For breakfast, I had coffee and cereal at the hostel. I also met someone from Seattle who was in my dorm, and he offered to show me around Seattle when I got there.
After getting ready for the day, I walked over to Slickity Jim's. They had a long wait, so I decided to go somewhere else. After a bit of walking, I got to Caffe Rustico. They had espresso, which was just what I needed (I woke up a bit groggy that morning). I decided to go in.
I had some espresso. It was very good, probably the best I've had. The owner and I chatted a bit, and he gave me what he called the "Vancouver Special". From what I could tell, it was a sort of latte, and it was delicious.
This is what I love about slow travel. You get to experience life like a local, and eat in these gems of places distributed randomly in the city in which you currently, albeit temporarily reside in. If the owners are friendly, you chat with them and learn from them a bit about what it is like to live in their city. I would have never discovered these places as a stereotypical tourist, dashing from attraction to attraction, not thinking I have time to actually explore.
Caffe Rustico was so good, I ended up eating lunch there, which took the form of penne alfredo and a hazelnut biscotti. I decided I'd go here again on this trip.
I met some other friendly people in the evening, so that was good. For dinner, I went to Falafel King and ordered the lamb shawarma. The herb salad and hummus were good, but the lamb was not good at all. I put the rest of the meal in the "free food" shelf of the hostel refrigerator. After that, I called it a night.
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Monday, September 15, 2014
Vancouver, Day 12: Chimney Cake, Getting Lost in Stanley Park, and More
Alex, Maria and I went to Slickity Jim's again for breakfast. After that, I left for the hostel.
The first night at the hostel was disappointing. It was huge, more like a hotel than a hostel. Thus, there were very few people who wanted or had the time to chat. A lot of people were downright rude. Two exceptions were two people from Austria, but they had to leave for Seattle that day, so we didn't talk much.
A few blocks from the hostel was a Romanian bakery. Maria is Romanian, and had mentioned chimney cake, a sweet pastry of enormous proportions shaped into a helix. Alas, they had them! I ordered one and took it back to the hostel.
I did get lost in Stanley Park that day. It was fun, but also scary. In some places, Stanley Park becomes a labyrinth of thick foliage; those are the scary parts. In other places, there are huge lawns, with walkways and bridges over ponds. Swans and geese are a common sight there, and they're not afraid to walk right up to people.
Eventually, I walked back to the hostel and went to bed.
The first night at the hostel was disappointing. It was huge, more like a hotel than a hostel. Thus, there were very few people who wanted or had the time to chat. A lot of people were downright rude. Two exceptions were two people from Austria, but they had to leave for Seattle that day, so we didn't talk much.
A few blocks from the hostel was a Romanian bakery. Maria is Romanian, and had mentioned chimney cake, a sweet pastry of enormous proportions shaped into a helix. Alas, they had them! I ordered one and took it back to the hostel.
I did get lost in Stanley Park that day. It was fun, but also scary. In some places, Stanley Park becomes a labyrinth of thick foliage; those are the scary parts. In other places, there are huge lawns, with walkways and bridges over ponds. Swans and geese are a common sight there, and they're not afraid to walk right up to people.
Eventually, I walked back to the hostel and went to bed.
Vancouver, Day 11: Chinese Food, IKEA (again), and More
Today, breakfast was a large bowl of macaroni and cheese. Forget the stereotype about Kraft dinner, this was the real stuff. It had three cheeses, and was sizzling when they brought it out. That's always a good sign.
For lunch, I went to a Chinese restaurant across the street. I had heard there was a lunch special for $7, so I decided to check it out.
When I sat down, the waitress gave me the menu. It didn't have a lunch special. When I asked, she seemed annoyed. She then gave me another menu with the lunch special on it. It seemed that because I seemed like a tourist, they gave me a version which had the pricier items and not the good deals. I guess some people don't get that not all travelers are rich.
I ordered the sweet and sour sliced fish, which came with chow mein and a cup of hot and sour soup. The fish and the soup were very good, but the chow mein was greasy and a bit bland.
Not much happened from the Chinese restaurant until dinner. Dinner was at IKEA again, but this time we also went downstairs and got a lingonberry sundae. It was $1.50, a really good deal for something with lingonberries in it. They tasted like something in between a pomegranate seed and a cranberry.
It was late when we got home, so we went to bed.
