Underneath the Granville Bridge you’ll find Granville Island, a half-peninsula within the False Creek. It is an artificial island created to host industry and it was converted in the 1970s and attracts many visitors these days. Highlight is the Granville Island Public Market that sells gourmet food which gives you the chance to try a lot of different local produce. It is surrounded by bars and restaurants and you can conveniently sit at the shore of the False Creek and enjoy views on the sea arm.
Continue reading “Granville Island”Aquabus
Public transport at Vancouver relies on the fantastic automated SkyTrain flying through the city as well as busses. But the most lovely means of transport is for sure the Aquabus: little boats operated by just one person each touring clockwise on the False Creek. Just jump on board, tell the operator how far you want to go and buy a ticket from them via credit card directly while floating on the water. Perfect for a round course with beautiful views or to access some nice places across the city.
Continue reading “Aquabus”Science World
It is impossible to overlook Science World at the eastern end of False Creek: it is located in a large geodesic dome created for the world exhibition Expo 86. Since 2005 this dome contains a nice science museum with many experiments suitable for smaller kids and teenagers – but even adults can have a lot of fun there by experimenting with different natural phenomena.
Continue reading “Science World”Gastown
The historic city quarter Gastown can be found in the east of Downtown Vancouver. It was once the germ cell of the city of Vancouver and a very industrial area with a harbor and a saw mill; the place is named after the first innkeeper John ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton. Gastown burned down in 1886 and there are not many buildings that survived. Icon is the steam-powered clock located at the intersection of Water Street and Cambie Street. Every hour it gives a whistle four times and blows steam once.
Continue reading “Gastown”The Listel
As I started my trip to Canada at Vancouver, The Listel was my very first hotel in the country. And it is a good one as it is located in downtown Vancouver on Robson Street with lots of stores and restaurants surrounding it. From here you can walk or cycle to the Waterfront, Stanley Park and Gastown, I even hiked to Hornby Street Aquabus stop to get to Granville Island (but don’t underestimate the inclination). The Listel is decorated with art and offers water dispensers on every floor – carrying you’re own reusable water bottle here is so normal that I had to buy me one already on the first day (and refill opportunities are available in many, many places).
Continue reading “The Listel”Vancouver International
The international airport of Vancouver (YVR) is located 12 kilometers southwest of the city center. Opened in 1931 it is today the second-busiest airport of Canada with three runways and 25 million passengers per year. YVR is a well-designed airport and probably absolutely hassle-free to pass through. In addition to the local airlines (and Air Canada being the biggest user) also Air France, Air China, Air India, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines use YVR. Local connections within Canada – even to Tofino on Vancouver Island are possible.
Continue reading “Vancouver International”Nordstadt
There aren’t many spots from which you can enjoy great views on the city center of Göttingen: you can get to the canteen of the Neues Rathaus, access the small terrace of the Kunsthaus or get on top of the Bismarckturm. But none of them normally gives you the chance to have a delicious sundowner while focusing the university town’s skyline. Fortunately, the FREIgeist hotel brings good food and drinks to the Nordstadt of Göttingen – an area in the past not known for fine dining and great cocktails. It has indeed the only real rooftop bar of the city, so get a drink and enjoy sundown!
Continue reading “Nordstadt”Capitale mondiale du parfum
Grasse is known to be the world capital of perfume and therefore that’s all a visit about. The region surrounding it is used to grow different kinds of flowers (mostly lavender, narcissus, cassia, mimosa, violet, iris, roses, jasmine plus bigarade oranges) used in fragrance production and whenever you stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy good views from the mountain you’ll always have a nice scent in your nose.
Continue reading “Capitale mondiale du parfum”Le Parfum
When visiting Grasse you can stop at the historic perfume factories like Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard to learn about fragrance making, but you should definitely also have a look at the Musée International de la Parfumerie; a very unusual museum and a topic I had never explored before. As the small city of Grasse at the French Côte d’Azur is considered the world capital of perfume you can have a deep-dive here and fill your nose with lots of different scents.
Continue reading “Le Parfum”Palme d’Or
Since 1946 every year at the Festival de Cannes the best movies, actors and scripts are awarded, with the Palme d’Or as the most important trophy. We all know the yearly pictures of celebrities waving from the red carpet in front of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès at Cannes. You can find the Palais directly at the harbor after strolling through the nice streets of the city center and discovering the roofed markets of Cannes.
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