I’m hanging out in Vancouver for a few months, so here are some of my observations from my first stint in the city :).
- The Skytrain is much more frequent than the C-Train and generally better (cleaner, has station gates, cheaper)
- 12% sales tax feels criminal as an Albertan, but at least most of what I’m buying is food (which is exempt from PST)
- The fact that you need to separate recycling into 3 containers… one of which is a yellow bag
silly bag
- Restaurant prices are much better in Vancouver, which was surprising considering the housing prices. The restaurant variety is also amazing!
House of Dosas is my GOAT
- UBC is pretty separate from the rest of the city, but it does have more things to explore than UCalgary (including a nudist beach)
- Many places have a… variety of interesting smells (some more unpleasant than others)
- Everyone is hiking all the time
- People seem to love car-sharing services here (which I never see in Calgary)
- It feels strange that there’s no Plus 15 network, even though there’s not much need for it here
- Even though I’m not that into Stampede, I’m gonna miss the build up and excitement for it in Calgary – it just doesn’t feel like summer without it
- I really like how nature is integrated within the city in Vancouver, whereas in Calgary, you need to go out of your way to see any impressive trees
Overall, minus the insane cost of living (which is pretty important), Vancouver seems like a nice city to live in.
That said, I don’t personally think the city is an especially impressive place to vacation since there’s no distinct culture or standout attractions. It just feels like a denser, more youthful version of Calgary.
Let me know your own thoughts and experiences if you’ve visited Vancouver!
Until next time,
Ana
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