Post 11. Michael Geller says ” Here are just a few of the things I will be telling visiting journalists and other visitors to do . . . ” listing his five-items, sure to . . . errrrr . . . impress.

If, indeed, “inspiring others” is leading visitors through a chosen looky-loo, well-worn itinerary, that, perhaps, your mother-in-law would appreciate, I suspect your visitors may, on leaving you with a sigh of relief, go off scrimmaging for the real Vancouver: harbouring impression you did not intend. MSM tourism bull-shit notwithstanding.

Some people are smart yunno!

I lived and practiced in Vancouver from 1951 until 1997. I was moderately successful: home on Kits Beach with a magnificent view etc., yunno all the stuff the real estate section brags about: lots of professional accolades. Not much money though. The level of architectural conversation was, well, MSM compatible . . .

It was quite bearable, really, but I wanted more! So I went to live in Mexico City for two years and returned to a funny little town on the Island.

That funny little town allows me a tenth floor, panoramic views from every window: an amenity I most certainly could not afford in Vancouver.

But it gets better . . . living downtown I walk to the store and if the groceries are too heavy, they are delivered. All my friends and family are here, within two minutes. Except one who tells me, every time I see her, which is often, she’s coming to live here.

But it gets even better than that . . . my sailboat is affordably, moored within five minutes for where I live: visible my window.

And, believe me, sailing around here, arborous little island, challenging rip tides, has to be, excuse the recurring platitude, “world class”.

Please don’t tell your guests: we’re happy if they’ll keep us out of the WSJ . . .

Indeed Michael I suspect most of your visiting journalist guests will have a deeper measure of intellectual curiosity than you give them credit for. They may even feel you have patronized them!

Restaurants? World class? I lived and taught in the largest city in the world. I know world class.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/dining/03note.html?hp

Oh and the stereotype that gets my briefs in a bunch is “gritty East Vancouver” , grrrrrrr.

1. Take the SkyTrain lines out to Surrey and then to Burnaby…you get a wonderful and inexpensive tour of what makes this region different;

2. Go to Steveston; while there are similar places in other cities, and it is becoming a bit too touristy, some of the heritage sites are worthwhile and it’s fascinating to watch the fish sales of the boats; go down No 3 Road since at times they will think they are on another continent;

3. Go to SFU Burnaby Mountain.(Yes, I’m biased), but it’s a good trip up the mountain, especially if there’s some snow around, and the campus, views and new community at the top are worth seeing; The drive out to the UBC campus and a tour of its new communities is also worthwhile;

4. Charter or rent a boat and see the city by water; a trip along the Fraser River can be especially interesting…if you don’t want to do that, take the SeaBus and False Creek ferries;

5. Rent a car and head over to the North Shore…get lost in the British Properties and then visit Horseshoe Bay, Ambleside and Dundarave Villages.

Of course I’ll direct others to Main Street and Commercial Drive, and may even suggest they come down to Southlands to see a place with horse shit on the roads, only 20 minutes from the downtown. I’ll also promote Port Moody and its new development at NewPort Village and waterfront park areas, and then I’ll direct them to Anmore and Belcarra, with the notice that these are places most Vancouverites have yet to visit.

I may also send some planners out to Chilliwack to see a small west coast town and Garrison Crossing, a very interesting redevelopment of an old army base, which I suspect most Fabula readers have yet to see (it’s surprisingly good).

I hope this inspires others to think about the places they will recommend to visitors and
I’ll be interested to read where Urbanismo, Lewis V and others send their visitors.

Interested to see how the world responds!

For the same reason everyone illustrates Paris with the Eiffel Tower, London with Big Ben… do I need to go on? It’s called travel journalism. Why on earth would you illustrate an article of a place you are writing about for people who might want to go there with a picture of a generic shopping mall??

“Oh sure there are great old buildings in Florence, but here’s a picture of a typical office building because it’s, you know, REAL.”

Honestly, I think some people just wake up in the morning and look for something to complain about. World-class whiners – that’s the face Vancouver is starting to present to the world.