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
August 29, 1998
This day we just relaxed until noon. We were going to visit Jane and Terry in the afternoon. Birgit and I took a walk down to 8th Avenue, where we visited some shops. Had a beer, and bought a book for the flight back to Europe. Janet and Claus picked us up at 1 P.M. and we went downtown.
The center of Vancouver is called Gastown after "Gassy Jack". John Deighton was born in Hull, England. He was an adventurer, who landed his canoo full of whisky here and opened a bar at Maple Tree Square. He was best known for his "Gassy" monologues as a saloonkeeper. His Deighton House Hotel burned in the great fire in 1886. In 1986 this statue was dedicated to the City of Vancouver. The statue stands exactly where the old maple tree stood, under whose branches the pioneers met, and chose the name "Vancouver" for the city. In fact nobody knows, what the famed saloon keeper looked like. So it is said, that a random photo was picked from a pile of ancient photos. "This fellow looks as if he could be a 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.
Chinatown
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.
In the afternoon we drove to Langley. In Langley we visited the local "Save on foods" - and we were impressed. In Langley Terry had been busy barbecuing a roast of 16 pounds!!! Since our previous visit the family had "grown" with another member. A son of some friends from Alberta were going to stay at the Nichols, while he was studying. We also said hello to Jason's girlfriend, who was going to be a vegetarian??? The study would take about 6 years. I can believe that, when I consider the amount of meat, being consumed in that house. It turned out to be a mistake, since she was studying to become a vetenarian. Once again a great evening with the hospitable family in Langley.
