Vancouver Trip Recap

Well, it's been a few weeks now since my Vancouver trip, and I've had time to process my experience there and post Facebook albums. Let's start with those:

1st Trip to Canada - 1. Vancouver (Part I)
1st Trip to Canada - 2. Vancouver (Part II)
1st Trip to Canada - 3. Victoria (Part I)
1st Trip to Canada - 4. Victoria (Part II)

This trip was easily one of the most memorable and also least predictable trips I've ever taken (right up there with China, I suppose). I went in expecting it to be my typical sightseeing adventure with lots of pics, early nights to bed with little socializing, and cultural immersion via touristy stuff, but it turned out to be nothing like that at all. I also got sick with a cold upon arriving, so add all this up and you've got a trip which started off on the wrong foot.

That said, once Marina convinced me to put down the guide book, camera, and expectations, and just start letting her show me around the city as if I were a resident there, things really turned around. We stayed out doing social stuff almost every night, we hung out with her cool friends, we saw DJ's and shows, we went shopping, we saw one of the local university campuses, and we even caught a movie on a rainy day. Sure, we did a museum here or there, but ultimately that's not what really makes Vancouver/Victoria so charming. Rather, it's the awesome Canadians, the easy access to nature, and the liberal atmosphere (with lots of incredible music all around).

Now, while I don't have nearly as many pics to show for my trip as I should have (especially in Vancouver, where I spent 4.5 days compared with my 1.5 days in Victoria), it's still going to go down as a really great time with lots of great memories. No, I don't plan on moving to Canada (or anywhere) anytime soon, but that's just because I'm happy here in Atlanta trying to get a band started at the moment and am looking to see where that goes.

Anyway, thanks to Marina, her friends, and the incredibly hospitable Jeff & Miranda for such a great time! Hope to see you all again someday sooner than later!