Bicycle

First of all, sorry that we are writing the article one day later and publishing it even later, but we will fall into bed totally exhausted later.

Well-rested and strengthened by an unexpectedly good breakfast, we set off for Sightseeing Part 2. There's still a lot to see today.

First stop: the Vancouver Lookout Tower.

A great view from above, an audio guide explains in English what there is to see and provides some background information. I don't understand why, in the age of digitization, they can't offer it in multiple languages, other than English.

From above, the distances didn't look that big. How deceived one can be.

We want to go through Gastown and Chinatown to the subway, and then to the bike rental place where two bikes eagerly await us from 4 PM.

Facts: Gastown is a historical district in the center. The name comes from British settler John "Gassy Jack" Deighton, who opened the first pub here in 1867. The place grew rapidly when a sawmill and seaport settled here. It quickly became a trade and financial center and burned down completely in 1886, except for 2 houses. The most famous landmark in the district is the world's first steam clock.

The clock mechanism consists of five steam whistles, the largest of which plays on the hour in the middle of the structure. The four other whistles play Westminster chimes every quarter hour. You'll have to look up what that is on Wikipedia.

As I said, everything looks shorter from above. In addition, we found so many souvenir shops in Gastown and naturally had to stroll into each one, so we only saw Chinatown from a distance.

Actually, we wanted to eat there too, but time... 🤦‍♀️

We reach the bike rental place on time without eating.

Facts: Seaside Greenway is the most popular bike route in Vancouver. It has a special bike path separate from cars and pedestrians.

We ride through Stanley Park on this bike path.

Facts: Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare park in Vancouver. It is the largest urban park in Canada and the third largest in North America. The park, named after Frederick Arthur Stanley, is located right next to downtown on the northern tip of a peninsula that juts into Burrard Inlet.

I could stop and take pictures every 100 meters, but Honey wants to ride the bike.

The park is beautiful, halfway through, we get some ice cream, and after that, I felt sick. I love eating ice cream, but after at least two tennis ball-sized scoops, it's too much for me too.

Speaking of too much, there are masses of people in Vancouver today.

Once a year, a big fireworks competition takes place at English Bay in Vancouver. After a two-year break, everyone needed it again. Families and people gathered around English Bay in the afternoon, barbecuing, playing, and celebrating.

After Stanley Park, we cycled another round around a bay with a marina and the Science World.

Facts: The Science World dome was one of the main attractions of the World Expo 86 and was subsequently rebuilt for 19.1 million Canadian dollars. The museum opened in 1988, and a year later, a cinema was added to the top of the dome.

A really great bike tour of 36 km. It's also great that everyone follows the rules. Pedestrians in their area and cyclists (with separate lanes in each direction) in theirs. That's fun.

There was a hustle and bustle everywhere. From 8:00 PM, the entire area around the fireworks was closed to traffic. A huge police presence, on land, on horseback, in cars, and on water. With giant trucks as roadblocks.

It was quite annoying, all the people were walking in one direction, on the streets and sidewalks, some without looking, and we had to ride in the opposite direction.

We reach the bike rental place 15 minutes before closing time (9:00 PM). We were the last ones, he probably expected something different, but he didn't count on us. We paid for half a day (3-5 hours) and used the full 5 hours. We would have been there a bit sooner, but Montezuma's revenge delayed us.

Still an hour until the fireworks and still haven't eaten anything.

So we stroll towards the fireworks to find a spot, which we do. A great fireworks display, a great finale.

After 30 minutes, it's all over and thousands of people are heading back home. We're right in the middle of the crowd, just 35 minutes to walk to the train. Then the shock - oh my god, so many people!

If you've ever been to an amusement park and had to wait in line, that's what the queue for the train was like. However, it went quite quickly. It has to be said, it was well organized from start to finish.

Our conclusion of today's day. It was warm, sometimes exhausting, sometimes annoying. We cycled 36 km, walked 10 km, didn't eat anything except breakfast, ice cream, and chips, saw a great city, and a beautiful fireworks display.

P.S. At 12:45 AM, we finally turn off the lights, exhausted.