town mall, and for the last 30 years, they have been playing the song Downtown.

lotusleaf said...

Vancouver definitely seems to be a delightful place! I love the rainbow sidewalk.

Joy said...

Thanks for the tour there is certainly a lot to see and do. In an imaginary world I'd be ready for a nice sit down and a meal at the Vancouver and the sound of a tinkling piano although the call of a Chinese meal might be hard to resist.

Beloo Mehra said...

Great shots! Thanks for this visual tour of downtown Vancouver.

Louisette said...

Wonderfull reportage fotos, have a nice end week Leslie.

Eddie Bluelights said...

Great theme and yes I remember Petula Clarke singing Down Town - one of my favs.
Very interesting photos - like the girl with the shopping bags . . lol
Will stop by again if I may ~ Eddie

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