My recent trip brought me to the beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Yes it's
true. This place is beautiful and it even says it in their car plate. It is
outstanding in so many ways and I believe calling it beautiful is an
understatement.
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Taken from nickkanaya.net |
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Welcome sign at the Vancouver International Airport |
I must admit, I know
very little about Canada prior to my visit and my knowledge of the people and
their way of life is nothing short of mediocre. So while I was there, I tried
to learn as much as I could about the country and I was able to pick up quite a
few important facts; 1. Canada came from a native word "kanata"
which means village or settlement, 2. English and French are the
two official languages, 3. Canada is part of Commonwealth of Nations
with Queen Elizabeth as its head of state. It's true what they say about
traveling, you learn the culture of the place you visit.
Whistler, BC
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Peak 2 Peak Gondola |
This place is a haven
for anyone who enjoys mountain biking and snow sports. We rode the Peak 2 Peak
gondola which runs between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The ride was a
little scary but at the same time enjoyable. The view from the top is
breathtaking as you get to see snow covered mountaintops as well as the valley
which is covered with multitude of different species of pine trees.
Whistler
is also one of the major sites of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Located in the
Whistler mountain is the statue of Ilanaaq which is the official Olympic
mascot.
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Statue of Ilanaaq, the official mascot of the 2010 Winter Olympics |
The
Olympic plaza in the Whistler valley is full of commemorative structure from
the 2010 Winter Games. This is the site where athletes would step up to
the podium at victory ceremonies during the Winter Olympics. The site is now
transformed into a venue for recreation, sporting events, concerts, etc.
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Olympic Logo at Whistler Olympic park |
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The site for victory ceremonies during the 2010 Winter Games (Olympic torch to the right) |
Vancouver,
BC
I have to
give it to Vancouver. It's one of the cleanest and greenest metropolitan areas
I have ever seen in my entire life. This city has so much to offer. From its
beautiful parks, surrounding majestic mountains, its proximity to the ocean and
not to mention diverse foods, as well as sporting events, this city could easily top the list of the best cities in the world.
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Vancouver Skyline (taken from Stanley Park) |
Stanley
Park
Stanley
park was recently named the 2014 top urban park in the world by TripAdvisor and
I have to agree! This park boasts of wonderful gardens, totem poles, big
trees, as well as a walkway where you can see the entire Vancouver skyline.
(pictured above). Some of the activities you can do at the park include,
hiking, biking, skating and running to name a few.
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Stanley Park and the Lion's Gate Bridge (taken from Vancouver Harbor Center) |
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Totem Poles located in Stanley Park |
There are a total of
nine totem poles (group of eight in the picture, the other one separated
from the rest) at Brockton point. These are beautiful pieces of
BC First Nation (native Canadians) artistry. This spot is one of the most
popular attractions inside Stanley Park.
Vancouver Aquarium
Canada's largest aquarium, called the Vancouver Aquarium, houses several species of marine and aquatic animals and is located inside the park.
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Entrance to the Vancouver Aquarium |
