Bus, Feet, and Train

As I usually do the first time I arrive in a city, I purchased a Hop On/Off tour ticket to get the lay of the land in Vancouver.
I purchased it at a convenience store before boarding and was told to use my sales receipt and I would receive my official ticket on the bus.
I saw many sites during the tour:

City Scene

Third Beach in Stanley Park

I got off at several spots:
Granville Island
Yaletown and the original culmination of the cross-Canada railroad
Remodeled Train Station
Sun Yat Sen Public Park
There is also a Sun Yat Sen Gardens created by master gardeners from China with all materials brought from China. This public park was designed by local architects by the parks department with Mexican or manmade resources. It is provided as a free public Chinese garden so you do not have to pay to enjoy a similar ambience. As the ancient gardens in China were only for the wealthy or royalty, I think this makes a statement about the city that it provides this environment for the public in addition to the costly traditional Chinese garden.

Good Recreation

Reflections Sun Yat Sen Public Park

The Harbour Center

Harbour Center

It seems that I took a dozen pictures looking up at this sphere, but this is the only one I can locate.
At the end of the day on the last stop on my way home, there was a ticket taker who was surprised no one had given me my official ticket. I told her mine should be good until Noon on the following day as the tickets are good for 24 hours. She printed one for me saying “You are in luck because the 24 hours starts at the time the ticket is printed. You have until 5:30 PM tomorrow.”
Who am I to refuse a few hours of free transportation?
Riding the open-top bus to the next stop, the wind grabbed my ticket from my hand and I watched it flutter away. I went to the young ticket taker at the next stop and told her I needed a new ticket. She asked for my receipt. I told her I didn’t have it, “but I just purchased it at the last stop so it is good all day tomorrow.”
She didn’t believe me, but eventually and begrudgingly printed me a new ticket good for 24 hours because she couldn't convince herself that I looked like someone who would not be telling the truth.

English Bay Beach on a Rainy Day

It rained all day on Tuesday. I am not proud, but glad I lied. I was able to see the same places again plus many more sites.
Included with your Hop O/O ticket was one water taxi ride. I took it to the maritime and Vancouver museums.

Take the Water Taxi

Maritime Museum

Musuem of Vancouver

The museum had some interesting permanent and temporary display:

• First Nations - this land had been taken and never ceded; a placard indicates the Salish people welcome us to their land to respectfully view their artifacts
• Early settlers from Europe and China
• Expo 1986 - could have skipped that
• Collectors - Unusual collections from locals included everything from jewels and jukeboxes to taxidermy, toasters, and transvestite costumes

I walked about a mile to Granville Island.

Not the Scenic Route

Dreary BC Weather Stuning Vancouver Condos

I don’t think Granville Island is worth two trips, but it was the next stop for the Hop O/F Bus.

After another lunch on Granville, I returned to Yaletown to find the stop for the Sky Train. For some reason, I had imagined a much more spectacular ride. It is just a light rail that alternates between being a subway and an elevated track. I think I must have had it confused with the gondola that that is “somewhere” around here. Have to save that for my next trip to Vancouver.

Take the Sky Train

I did get to see typical houses and shopping centers from the Sky Train. Until now, everything had been low- and high-rise apartments and condos, glass buildings, and a few historic buildings.
I love the architecture here.

Architectural Contrast

Art Gallery Rotunda

Gallery Rotunda

Vancouver Public Library

Ceiling of the Marine Bui8lding