A Whirlwind Random Vacation Part 3: Vancouver GBU

I got into Vancouver after midnight; somejauntypolka was kind enough to pick me up. We went back to her place and I crashed on the couch. This was still a better sleep than I had at A/T War.

The next day began an ideal Vancouver vacation. It was a long weekend, people had time to share and the city was in a celebratory mood.

My first order of business was checking into my suite on Commercial Drive. Check the photos out in that link - the place was gorgeous. My one fear was that it was going to be stinking hot (Vancouver in July - I've suffered through that before), but the suite was remarkably cool despite being on the top of the house. The air circulation was wonderful, so much so that I never once needed to turn on the A/C. That or I'd become acclimated to Las Vegas. The former is more likely than the latter.

What can I say about Vancouver that I haven't said already? I love my friends out there and it's great to visit them.

The Good:

• Going to Fish on Rice in Kitsilano for all-you-can-eat sushi.
  
• Seeing Green Lantern with bognaustroglum. As superhero films go, this was one for the die-hard comic fan (like me). A few tweaks would have made it a much better movie. Without them, it was largely just a colourful spectacle.
  
• Meeting Ben and Patrick for said movie and hanging out with them afterward.
  
• Going to Bard on the Beach's performance of The Merchant of Venice. Good show, good company (with somejauntypolka and GR). I especially like the portrayal of Antonio and Bassanio's relationship - Strong loving friendship, with a hint that they had been lovers in the past. Bassanio has moved on but Antonio still pines for it. It was subtle enough that people not wanting to see evidence of gay/bi wouldn't notice it. I wonder if that's a common interpretation when staging this play?
  
• Hanging out with somejauntypolka at St. Augustine's Pub. They had displays up showing just how much was in each keg of their 30+ on-tap beers! Damn good beer too!
  
• Discussing movies with whiggy_one and somejauntypolka on my last night there.
  
• Cool shopping in Kits.
  
• The hot Italian/Brazilian chick (and the pizza she served) at the restaurant kitty-corner from my suite.
  
• Seeing all the supportive graffiti on the boarded up windows downtown - it was an inspirational outpouring of love and pride for one's city.

The Bad:

• The need for said boarded up windows.
  
• Not being able to go to the Clubhouse, despite multiple attempts.
  
• Despite living on Commercial Drive for four days, I didn't once go window shopping along the drive.

The Ugly

• The horrendous construction-related traffic on the Trans-Canada coming into town.
  
• Surpassed only by the fact that the Port Mann bridge was actually closed when I attempted to leave town, requiring me to scramble for an alternate route. Thank heaven for my brand-new GPS, and the fact that it somehow gets real-time updates of road closures!

Despite the traffic woes in the vicinity of the Soggy City By The Sea, the rest of my drives were surprisingly pleasant.