Monkeys and Carbombs: April 2009

If there's one thing I hate about Vancouver, it's that I have some truly amazing friends there and I don't get to see or hang out with them on a regular basis. I believe they feel the same way.

My first day in Vancouver I was greeted with sun and the wonderful smell of the ocean. As soon as I checked in I headed off for drinks with Nicole and Corey and Corey's friends Deandra and Melissa also showed up for a drink. After drinks and food were consumed, I headed back to Corey's place for some gin goodness followed by destroying the Highlander TV series for Corey by introducing her to the 1st movie (and then explaining some of the back-story that you get from watching all the movies). I am an awesome friend.

Day two started off with a walk along the sea-wall. The simple things in life can keep me entertained. Things like watching a seagull fish for crabs. After a couple hours (and the start of a little sunburn) I wandered off to Yaletown to meet up with Melanie and Gary for some lunch. Some more wandering followed before I headed back to my hotel room to veg for a bit. I was supposed to go visit Corey at her office, but since I'm such an awesome friend (and my bed was so damn comfy) I actually fell asleep and woke up pretty much when I was supposed to be at her office. The forming sunburn on my head I think contributed to the rest of that day being spent dozing off and on.

Day three I met up with Corey downtown for an afternoon of wandering. We started our adventure with what was probably some of the worst sushi I've ever had. So not good. After that we walked down to Corey's office so I could check out her digs and then we made our way down to Gastown for some typical touristy things. Hello steam clock photo. British Smarties were consumed while we made our way down to Chinatown to have our senses assaulted with the myriad of smells and sites. One new thing for me was the Sun Yat-Sen Garden. I did not know this existed and I want to go back, this time with my camera. We eventually made our way back to my hotel where we relaxed for a bit before heading out for my birthday dinner. Melanie picked us up and we wound up at Ping's Cafe. The food was a little slow arriving, but I believe everyone enjoyed their meals. Although if memory serves me correct, the Bang Bang Tofu wasn't so 'Bang Bang'.

Day four, and my final day, started with brunch at Café Medina with Melanie. Afterwards we hit up Granville Island where I dropped several hundred dollars on three hats and Edie Hats. Edie herself was hell bent on finding hats that fit me. She also gave me a card for her new business. We wound up on the beach at Kitsilano for some people watching and then back to Melanie and Gary's place for a nice dinner of salad. And then it was back to my hotel room to pack and get ready for my flight home the following morning.

Below is some photographic evidence of my birthday weekend on the west coast. I stole a bunch of photos from Corey, since I forgot my camera in my hotel room on our day of wandering.

The one and only picture I took of my room. This bed induced coma-like sleep in me.