After a 40 hrs bus journey from Winnipeg, I finally arrived in Vancouver. Im staying downtown just off David Street, unbeknow to me, but soon to find out, David street is a predominately gay area. So I hit David Street to check out its flavour with a sweet English guy I met on the bus. Again, I had just a few pints (literally 3 or 4, not my old 'few' 9 or 10) as so so knacked from long journey again, was back at the hostel by 2ish but didnt go to bed till 6ish ;0) The next day went on a walking tour of the city, run by the hostel to get a perspective of that Vancouver has to offer. To summaries; Vancouver is like any other city, capitalist city built on commerse and consumerism and tourism. Like any other city it has its big building, historical building/monuments/landmarks, vast shopping experience, but also like other big cities has its elements of mixed wealth, as there are quite a few homeless people lining the streets. Thus Vancouver city had no great effect on me. However, unlike other big cities, it does hold great wonders. Just 10 mins drive from the city over bridge lies a vast rainforest (well the tour guide said it was a rainforest), that hosts a wealth of beauty. Beautiful lush grassy areas and beautiful lakes, surroundered by vast mountains covered with think vegetation, with snow covering its peaks. The walking tour introduced us to the beaty of Vancouver, not the city but the surround areas. We hiked through the rainforest and over a suspension bridge. Thus Vancouver is a wonderous place as it is more that just a city, as just a short distance from the city it hosts a wide range of natural wonders. However, I was not as blown away with it as I expected to have been as everyone boasts of its beauty thus unfortunately my expectation were set really high. Only wish I had more time to see more of Vancouver and get a real sense of it. Prehaps il come back to visit that sweet English guy as hes now got an apartment as he plans to work out here.....But for now on the next (town that it)......