Vancouver City Scape - Courtesy upload.wikimedia.org

It was a port call that took me flying all the way from Mumbai to Vancouver. As an executive with the Shipping Corporation of India I was attending a conference at the famed Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Center. VCEC the largest convention center in all of Canada is located at Canada Park and shares a cruise ship terminal besides the Pan Pacific hotel and the 3D IMAX! I was in a fit of excitement.

The Port of Vancouver is one of the world’s finest natural, deep-water harbors. Covering a coastline of 247 kms it runs along from Roberts Bank at the U.S.-Canada border, along the south shore of Burrard Inlet, upto Indian Arm and the north shore of Burrard Inlet. The Vancouver Port Authority with 6,000 hectares of water and 460 hectares of land controls the cargo terminals and shipping Industry operations here.

The Port of Vancouver is actually North America’s gateway for Asia-Pacific trade. Extremely large it ranks number one in the world in foreign exports, besides being ranked number one for total containerized cargo handling in Canada. Trading an astounding $43 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies worldwide the Port of Vancouver is also home port to the Vancouver Alaska Cruise, one of the world’s premier cruise routes. One day, I promise to my self,one day I am going to be on it!

The shipping conference was to cover the economic Impacts of the shipping trade along with the operations at the Port of Vancouver involving many different enterprises. Cargo terminals, cruise terminals, tidewater access, shipyards, tugboats, railways, trucks, shipping agents, freight forwarders, suppliers, builders, and administrative agencies et all were involved. In fact the whole works to be worked out.

Besides understanding the finer points of international trade my mind was set on undertaking as much sight seeing as possible. Some bit of research on the internet had already familiarized me the facts and attractions. I was fascinated by the fact that the name Vancouver itself originated from the Dutch language van Coevorden denoting somebody from Coevorden in Netherlands had crossed over to this side of the Pacific. Also the port city had become internationally strategic since the Panama Canal having considerably reduced freight rates making it a viable shipping trade route. Today its the busiest seaport in Canada.

Historically the city developed from a small lumber mill town into a metropolitan center to go on to become the nations largest industrial center. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the three most livable cities in the world as also the 10th cleanest city in the world. It’s a great city to live, work and play! I can vouch for that. Its a city that I will not forget and would like to come back again anytime. The wonderful things I enjoyed here – from live music performances to the fair at PNE have etched some remarkable memories for me.

I was amazed at the high quality of living and it comes as no surprise that it ranks only behind Zurich and Geneva in terms of quality of life. Like them the city’s scenic location makes it a major tourist destination. I made it a point to visit the city’s gardens – both Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park. It was awesome to see the mountains, ocean, forest and parklands that surround the city, along with beaches, parks, waterfronts. Its a heady combination of being in the vicinity of a mountainous backdrop along with a sea coast. Plus the cultural and multi-ethnic character of the city holds a charm all its own. Vancouver, I learn is the favorite haunt of stylish tourists. Also many people pass through Vancouver en route to the cruise ship vacation over to Alaska.

The mild climate of the city and close proximity to ocean, mountains, rivers and lakes make the area a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Its a fact that Vancouver has a low adult obesity rate. And if truth be told I did manage to shed off my extra flab over a ten day extended stay. Perhaps it was all that walking about! Downtown was the place to stroll along and enjoy the marvelous sights. There are several striking modern looking buildings in the downtown area, like the Harbour Centre, Vancouver Law Courts and surrounding plaza known as Robson Square. Also the Vancouver Library Square stands out since it appears as a replica of the Colosseum in Rome! Some other notable buildings of the city that have some impressive architecture include Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver Art Gallery and the unforgettable Vancouver Hotel.

Surrounded by water on three sides and nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range, Vancouver proved the tourist destination of my dreams. With one of the mildest climates in Canada along with spectacular natural scenery with the bustling metropolitan ambiance it provided an ideal relaxed vacation after a hectic conference. City guidelines have succeeded in preserving mountain views by restricting building heights but of late some leeway allows an element of visual interest to enhance Vancouver’s skyline. For my part I simply enjoyed walking in the parks or biking around the seawall that gave me an uncommon thrill after a long long time. Moving about is one way to keep discovering something more to do and enjoy in Vancouver, all the time.

Doing the museums was de riguer for me, an avid arts buff. Vancouver is the home to museums and galleries. The Vancouver Art Gallery has a permanent collection of over 7,900 items valued at over $100 million. Also of interest to me was the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, a leading museum of the First Nations culture. The Vancouver Museum is the largest civic museum in Canada. However it was also the Vancouver Science Museum with its interactive exhibits that had me enjoying the experiments.

My Vancouverite delights ended with the Harrison Festival of Arts performed by John Reischmann and the Jaybirds. Performed at Harrison Hall, the Jaybirds give their elegant bluegrass sounds new meaning. It was Canadian folk music at its best with teh rendition of original songs from an acoustical power house. My Vancouver rhapsody was over in no time making me aware that there are places to be seen that this world has never dreamt of. At least my part of the world. For all of those with the travel itch of visiting far away and distant places unseen, I would say the Vancouver Downtown Hotel site is your best bet to enjoy the City of Vancouver that lives by the motto : “By Sea, Land, and Air We Prosper”.