[hkskyline]

Vancouver is known for its great quality of life, which is not a surprise with mountains and ocean nearby. Enjoying warmer winters than much of the rest of Canada, Vancouver is a great escape from the snow, which is probably why housing prices are so much higher than other Canadian cities further east.

























Waterfront station opened in 1914 and saw soldiers depart for Europe in World War I. Today, it is a major commuter hub, with Skytrains and the Seabus connecting here.









The Marine Building opened in 1930 and was, for a short time, the tallest building in the British Empire. The art deco is already quite visible outside, although the interiors were sealed off for the weekend. The elaborate design also meant the project went overbudget, and the building was sold off in 1933 for $900,000 to pay off the mortgage.

















Vancouver has a huge Asian community and even street food reflects this diversity. Japadog offers non-standard hot dogs that include Kurobuta sausage, turkey sausage and miso sauce, yakiniku rice, tempura shrimp, and even tonkatsu.















The West End neighbourhood is leafy and lowrise, although change began in the 1970s when the Edwardian houses were gradually replaced by highrises. It actually doesn't feel like a downtown location in here with nice landscaping and fairly sparse traffic.











Back to the waterfront, seaplanes depart for Victoria, the provincial capital on nearby Vancouver Island. Alternatively, if you have a boat parked here, take a longer sea route.











More on my website : http://www.globalphotos.org/vancouver.htm