Vancouver, don't get it.
#122
Re: Vancouver, don't get it.
Anyway both are very charming places in their own right. Although I'd give the nod to Hastings just because of the amenities and being nearer London.
#123
Re: Vancouver, don't get it.
I suppose we'd just come from Seattle, Seattle has a genuinely mixed population so Vancouver seemed even less diverse than it otherwise would. Still, Vancouver has whites and Asians but most places in North America have whites and Asians. Toronto has other groups too. It just doesn't seem diverse to have a city with, for example, few visible black or Arab people.
#124
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,088
Re: Vancouver, don't get it.
That's exactly how I would sum it up.
From a tourist perspective, it's a reasonable place to visit, especially if you are into outdoors activities. I liked Stanley Park, Gastown and the little ferries. Kits bored me to death, I had imagined a Vancouver version of The Beach in Toronto. UBC is so far removed from anything I don't know how the students function! The natural setting is very nice but is marred by the ugliness of the city itself. It is a shame to have a wonderful view ruined by some buildings that would not look out of place in Soviet Russia. I liked Capilano Bridge and the surrounding area. It was fun to be on boats. It's not very busy so being on the trains and buses was pleasant and it seems quite safe, we wandered the DTES without being traumatised.
From an immigrant perspective, IMO, it's a no go. I struggle to see how Vancouver is an aspirational place to live for people from the UK. It is isolated globally, that's one long flight to Europe. Housing costs (for the city proper) are appalling value for money. Rental costs did not seem excessive however, I would prefer to choose whether I rent or buy, not to have that decision made for me. Given the relatively small population, I have to wonder how the job market is?
The weather sucks. While we shivered and ducked for cover, Ontario basked in hot sunshine. I came to the non-scientific conclusion that people who move to Vancouver must be from places that are ugly, the natural setting seems to be the best feature of the city. I come from somewhere reasonably pretty, with a daily commute that took in unspoiled greenery on one side and a Lough on the other. So, while I thought Vancouver looked nice, I'm afraid that doesn't cut it. I would want a serious hike in income to persuade me to move there. Even then, I would be very sad to have to carry around an umbrella once again.
Granted a few days is not a lengthy visit, however, it is enough to form an impression of the place and I am not compelled to return to the city itself. I'm glad to have seen it, but for the cost of flights and time spent getting there I could have gone back home. The upshot of the trip was Seattle, a bustling, fun kind of place with excellent Alaskan cod burgers.
From a tourist perspective, it's a reasonable place to visit, especially if you are into outdoors activities. I liked Stanley Park, Gastown and the little ferries. Kits bored me to death, I had imagined a Vancouver version of The Beach in Toronto. UBC is so far removed from anything I don't know how the students function! The natural setting is very nice but is marred by the ugliness of the city itself. It is a shame to have a wonderful view ruined by some buildings that would not look out of place in Soviet Russia. I liked Capilano Bridge and the surrounding area. It was fun to be on boats. It's not very busy so being on the trains and buses was pleasant and it seems quite safe, we wandered the DTES without being traumatised.
From an immigrant perspective, IMO, it's a no go. I struggle to see how Vancouver is an aspirational place to live for people from the UK. It is isolated globally, that's one long flight to Europe. Housing costs (for the city proper) are appalling value for money. Rental costs did not seem excessive however, I would prefer to choose whether I rent or buy, not to have that decision made for me. Given the relatively small population, I have to wonder how the job market is?
The weather sucks. While we shivered and ducked for cover, Ontario basked in hot sunshine. I came to the non-scientific conclusion that people who move to Vancouver must be from places that are ugly, the natural setting seems to be the best feature of the city. I come from somewhere reasonably pretty, with a daily commute that took in unspoiled greenery on one side and a Lough on the other. So, while I thought Vancouver looked nice, I'm afraid that doesn't cut it. I would want a serious hike in income to persuade me to move there. Even then, I would be very sad to have to carry around an umbrella once again.
Granted a few days is not a lengthy visit, however, it is enough to form an impression of the place and I am not compelled to return to the city itself. I'm glad to have seen it, but for the cost of flights and time spent getting there I could have gone back home. The upshot of the trip was Seattle, a bustling, fun kind of place with excellent Alaskan cod burgers.
#126
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
Re: Vancouver, don't get it.
I suppose it trundled at a general trundling speed. I think it was all the houses built into the hill. Kind of. And the proximity to water. In any case, it looked like a nice place to check out.
#134
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,088
Re: Vancouver, don't get it.
Guelph is a small town in Wellington County, Ontario. It works for me as Vancouver seemingly works for many.
My post was a personal perspective of Vancouver based on a recent visit, no more and no less, so I don't suppose you are required to understand it.
The comment regarding global isolation is quite simple, it is further to travel to get back home, further to get to Paris, for example.
If Vancouver is cosmopolitan by West Coast standards then very good, having lived in Toronto I cannot help but compare the two and I found Vancouver much less mixed. Then again, it was a short visit and it's not a competition.
My post was a personal perspective of Vancouver based on a recent visit, no more and no less, so I don't suppose you are required to understand it.
The comment regarding global isolation is quite simple, it is further to travel to get back home, further to get to Paris, for example.
If Vancouver is cosmopolitan by West Coast standards then very good, having lived in Toronto I cannot help but compare the two and I found Vancouver much less mixed. Then again, it was a short visit and it's not a competition.
Vancouver, incidentally gets less rain than toronto over the summer months and probably more sunshine, sans the humidity. As for the soviet buidlings, its one area of the city.
Best head back to Guelph.....apparently it suits you and as more to offer than Vancouver.
Anyhow.....dont let the door hit you on the way out
#135
Re: Vancouver, don't get it.
I thought this was/is an interesting discussion. Although there is quite a bit of stating the bleeding obvious. One look at the map will see that Vancouver is perched on the western edge of a rather large continent. Of course its going to be more isolated and be more influenced by Asia.