We are now in Canada! Our first days in Vancouver

On 04.03.2020 we took the bus to Vancouver. As mentioned in the previous report, the journey is quite short. The customs check takes a bit longer - about 30 minutes - and our bus driver is not very happy about it. The reason for the long wait is that we have to activate our work and holiday visa, which requires some organizational matters at the border.

After walking through Vancouver's main drug scene, we finally arrive at our hostel. Our room is really nice and located on the second floor. The communal kitchen is on the first floor.

In the evening, we have a beer and dinner in the bar located below the hostel. The food is really delicious and the bar looks cool. The only downside is the waitress who brings us the bill after every drink.

The next day, we set off on foot. We have two important tasks to accomplish:

· apply for the Social Insurance Number

· open a bank account

We start with applying for the Social Insurance Number as the bank requires this number to open an account. We go to a Service Canada Office and have to present our passports and the visa from the border. The Social Insurance Number is a number in Canada that should not be shared with everyone. Only authorities, the next employer, and banks are allowed to request the number.

The application process is really fast. After providing the names of our parents and the hostel address, the employee prints out and hands us the number.

Afterwards, we go to a bank. However, the employee does not have any more available appointments, so we get an appointment for the next day.

We cook our dinner in the hostel kitchen: Julian's favorite food - noodles :D

On the first floor, where the kitchen is located, there is a hostel cat. His name is Oreo and he roams around the entire floor. If you leave your door slightly ajar, Oreo will come to visit you.

After dinner, we go to Canada's best coffee shop: Tim Hortons. The coffee is really cheap and tasty, and they also have delicious pastries, as well as savory dishes and soups.

Since it has been raining or drizzling all day, I have been really freezing. The plan for the next few days is definitely to get a proper jacket.

The next day, we put our jacket plan into action after having breakfast in the bar below the hostel. I buy a red jacket and Julian buys a gray ski jacket. When we travel to the next city, we will definitely need a windproof, waterproof jacket.

Afterwards, we take a walk to the waterfront. From here, we can look towards North Vancouver or Stanley Park.

Opening a bank account is really easy and the employee is very friendly. We receive a temporary bank card, which can only be used to withdraw cash. Since it is International Women's Day, I am given a flower in the bank, which I take to the hostel. Since I don't have a vase with me, I simply put the flower in a plastic bottle with tap water.

When we get back to our room in the evening, we have an unexpected visitor. Suddenly, there is meowing outside the door, and when I open the room door, Oreo is standing in the hallway and comes into the room. After a quick inspection, he goes back out. When I come back to the room after brushing my teeth, our visitor has returned and jumped onto my bed. Normally, the cat is only allowed on the first floor. I have no idea how he managed to get to the second floor. But apparently, he needs a break from the other floor. He stayed the entire night.

The next day, we have to check out of our room. Although we still have two nights in the hostel, we have to move to another room because we extended our stay for the additional two nights.

Extending our stay was really problematic. When we asked the hostel directly if an extension was possible, they quoted us a much higher price than booking online. So, we discussed at the reception that we would think about it and get back to them. In the room, we booked the two nights online because they were actually cheaper. The next morning, we asked if everything went smoothly with the online reservation. However, the question was misunderstood, and they booked two more nights for us from the hostel. A day later, we were asked to pay for the extension, and suddenly the price was so high again. On inquiry, it was due to taxes that were added later. It still didn't make sense, so Julian went to the reception twice to clarify the misunderstanding. It turns out that they had not understood that we had already booked online and they double-booked us.

After all the back and forth, we checked out in the morning and walked to the bus that takes us to our next city. The bus ride is quite short, only two hours, and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful the entire time. And so, we arrive in Whistler around 3 pm. The 2010 Winter Olympics were held here.

The next report will likely have something to do with snow and skiing.

Summary of Vancouver: I'm not sure what it was, but I didn't like it that much. Especially the party hostel or rather the second room was really bad. Maybe it was also because I was freezing during the first days. However, all the officials and employees in the city were very friendly and helpful. I think with a bus ticket and a few more days in Vancouver, we could have explored a lot more.

For Julian, it's completely different. He was very happy about Vancouver after Seattle, and he really liked the city because it had the big city vibe but also beautiful scenery with sun, sea, and mountains.