For lunch, I went to a Chinese restaurant across the street. I had heard there was a lunch special for $7, so I decided to check it out.
When I sat down, the waitress gave me the menu. It didn't have a lunch special. When I asked, she seemed annoyed. She then gave me another menu with the lunch special on it. It seemed that because I seemed like a tourist, they gave me a version which had the pricier items and not the good deals. I guess some people don't get that not all travelers are rich.
I ordered the sweet and sour sliced fish, which came with chow mein and a cup of hot and sour soup. The fish and the soup were very good, but the chow mein was greasy and a bit bland.
Not much happened from the Chinese restaurant until dinner. Dinner was at IKEA again, but this time we also went downstairs and got a lingonberry sundae. It was $1.50, a really good deal for something with lingonberries in it. They tasted like something in between a pomegranate seed and a cranberry.
It was late when we got home, so we went to bed.
Vancouver, Day 10: Best Eggs Benedict, New Novelty, and More
For breakfast, I went to Slickity Jim's again with Maria. I got what I believe is the best Eggs Benedict variation ever invented: "A Figment of my Imagination", with blue cheese, a poached egg, hollandaise, and finally topped with sliced Turkish figs.
I didn't get to explore much today, unfortunately. However, I did make it to the New Novelty Indian buffet for lunch. It was good; I had chana masala (chickpea curry), matter paneer (green pea and paneer curry), and palak paneer (spinach curry), all over basmati rice. I also had three pieces of naan (flatbread). Needless to say, I was stuffed for the rest of the day.
I did get to plan for the rest of September, so that was good. Eventually, I went to bed.
I didn't get to explore much today, unfortunately. However, I did make it to the New Novelty Indian buffet for lunch. It was good; I had chana masala (chickpea curry), matter paneer (green pea and paneer curry), and palak paneer (spinach curry), all over basmati rice. I also had three pieces of naan (flatbread). Needless to say, I was stuffed for the rest of the day.
I did get to plan for the rest of September, so that was good. Eventually, I went to bed.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Vancouver, Day 9: Chorizo, IKEA, and More
Coffee today was at Baguette and Company. It was really good, but the pistachio danish was what really made the trip over worth it.
I decided I would try again at New Novelty. I got there about noon, and saw the sign. The lunch buffet was nine dollars. I reached into my pocket, and pulled out eight dollars. That was all I had brought with me.
I decided to walk a bit. When I say 'a bit', what I mean is 'at least 45 blocks'. After walking, I saw what looked to be a pub with the name "Slickity Jim's Chat n' Chew Cafe". That sounded like a name for a combination of a strip club and an American Old West speakeasy. So I thought to myself, "Okay, I'll go in there."
To my relief, there were no half-naked men or women in cowboy boots serving Prohibition-era absinthe. It was, like many other questionably-named eateries, a hipster lair.
And what a hipster lair it was. What set it apart from other dens of madness of these sorts was its food. I had eggs and chorizo. The chorizo was the best I've ever had. I mentioned this to the waitress. We talked briefly about the variations of chorizo, and when I was done, she said she'd pay for my meal. I was taken aback, I didn't know the nuances of Mexican vs. Portuguese chorizo were even that interesting. (I'm kidding of course; she actually said it was because I was really nice.) I gave her double the usual tip, and decided to come back sometime.
Once I got home, I started making chana masala with the ingredients I bought at the Punjabi market the day before. It turned out well; both Alex and Maria really liked it.
We then went to IKEA. It's a Swedish chain, and expresses that fact quite visibly, complete with tourism ads on the walls for Sweden, Swedish truffles and chocolates available for purchase, and what else... ah yes. A smorgasbord.
I had a Swedish apple cake, a shrimp and egg salad sandwich, and haddock and chips, which came out to about 11 dollars. Not bad.
And with that, we went home to bed.
I decided I would try again at New Novelty. I got there about noon, and saw the sign. The lunch buffet was nine dollars. I reached into my pocket, and pulled out eight dollars. That was all I had brought with me.
I decided to walk a bit. When I say 'a bit', what I mean is 'at least 45 blocks'. After walking, I saw what looked to be a pub with the name "Slickity Jim's Chat n' Chew Cafe". That sounded like a name for a combination of a strip club and an American Old West speakeasy. So I thought to myself, "Okay, I'll go in there."
