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What was the first thing you noticed when you came to Vancouver?
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There seem to be a number of flickr photographers who have moved to Vancouver from other places. Whether you moved to Vancouver 4 months ago, 4 years ago, or 40 years ago....what was the first thing you noticed? The cherry blossoms? The mountains? Was there something about the city that made you decide to stay or did the decision to move to Vancouver have more to do with personal circumstances (work, family) than preferences.
I know what was attractive to me about the places I have lived (other than Vancouver) but it is very hard to see and photograph Vancouver through the eyes of visitors.
So, what was your first impression as seen through the eyes of a visiting photographer or just a visitor (if you weren't into photography at the time).?
Posted at 3:12PM, 19 April 2008 PDT
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I just moved from Kits to Yaletown and its bloody noisy down here...
Seriously though, when I first came out to UBC for school 5 years ago, I was blown away by the setting of the campus. Engulfed in a park, with green spaces everywhere, and surrounded by awesome beaches and tide flats... and then everything got real miserable in mid october, and I pretty much stayed indoors til march, when I realised that everything was alive again. The seasonal change here is pretty remarkable, and I'm super stoked that I snowboard alot more now - makes the winters just as enjoyable as the spring/summer!
Originally posted 3 months ago.
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andrew strain edited this topic 3 months ago.
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Great idea for a post!
My partner and I were living in Chicago before we heard the call to go west. Now we've been here since late 2003 and I'm applying for citizenship in the coming months. Yay!
The company I worked for (I won't mention any names) decided to shut down our entire site after a merger. On the same day I learned of this "bad" news, my partner was hired at a local university. Moving here made total sense and living downtown made even more. I was so happy to be losing my job!
But this was not my first chance to see Vancouver. My partner had lived on Galiano Isle before and I also made the trip to visit the city with her a couple of years before we made the move. What I remember first (after landing at YVR) was coming across the Granville bridge. It was one of those somewhat foggy but sunny days, when the buildings glistened. While I was coming from a city whose architecture is world renowned, I found the new towers in Yaletown pleasing to my eye in this glowing light. I won't ever forget this day.
I love it here was thrilled at the chance to move west to cooler temps and less humidity. I'm even more thrilled that my daughters were born Canadian (and American). My one complaint is that I miss the hustle and bustle of Chicago... but I think this is coming, maybe to the chagrin of those who were born here. I like the cleanliness of the city, the fresh air and the diversity. I do find the photo-ops get a bit old, but I think that is what travel is for. It's my own fault I don't make it out of the city enough, though I'm not much of a nature enthusiast.... though I've done some. I have a feeling my kids are gonna get me out there though, in a few years!
Maybe later I'll mention a certain company's name.... but I'm glad it worked out for us. ;-)
Posted 3 months ago.
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Andrew: I do agree about the green colour, whenever I've been away for awhile and come back the green colours hit me right away.
Waxy: The glowing light, yes that can change very quickly. I think it is one of the things people who have been in Vancouver forever can still "see" and notice. I was thinking in particular about a photo you had, with a guy carrying an umbrella in the snow and its hard to "see" that kind of thing if you were born in Vancouver, you just take it for granted.
I know that I noticed a lot of curious things in Calgary - the jaywalking signs, the "footprints" on the storm drains. Its easier to compose landscapes there - less of the jumble of trees and buildings that you see in Vancouver. In whitehorse I think I noticed (winter) the fact that half of the people on the street looked like public servants (gov't employees) and the other half looked like they were living in a cabin and hadn't taken a bath in months (miners or others with more seasonal occupations).
Originally posted 3 months ago.
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Therrr edited this topic 3 months ago.
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I grew up in Whitehorse back in the 70's. I always used to get to come down here for a few weeks in the summer and sometimes at Christmas to visit my Grandparents. I suppose my impression as a kid, coming from a small isolated community was, comparatively, the incredible size of this city. We would go shopping at The Bay downtown and it was the biggest store I had ever been inside in my life. I remember amazing things like elevators and escalators since we didn't have those up north. In the winter I think the biggest thing was how much warmer it was down here.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Hills everywhere. Going up, going down, each and every street had them. Plus the serious lack of mosquitos. Oh, and the BC Electric building.
Forty-some-odd (mostly very odd) years ago from the peg.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Air. I came from Montreal during a nasty heatwave in August '93, very hot, very muggy. There was lots of fresh air here. It was also cloudy, Vancouver-gray, not green, and I was let down about not being able to see the mountains my first day.
The Aristocratic at Granville and B-way, where Chapters is. Not a good or bad impression, I just remember it because it was the first place I went. Seemed to be all white people in Kits and, like now, there were a lot of cranes on the skyline.
A lot of agro people on Granville weekend nights.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I was born it Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. But me and my parents only lived there for 10 months, they originally came from poland.
