Day 13 - Queen Elizabeth Park

08/10/2017

We are on day 13 in Vancouver.

I already know Yaletown, Westend, and Co. like the back of my hand (those who know me know that I dislike vests - but that doesn't apply to this city). So today, it's time to expand my horizons.

Following the recommendation of many (including Frenchie personally), we took the Skytrain to Queen Elizabeth Park, South Cambie.

Of course, no one mentioned that there is a huge mall between us and our destination. We only found out upon arrival.

So we passed by Tiffany, Cupcake Store, Subway, and Co., enduring the "I don't have any cash" torture.

I knew that a store would catch my attention, and it was not only expected but also intended and planned. It was a branch of the Danish mafia of building blocks. A Lego Store!

Greeted by shining "big kid eyes," we wandered into the land of endless possibilities. The exhibitors showcased the latest achievements of the Scandinavian toy manufacturer - some boxes with childhood deaths scattered in the entrance area, like the Småland of the common man. All around, happy miniature earthlings (some with Ninjago masks) creating new hard plastic structures - and in the middle of it all: me.

But we'll come back to the Lego Store later!

With food in hand, we set off towards the park. The side streets of Vancouver resemble the cliché of the suburbs of America. Wide streets, flat sidewalks, flat houses. Whether a Hollywood film or a 21 Pilots music video - they could all be shot here. The only thing missing is the white picket fences - in Canada, they rely on "borders in the mind" - the properties are mostly unfenced.

Two blocks further, and we're there. What initially looked like a small grassy hill turned out to be a sea of flowers, animals, and tourists. I'm not really sure what was in greater numbers - the Asians with their cameras or the plants themselves. :-P

Every 200-300 meters, we also encountered ladies in conspicuously long white dresses and young men in suits, accompanied by others. I wonder what they were doing there? One thing is certain: putting up a sign for "Wedding Photography" at the entrance of this park is guaranteed retirement security.

Actually, it doesn't matter where you look - everything is shining and blooming! And what no longer surprises me after over a week in Canada: everything is clean and intact.

I don't know if it's the maintenance that is simply more regular here or the mentality of the citizens of this country, but wherever I go, everything is exactly as you can imagine it from all the photos. Incredibly beautiful.

One of my favorites quickly became this fountain. It's a huge area that is "watered" in different ways. Sometimes only one big stream and many small ones, sometimes all big streams, sometimes only the small ones. You could sit there for hours and constantly see something new. The atmosphere is nice and peaceful, with plenty of seating, and despite the perfect weather, it's not crowded with people.

We only found the actual entrance relatively late.. :D

But it's still beautiful! So I won't keep it from you!

In general, as already mentioned, there are simply too many beautiful spots here, but as they say, you can't have everything. :D

So our day at QE Park unfortunately passed by quickly. But the best part of the afternoon is yet to come!

Past impressively tall trees (feeling three times as tall as the average coniferous tree in Germany - you could almost think it's a forest.. Wait. It actually is. In the middle of the city. Natural and clean. With squirrels, raccoons, woodpeckers, and everything else that goes with it. Only the bears are missing..

But I wanted to come back to my second highlight. The Lego Store! That's where we (again "accidentally") returned.

"Well, do you still want to get something?" - "Sure!" says Frenchie. Sure? Oh, I see. No one can expect a "no" from me.