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VANCOUVER |
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Our departure from Montreal was some what rapid and stressful but we were very happy to see our friends and families during different lunches, diners and cocktails. We will miss you all!!! With Yannick's experience touring with Cirque in the 90's and knowing that we were allowed to two suitcases each, we full them up, without realizing that we brought to much with us. In our 4 suitcases, we had: 25 pair pants, 10 pair shoes and boots, 6 jackets, 15 shirts, 12 pairs of shorts, etc... Way too much when we are working 5 to 6 days a week and when we have a provided uniform to wear at work. We will ship some clothes back home for sure. |
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We have to mention our experience one Friday night during the NHL series. On Davie Street, we were looking for a bar to take a drink to end the evening, nothing much was happening apart in the sports? bars since the Vancouver Canucks are playing their sixth game against Calgary ...For a city with "No Fun City" has a nick name, we can certainly not apply it when the Canucks are playing. Men, women, gay, straight, young, old, hockey fan or not, all together in their favorite neighborhood bar cheering for their team and it is like this all over town. It was very fun and interesting to see the energy between all of them, united for the same goal (yes a goal... it was 3rd overtime, when the Canucks scored). In the streets, it was like if Vancouver won the series, but it was just the sixth game and they lost the seventh and last one two days later. In Vancouver people and now cheering for Montreal? Go Habs Go!(Update on April 29th? It is time for golf season for them to) |
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We arrived in Vancouver on April 16th. While Yannick started working right away, Luc enjoyed his last few days of vacation visiting and walking around the city. We are located right downtown Vancouver, near Yaletown, with a great view from our 17th floor apartment on the Rockies mountains. |
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Luc and I have celebrated our 3rd anniversary on May 12th, we enjoyed our afternoon and evening off together exploring the city. It is still a great and beautiful city. We have decided to have a diner at West, one of the top 5 restaurants in Vancouver. They knew it was our anniversary and we were working for Cirque, they treated us like kings. If you are in town and have some money to spend on a great meal, West is the place. |
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Vancouver is so far a fabulous city! Spring is almost over (mid-April); the trees and the grass are already green. Tulips, lilacs and other spring flowers are full blown and almost history. The cherry trees are blossoming leaving their pink petals all over the ground and their nice scent in the air. Even the rhododendrons and camellias and starting to bloom along the streets, parks, and beaches. |
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The city is very easy to discover, you can almost walk from one end of the city to the other within an hour. You can feel that the people are enjoying life and the time spend here. With easy access to many parks, trails next to the waterfront and an hour drive to the Rockies; people are relax and enjoying the outdoors. Leaving a healthy life style seems to be a rule here: Organic food, fresh juices and low carbohydrate food are all part of their trendy life style. |
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You want to do a nice tour of the surroundings of Vancouver? Rent a car from downtown go west on Grandville street, cross the bridge, and go west on Broadway towards the University of British Columbia (stop at Nam for breakfast). At the end of the road you will get at the world known Wreck beach where Hippies and nudists are smoking together and getting all tanned? After enjoying few hours with people stock in the sixties, take your car back towards downtown following the coastal road in Katsilano; kilometers of beaches and parks with a view on the Rockies. Stop for a treat in the market of GrandvilleIsland before crossing the bridge back to Vancouver. Follow Pacific boulevard until you get to Stanley Park, where you should take you time driving across this huge green area at the edge of the city. After exploring the woods, have look at the ducks, gees and raccoons and go for a gelato on Denman Street. Enjoy the end of the afternoon once again on the beach and if you time, stay around for the sunset. |
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In May, Yannick went 4 days in Amsterdam for work; see some pictures took the last day: Amsterdam |
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In every city that we will visit with Cirque du Soleil, the entire cast and crew have 2 days off (Monday & Tuesday) before tearing down our infrastructure and moves to a new city. Everybody usually move out of the city to explore one last time the surroundings. We used these two days this time to visit Whistler, north of Vancouver with two other colleagues. We skied on a glacier one afternoon and mountain biked the next day. Both experiences were amazing; skiing on the top of the world is so beautiful, endless top of mountains gives you a feeling of peace and strength. Mountain biking at the bottom of the ski hills was fun experience that we will for sure do again, it is a great sport that requires strength, ability and endurance while enjoying the nature. A good sport to keep you body and mind alert. |
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Since it is just 2.5 hours from Vancouver, we have decided to experience Seattle in the state of Washington. We expected to feel the beat of the city that is known to be down to heart, grunge, popular for its alternative music and its fish market. We finally found another American city? with its good side and sadder sides. We still had a good time during these 3 days and it allowed us to see more night action than what we can found in Vancouver, but Vancouver still the best overall. |
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Sadly, Yannick's grand-mother left us on April 29th. We went to Quebec City for few days to be near our family during these difficult times. A proud woman dedicated most of her life to her kids, grand-kids and great grand-kids; she lived a beautiful (with its ups and downs) and healthy life. The difficulties that she had to manage in her life build an open minded 82 years old grand-mother that I will always remember and cherish. Love Yannick xxxx. |
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See Whistler pictures |
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Our last night in Vancouver was once again a great evening in this city that we enjoyed very much.� We walk most of the day, rediscovering our favorite places in town, the beach and StanleyPark. We ended the day by finally going to a restaurant that we have seen our first day in town but was always to busy. Bin 941 Tapas Parlor is a place to visit in Vancouver, all night, we both shared food, wines by glass from countries that we will visit soon and especially our thoughts? we had a great time! |
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After few days in Vancouver, we wanted to purchased a condo in Vancouver, we visited more than 20 condos but we finally decided to not invest in Vancouver (yet!) but we will certainly come back anytime to Vancouver? |
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