I will not participate in the East versus West Coast debate because I don’t care enough. I’ve lived in Toronto most of my life, and Vancouver is pretty much the same, except with mountains in the background.
Let’s get real, this city doesn’t have more soul or culture compared to other metropolitans to write about. Its entire personality is shiny buildings that reflect nature to cloak its horrible drug problem and skyrocketing housing market.
Nonetheless, it was a nice break for March and comfortable to work from. Here are photos of how we spent time in Vancouver.
I went with my partner and two of his brothers. We got there Sunday morning and spent most of the day biking around the city to places like Stanley Park and Lions Gate Bridge. I’d done the same on previous trips to Vancouver in 2015 and 2021, so there wasn’t much that was new. Oh wait, I did fall on my face twice, so that was nice.
Food is usually the least of my expenses, but the bill footed high since I was travelling with three dudes who ate like it was their last meal every time. Got some good sushi and tacos in but nothing worth raving about.
Can we just talk about how expensive Vancouver is? Toronto is too, but YVR acts like it has some quality powder in its water to be charging this high.
I know I sound like a h8r, but it’s because I’m on my period and searching every inch of my two remaining brain cells to justify uploading this many photos with this shitty text to seem less vain.
I get a lot of confused faces when I disclose my lack of foodie-ness on trips. I especially despise high-end restaurants. I’ve come to own it now. They’re overpriced and time-consuming, and I hate venues you need to dress up for. I will always remain a quick street shawarma girlie to avoid getting on the phone for a reso.
Let’s talk about one of the only reasons I came out West: my London bestie. Urooba is an internet friend I’ve met in different cities across the world almost every year since we first met irl in 2019. She calls B.C. her home base. A break from the boys to catch up with her was an absolute must. We hit up a couple of bars and dished all the tea. I wonder where we’ll meet next…
I don’t get many vacation days from work, but I work fully remotely (thankfully). I didn’t take any time off for the week I was in Vancouver because I’m saving them for a bigger trip in the summer. By no means am I an advocate for digital nomadism either because you can be on a beach and still be glued to the soul-sucking screen for the better part of the day.
But it was nice to do work where you get views like this for the slivers of time you can afford to exchange blinking for looking up.
One of the best parts of the trip was a hike to a crashed plane sight. It was muddy, cold, and full of small climbs. The plane was eh but the hike, A plus.
Another hike I was deprived of enjoying was Mount Garibaldi. It was supposed to be a 6-hour trek up but we had to cut it short because the guys kept slipping. Not sure how you forget to pack proper shoes and pride on a single trip. Please enjoy this TikTok of the man I chose to marry begging for life.
While I waited for them to catch up from not dying, I took this cute selfie.
We also woke up at the buttcrack of dawn and hopped on a ferry to Tofino – this surfer cowabunga town on Vancouver Island – on one of the days. We caught a killer sunrise and did a couple of polar bear dips in -2 C weather.
All in all, I spent too much and did not get any time off. Still fun. Side note, you have the right to punch me in the face if you see me traveling with guys again.
Anywho, I’m out of pictures. Bye.
Vancouver is nice don’t cancel me I’m just bleeding.
Zahra Travels 