When i started memorizing about at the age 5/6 i always was so happy to see the circle restarunt to see spinng around, you know the one that is a circle and you pay to go to the top...
i was always so happy to see that, i also really liked stanly park i spent alot off time there.
now i really enjoy downtown (around robson, burrard area...) its a fun place to be.
Posted 3 months ago.
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great inspiration here.
Ianiwurm: I totally forgot about the Aristorcratic. If it was there as late as 93 I wish I had photographed it it's one of my earlier memories, When did it close?
I'm starting to remember it being empty for awhile..
I really dislike that Chapters store (and most chapter's stores). I love bookstores but when you go into a store and can't find anything on the first floor except coffee, candles, magazines, holiday gifts and more point of purchase impulse items...its kind of annoying if you are there to buy a book.
Posted 3 months ago.
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My memories of coming here are very fuzzy. My parents immigrated with me when I was 3. It was the 70s so I remember some very bad plaid suits.
Also how green everything was. I was born in Malaysia. Yes Malaysia has rainforest but the city is mainly baking hot with foliage melting under the sun. Vancouver is mostly green.
Posted 3 months ago.
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I feel pretty concerned by this post since my girlfriend and I just arrived from Paris 3 weeks ago, all this is pretty fresh for us so you might find me a bit naive but what surprised me the most in Vancouver is people kindness and the fact that everybody seems to talk with anyone really easily. When I walk around in Vancouver I always end up chatting with someone about photography or anything else. I don't know what you think about Paris but I can assure you that people are much more rude and "looking at their belly buton" than around here. Last time I went at Nick's barber shop on Burrard Street, asked if I could take a couple of shots because the place looked cool and he smiled at me and introduced me to the whole staff. Their is always someone asking me if I know where I'm going when I look at my map in the bus (twice in the same hour last time)....
So once again it can sound a bit naive since I've been here just for three weeks but you asked what stiked me at first so I stick to it : people kindness.
And of course this amazing proximity of nature that's amazing ... you are in downtown with the buildings and everything and @ minutes later you are on the beach or in Stanley park ... that's priceless ! In one week I move in my new appartement in Comox Street and I think the West End area rocks ! I can't wait !
I'd love to have a drink with you guys if you want to take this conversation to the next step !
Posted 3 months ago.
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i've lived here for 5+ years now, but i'll share my memories of my first visit here 11? 12? years ago. it was for a job interview, coincidentally with the same company i work for now. it didn't work out that time around, but i visited other times (including whistler), and years later when i was jobhunting again, i was drawn here.
reviewing the list below, clearly the landscape is what really made the biggest impression on me. things i remember from that first visit:
- grouse mountain: the skyride (old one), riding the (also former) chairlift to the peak (first time i rode one in summertime), watching hang gliders taking off from the peak, taking the helicopter ride around the lions (first time in a helicopter).
- whytecliff park: hiking, climbing around on whyte islet, seeing starfish.
- kits beach, and a busker doing fire tricks.
- a great little dinner spot on either w. 4th or broadway, now forgotten, and i think actually now gone.
- staying at the empire landmark downtown.
- riding the futuristic-feeling (to me) skytrain into town from surrey.
- visiting friends' apartment high up in yaletown, and ogling the views of false creek.
- the company offices, then in central surrey.
- barbecue at friends' house in surrey. (i still go out for barbecues at their house. :-)
Posted 3 months ago.
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I'm originally from Singapore, lived in San Francisco for 9 months before coming to Vancouver (Kits) only 1st of this month. I'm barely 1 month old in Canada (did a 3 weeks visit last December though).
I noticed that coffee is a BIG thing here. if you want to set up a coffee joint, as long as you get your brews right.. it's almost impossible to fail.
I'm a model/interior design student/part-time nanny.. and i see dogs everywhere I go when I send the kids to school!!!
i just hope that dog owners can be more considerate about picking up their dogs' poop because I don't want to have to watch every single step I make when I'm walking (literally eyes down all the time).
otherwise.. I'm enjoying this city for sure. It's beautiful.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Born here, my mother as well, and as to what happened next, that is a long story. I have been to quite a few places, and my home town is about all I could wish for.
The current view from my home.
www.numinous.ca/WebcamPage.htm
First Things First, Peace
Kenne in Kits.
Posted 3 months ago.
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Good question, I love talking about Vancouver and hearing others stories :-)
I was born and raised in Vancouver, but for 8 years between '76 and '84 I lived in Squamish ( when it was logging town).
I used to LOVE coming back to the city, I couldn't wait to cross Lions Gate bridge, or go the Bay downtown, or Eatons or Sears. They seemed so big, and at that time Granville street was all record shops and movie theatres. The Vogue and Capital 6 will live in my memories forever.
