67 hours in vancouver

we're back from our mini-vacation. the "other" 'couv is something else, though we still love our version.

we had three days of great weather, beautiful sites, towering glass skyscrapers, and a million languages. the city has a very cosmopolitan, international buzz.

had two great dinners. granted, we were only there a few days, but if you had only one meal in that city, hands down, go to vij's. wow. from the appetizers offered outside while you wait for your table, to the many glasses of wine, to the lamb popsicles (hold the bone and eat the warm meat like a popsicle), everything we had was stunningly good. it was a delightful foodie experience.

also ate at a great place called west. think of something similar to wildwood or higgins in portland, specializing in that fresh-from-farm, regional cuisine, but with an over the top international wine selection. a $3,800 bottle of burgundy, for instance. gulp, we thought. or, for anyone who could afford it, the thinking more likely was, sip. slowly.

we stayed at a cozy, boutique hotel, the listel, in the west end on robson street. it was a nice walk to tons of restaurants, bars, pubs, and more shoe shops than amy could imagine.

we spent a lot of time around the water, whether walking to canada place, taking a morning bike ride around the seawall of stanley park or riding back and forth on aquataxis to granville island, particularly the terrific farmers market.

it was a quick trip, but well worth the time.