When I'm 64
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Gastown
More than 100 years later, the area still features 1900-century street lamps, cobblestone streets, and Victorian architecture. Much more of Gastown's history is to be seen along the way. The Steam Clock can be heard throughout Gastown every 15 minutes. The clock is operated by a small steam engine, like the one kids used to play with in my childhood (1950's). It looks old, but is in fact about 20 years old. It is as unique as "Jens Olsen's World Clock" in Copenhagen. Gastown has everything a shopper wants or needs, ranging from souvenirs for a few dollars to quality antiques, paintings and jewelry for thousands. Boutiques in the area feature famous local and internationally recognized designers. We entered a gallery for First Nations art, and Birgit and I bought 2 small drawings - now hanging in our living-room as a souvenir.
We also missed Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. The Canada and the People's Republic of China collaborated to create this Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) garden. More than 50 artisans from China were involved in the creation of this beautiful garden. Another reason for coming back to wonderful and rainy Vancouver.
At the Nichols in Langley
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29. august 1998
Centrum i Vancouver kaldes Gastown efter "Gassy Jack". Gassy Jack, hvis fødenavn var John Deighton, er født i Hull i England. Han var en eventyrer, som landede sin kano godt læsset med whisky her og åbnede en bar på Maple Tree Square. Han er bedst kendt for sine "Gassy" røverhistorier, som han fortalte sine gæster. Hans hotel Deighton House Hotel brændte ned under den store brand i 1886. I 1986 blev denne statue dedikeret til byen Vancouver. Statuen står præcis, hvor de gamle ahorntræer stod, under hvis grene pionererne mødtes og valgte navnet "Vancouver" for byen. I virkeligheden er der ingen, der ved, hvorledes den berømte vært så ud. Rygterne fortæller, at man fra en tilfældig stak af gamle billeder, valgte ét ud og sagte: "Denne fyr ser ud, som om han kunne være Gassy Jack".
Entering Gastown is like taking a step back in time to 1867 when the city of Vancouver was founded. Back then it was named after a colorful saloon owner named Gassy Jack Deighton.In 1886 a huge fire completely destroyed the city. The blaze was sparked by a Canadian Pacific Railway fire that spread out of control. In less than an hour only two of the 400 original houses were left standing in Gastown. A year after the fire, Vancouverites celebrated when the city was chosen as the western head office of the Canadian Pacific Railroads and would finally be connected to the rest of the country by rail.
We did not take a walk in Chinatown, but had to settle with a drive through the area. It is the second-largest Chinatown in North America, next to San Fransisco's. The first Chinese immigrants settled in the area during the Fraser Gold Rush in the 1850s. The next wave were Chinese workers from the work on the Trans-Canadian railway. Many Chinese people decided to settle in Vancouver. And today they are fully integrated. Millions of people tour Chinatown every year. Its architecture is distinctive to China. The Sam Kee Building is the narrowest commercial building in the world.