Oh Canada..

So I arrived in Canada a few days ago and I am slowly falling in love with this city (Vancouver). I am staying with Lidia at her host family's house and they as super nice. They are a Philipino family and they are falling head of heels to cook me traditional food (I may have mentioned that I love lumpia, shanghi, and more). Our first day out Lidia and I explored downtown Vancouver. This town is built for pedestrians. We walked for hours ducking into the various retail stores because they are all having mega sales 70% or more off of many items. I took advantage and bought a few things but then later found out that there is a 12% tax here!!! Damn. We are eating like kings and just having the time of our lives. The International Jazz festival is going on while I am here so we've been chasing jazz venues for the past couple of days. I am helping Lidia with her English and she is excited to start classes next Monday. Our first day ended with us having front row seats to a jazz concert splitting a bottle a decent wine. Jazz, wine, and good company does life get any better?

Day two we set out towards the waterfront, Gastown, and Granville Island. The waterfront was nothing too spectacular although Lidia enjoyed seeing all of the float planes and ships in the harbor. We walked through Gastown and saw the giant steam-powered clock. I love Gastown and hope that we return there at night. It is a cute little street with fashionable stores, pubs, and more. There was another jazz concert there that we sat and watched for a while before heading off to the island. So far my favorite place in Vancouver is Granville Island. It reminds me of the market in Boston Fanull Hall (sp?). There are all sorts of foods, artisans, and more there. We just had a ball walking around and sampling some of everything. We took the aquabus to get there and I think we may return tomorrow. After Granville Island we left for Vanier Park where we thought there was a Shakespeare festival but it turned out to be just a theater. We relaxed in the park before our long trek back to her host family's house (across town, 30min subway trip, 15min bus trip). Rain or shine we have been walking machines and it is a good thing too because Lidia's host mom constantly bombards us with food. 'You too thin. Eat! Eat!'. 'That is not enough make it a dozen or better a baker's dozen'!