To my relief, there were no half-naked men or women in cowboy boots serving Prohibition-era absinthe. It was, like many other questionably-named eateries, a hipster lair.
And what a hipster lair it was. What set it apart from other dens of madness of these sorts was its food. I had eggs and chorizo. The chorizo was the best I've ever had. I mentioned this to the waitress. We talked briefly about the variations of chorizo, and when I was done, she said she'd pay for my meal. I was taken aback, I didn't know the nuances of Mexican vs. Portuguese chorizo were even that interesting. (I'm kidding of course; she actually said it was because I was really nice.) I gave her double the usual tip, and decided to come back sometime.
Once I got home, I started making chana masala with the ingredients I bought at the Punjabi market the day before. It turned out well; both Alex and Maria really liked it.
We then went to IKEA. It's a Swedish chain, and expresses that fact quite visibly, complete with tourism ads on the walls for Sweden, Swedish truffles and chocolates available for purchase, and what else... ah yes. A smorgasbord.
 |
And with that, we went home to bed.
Vancouver, Day 8: Punjabi Market, Catching Up with Old Friends, and More
After the usual breakfast at Float On, I decided that today would be the day I would go to the Indian buffet, New Novelty. I was really excited. What would I get? Chana masala? Palak paneer? Butter chicken? All of the above?
Finally, I arrived at New Novelty. I walked in, and asked if they were dong the lunch buffet. The person at the counter then told me that the buffet was only open from 11 AM to 3:30 PM. It was 9:30 AM.
Then, I got an idea. There was a Punjabi market over on Main Street. So I went there instead. I got taro, Thai chiles, Bombay Tadka sauce, chickpeas, potatoes, and onions.
I went home for a bit, then met Alex near the Waterfront. We walked over to Maria's work, and met her there. We also met a friend of mine who also lived in Vancouver, Jeff.
After we had all convened, we went to Japadog, a food truck on Burrard Street. They sell Japanese fusion hot dogs (think hot dogs, but with Japanese ingredients used as condiments). I had the Negimiso, a pork hot dog topped with cabbage, seaweed, and some other sauce I can't remember. It was delicious.
Afterward, we walked to English Bay, then turned back and went home for the night.
Finally, I arrived at New Novelty. I walked in, and asked if they were dong the lunch buffet. The person at the counter then told me that the buffet was only open from 11 AM to 3:30 PM. It was 9:30 AM.
 |
| No Indian buffet for you! |
Then, I got an idea. There was a Punjabi market over on Main Street. So I went there instead. I got taro, Thai chiles, Bombay Tadka sauce, chickpeas, potatoes, and onions.
I went home for a bit, then met Alex near the Waterfront. We walked over to Maria's work, and met her there. We also met a friend of mine who also lived in Vancouver, Jeff.
After we had all convened, we went to Japadog, a food truck on Burrard Street. They sell Japanese fusion hot dogs (think hot dogs, but with Japanese ingredients used as condiments). I had the Negimiso, a pork hot dog topped with cabbage, seaweed, and some other sauce I can't remember. It was delicious.
Afterward, we walked to English Bay, then turned back and went home for the night.
Vancouver, Day 7: JJ Bean, UBC, and More
In the morning, Maria and I took a break from Float On. We went to JJ Bean, one of a chain of cafes in Vancouver. It is well-loved by locals, so whatever you do, don't compare it to Starbucks around a Vancouverite. I speak from experience.
The coffee was good. I couldn't say the same for the spinach and feta bun I had, though. It was cold, had barely any feta, and the very small amount of spinach it had was dried out to a crisp.
For most of my day, I stayed home. When Alex and Maria got off work, we went on a walk through a park owned by the University of British Columbia. Afterwards, we toured the university by car. I don't remember much; I was very sleepy during the ride.
Afterwards, we went home. We watched television some more, and went off to bed.
The coffee was good. I couldn't say the same for the spinach and feta bun I had, though. It was cold, had barely any feta, and the very small amount of spinach it had was dried out to a crisp.
For most of my day, I stayed home. When Alex and Maria got off work, we went on a walk through a park owned by the University of British Columbia. Afterwards, we toured the university by car. I don't remember much; I was very sleepy during the ride.
Afterwards, we went home. We watched television some more, and went off to bed.
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