[Pinion]

I used to work for a security company in downtown Vancouver. One of the perks of the job was having access to the top of many downtown skyscrapers - areas that only security personnel and engineers could go. So a few weeks ago, after I decided I was quitting, I thought I'd take my camera up to the top of a 30 storey building right in the middle of downtown and take as many shots as possible, because a view like this is too nice to waste on just me:

1. Looking north across Burrard Inlet (Pacific Ocean) to North Vancouver. I live in North Van in that cluster of apartments in the distance. Coast mountain range behind that.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/4.JPG

2. Looking north-west.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/5.JPG

3. Looking west down Georgia street, one of the main roads through the city. Stanley Park in the distance. Hotel Vancouver in the front left.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/1.JPG

4. Looking west out to the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/9.JPG

5. Looking down at the main shopping/party street in Vancouver: Robson street (quiet east end of it).

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/11.JPG

6. Looking south across the Granville street bridge.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/13.JPG

7. Vancouver's tallest building for a few more months - the Wall Centre.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/15.JPG

8. The court building.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/18.JPG

9. South-east condo-land.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/20.JPG

10. More condos.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/21.JPG

11. Half of BC Place stadium, and yet more condos under construction.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/22.JPG

12. A seagull who was not impressed with all of Vancouver's condos.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/23.JPG

13. "WTF are you doing up here?"

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/24.JPG

14. Mount Baker (active volcano), Washington state, clearly visible in the background even though it's 2-3 hours drive away. Skyscrapers in the background are Metrotown, Burnaby. Mostly condos, believe it or not.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/27.JPG

15. Wide south-east shot.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/29.JPG

16. Looking east. Somewhat smoggy day.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/30.JPG

17. East again, with the Harbour Centre now in view.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/31.JPG

Hope you like 'em... I'd appreciate any comments as this is my first post ever.

[bobdreamz]

great shots! and the seagull one was funny.

[raggedy13]

Great set of pics. Thanks a ton for getting them before you quit. Can't wait to see the Shangri-La topped out.

[Shawn]

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/24.JPG
Great pics . . . maaan thats a lot of bird shit!

[gatt]

cool pics!

[andrews]

Nice shots. I would have done just the same thing if I had access to the rooftop of some skyscrapers.

Beautiful pictures!

[Pinion]

Glad you like 'em. Here's a bonus shot looking south from the Seabus taken with my new Nokia n95 phone (5 megapixels!).

http://www.canuckscentral.com/photos/van1.jpg

The new convention centre is really starting to take shape now.

[excel]

Great shots!

[denveraztec]

Beautiful city!

[Buckeye Native 001]

Very gorgeous! :tup:

[sbarn]

Vancouver seriously reminds me of a mini-Manhattan...

Great shots! :cheers:

[krudmonk]

I guess it wouldn't be a northwest city without a snow-capped volcano visible in the background.

[Symi81]

I love the close-up shot of Mt Baker, beautiful! I live in Seattle and can also see Mt Baker from my house down here. I love the Northwest! :cheers:

[Patrick]

I love Vancouver! But DAMN! Those Condos, everywhere!

[Ex-Ithacan]

Fun eye candy. I really need to visit Vancouver again some day. It's changed so much. I get the feeling that condo living is a big option up there. ;) Thanks for the pics, and welcome to the forum. :)

[keninhalifax]

Great shots and a great story, although I don't know how you had the guts to go right up to the edge of the roof like that. I'd have fainted.

[Chicago3rd]

Excellent photos!

Mt. Baker is about 70 miles away as the crow flies. It is cool to live in the northwest and be looking at Mt. Baker from Seattle and realize that someone from Vancouver is probably looking at it at the same time. Same thing with Mt. Rainer...both Portland and Seattle can be looking at it at the same time.

I think these pictures show us all why the term "Vancouverization" is such a positive term.

[OfCourse]

Wow, very nice.

I'm going to be in Vancouver for a few days at the end of the month before I go on a cruise I got invited on to Alaska. I'm excited. I've never been to either place. These pics are hyping me up even more!

[Complex01]

Very nice, and u have to love that skyline. Love the sea gull, he was just enjoying the view, as we all are...


:cool:

[OhioGuy]

Love it!

[mSeattle]

That looks lovely, just lovely, LOVE-LY!

[Strayone]

Now that's the kind of first time post anyone could appreciate, nice thread of pics, thanks Pinion and wellcome to the forum.

[cwilson758]

I adore Vancouver!!! It has been 5 years since I visted and I would LOVE to go back! Great shots from a seldom seen vantage point!

[Jularc]

Views to die for! Thank you for gettign up there and sharing your view experience!

[DetroitSky]

Amazing you can see Washington from up there.

[dktshb]

wonderful!

[Robynobotica]

Amazing you can see Washington from up there.

No more amazing than seeing Ontario from Detroit. ;) Vancouver sits only a few miles north of the Washington state border.

[Pinion]

No more amazing than seeing Ontario from Detroit. ;) Vancouver sits only a few miles north of the Washington state border.

It's actually quite a bit more amazing (who wants to see Ontario, ew) and quite a bit farther.

Only the southern most outlying suburbs are somewhat close to Washington. Hardly just across a river.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/mtbaker.jpg

The yellow circle shows what I could see from the top of the building (which - as the photos illustrate - was really, really far). Mt. Baker is in the bottom right. It's a looooooooong drive to get there.

[Pinion]

I attempted to get the entire skyline in one shot on the way home from work today:


http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/skylinews.jpg

It's gon' rain. :(

[TALLTOWER]

great!

[Buck]

Fantastic!

[jfsatlbldr]

I visited Vancouver for a ski trip a few years ago, thanks for the great tour!

[entheosfog]

Nice pics! I'm so glad I can now call Vancouver home.

[Symi81]

One of the many things I love about Cascadia are the many views of various Cascade strato-volcanoes from many, many miles in all directions. I've heard you can even see Mt Rainier from the water just west of Vancouver, the Straight of Georgia.

http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~psymingt/rainier.bmp

[Pinion]

http://www.canuckscentral.com/myvancouver/13.JPG

Someone managed to drive off the side of the bridge in the distance a couple days ago. wtg, wtd

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2007/08/17/bc-070816-truck02.jpg

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/08/16/bc-truck.html

[Top Of The Park]

,,,incredibly lovely:) :cool:

[Bergenser]

Good photos! :tup:

[Pinion]

Is it weird that I still look at these pics like every two weeks?

[pj3000]

What a beautiful setting for a city. Need to visit again sometime soon.

[Evergrey]

What a beautiful setting for a city.

Agreed. :tup:

[pablosan]

Great thread! Vancouver is beautiful city.

[MJW]

Awesome job! Vancouver is one of my favorite cities in the world. I'm looking forward to coming back this winter and head up to Whistler for some skiing. :)

[Goody]

I really want to go to Vancouver now. Nicely done.

[PA Pride]

I just found this thread. Great pics of downtown!

[Architype]

Some great view from up there. The best Vancouver photos are from the tops of buildings.

[KevinFromTexas]

You are a true SSP skyscraper geek. :D Thank you sir!

[Red UM Rebel]

Thanks for the great shots