And now, Vancouver

Yes, you may laugh...

It has been a hectic few years as we travelled from North Vancouver, to France, to Nova Scotia. Now we find ourselves back in Vancouver. A decision to return to school for post-graduate studies has led to UBC, and to a sublet apartment near Granville and 16th. We expect to be in Vancouver for two years.

(Side note: our sublet is only for twelve months, so if you need someone to house-sit a place near UBC starting next summer, do let us know!)

The thing about living in other places is that you invariably wind up comparing them. On the way here we stopped for several days in Montreal, and immediately were shocked that fruit and vegetables were one-third to one half the price we were paying in Nova Scotia. And in Vancouver, despite the $0.17 per litre congestion fee, gas prices are actually below what we were forced to pay in Nova Scotia.

The big differences though were the ones that most surprised us. While living here we kind of assumed that Vancouver’s population was stylish and good looking. I mean, they invented LuluLemon didn’t they?

Instead, after a few summer days on Montreal’s plateau, we stepped off on the SkyTrain and went “Wow. These Vancouver people are pretty bland.” As befits their French (and Caribbean) heritage, Montrealers are more colorful, more inventive, and just generally look like they’re celebrating life. Vancouverites like beige.

Still though, the thing that has really, really hit us hard are the cars. It feels as if every other street has four lanes of traffic, and two more for parking. Unlike France, where urban roads are limited to 30kmh, in Vancouver it seems that everyone drives at least 50 kmh. All of the time, and all day.

Then there are the endless numbers of five-ton trucks, and the godawful guys on their stupidly loud motorcycles. Consequently, you can’t really have a conversation on the sidewalk, and you’re forced to close all of the apartment windows during rush hours.

And then there’s the guy across the road with his gas-powered weed-eater and leaf-blower who went on for hours on the day that we arrived. And the idiot with the never ending car alarm!

But enough of that negativity. There are also supermarkets that sell really nice bread, and endless very good coffee shops, including Edible Flours Vegan Bakery, who have cookies, pastries, and cakes that rival anything I’ve ever eaten. Including the absolute best peanut butter cookie of my life.

Right now though we’re shopping for a new gym, and realizing that for all its weaknesses, Liverpool had a truly superb place to work out. And we now have shiny new BC Health Cards.

And because our car (and 80% of what we’re bringing with us) doesn’t arrive til Monday, we’re travelling on foot and via Translink. Which, to be honest, I’m enjoying very much.

So, now we’re in Vancouver, and our house in Nova Scotia is rented out for the next two years, and we’re essentially re-inventing ourselves. Despite some challenges, it’s turning out to be a very good thing.

PS: No, we don’t know where we’ll be after two years…. more on that later.