Then when we moved back to the city I would travel all over downtown exploring different areas like the West End, or Yaletown or False Creek, and I was always amazed that everyone I went to school with didn't know their way around the city. I thought they were missing out!
Then Expo '86 came and the city was forever changed! Expo was amazing, the city was alive the 6 months. After that it was like the city just doubled every year, no more sleepy village on the west coast, suddenly a metropolis on the coast. And buildings, building, buildings....which I love, but sometimes I do miss the small town feel that we used to have.
Someone mentioned the light, that glow that we get sometimes. It is amazing and I never realized that it is a Vancouver thing. I love the Fall/Spring days when we get that flouecent light...amazing!
Well now that I have rambled here is a link for everyone to see (for those that made it this far). This is a comparison of False Creek and Coal Harbour from the 70's to 2003 I believe. I still remember the old views.
Great city then, great city now.....the only thing that will forever change Vancouver in a bad way is the real estate prices, the small town Vancouver locals when soon be a thing of the past.
cheers,
Link:
www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/fade/fade.htm
Posted 3 months ago.
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The first thing I noticed when I came to Vancouver was how close the mountains were. (I'm from Seattle and the mountains are farther away.) Immediately following that, I noticed there were almost no freeways going into the downtown core. Americans would die without their freeway systems slicing through the downtown neighborhoods. :-)
Posted 3 months ago.
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i noticed (or perceived) that the lanes were narrowl! i came from Nelson via Kelowna, and there just seemed to be more room than here! this was some 16 years ago, and after a while driving here, everything was normal!
Posted 3 months ago.
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My wife and I just moved back 2 1/2 weeks ago from the UK. We'd lived here for a year in 2004 and eventually decided to move back. So right now, its the cherry blossom that has be blown away. 1. its everywhere downtown (well, not Yaletown, but anyway). 2. It is so great to see so much of it right in the heart of a major city. 3. its impressed me so much we're moving from yaletown (as an earlier poster said - so noisy) toa place west of Denman near Stanley Park. I can't wait! I also intend to get out and build and then photo rock towers along the seawall. I great way to spend an evening (now that they're getting warmer). If anyone fancies joining me one evening down there, let me know....
Posted 2 months ago.
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I moved here in 1990 "for a year, maybe two". What struck me when I set foot here on that fateful December morning was the mildness of the climate. It was freezing in Montreal when I left, yet in Vancouver it was raining. I picked up my rental car, check into my hotel, then drove around in the West End looking for a place to live.
I was struck by the friendliness of people. People here do things that would never be done in Montreal - they talk with one another while waiting to pay for their groceries. They are friendly to one another in stores or in coffee shops. There is a veneer of friendliness that really struck me, coming from more-formal Back East.
Access to nature is also - still - a source of amazement. After work I can go ski (even today!) or go to the beach, go do some laps in a kayak or play a short round of golf. It's all a half hour away.
The gentleness of the climate cut both ways as well. In June, I still wear a sweater or a jeans jacket in the evening. In Montreal it's tank tops and shorts! The climate is mild.
When I first moved here, and for many years thereafter, I could run every day around the seawall. I could never do this in Montreal - I would either freeze my lungs or collapse from the heat in the summer. And I don't miss the humidity at all - funny enough it's worse over there than here, even though we have a huge body of water nearby.
While I was searching for a place to live I was amazed that there were no places downtown with air conditioning. And no bug screens on the windows. Don't need them here.
What struck me too was the self-righteousness of some people, and the open complaining about petty things. It is a cultural difference, I know and thank goodness it's not everyone - but it still grates me sometimes. I also realized that the friendliness that I immediately saw in strangers was a veneer, that it went only so much and then there is a wall. My first friendships here were with others from elsewhere, it took a while to sink in roots with the locals.
So after living here for close to 18 years I call Vancouver home. When I return to Montreal to visit friends and relatives, I feel like I have never left - for all the good and bad that this may mean - yet when I return here I am always glad to be back, glad to breathe in deep the salty air, glad to see green and the sprinkling of snow on the mountain tops, no matter the season.
Posted 2 months ago.
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Contrary to a few posts above, the first things I noticed were how distant the mountains are and how unfriendly the people on the street seem to be. Yes, I come from a smaller town in BC (Kamloops), but it's been a bit of a shock so far. The mountains are just a change in perspective but people go out of their way to avoid eye contact and often don't even acknowledge that I've said "hi", quickly shuffling along.
Posted 2 months ago.
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My arrival in Vancouver for the first time was at the Via Rail station, and I noticed what beautiful architecture there was in the station hall. I was waiting to meet my wife to be (who arrived on the Amtrak train a couple of hours later) and took a trip on the Skytrain. While on the Skytrain platform, I noted how polite the vagrant was in assisting me to buy a ticket! This experience was not repeated - I was back in Vancouver last year and noticed how much more business-like the beggars were.
On both occasions, I was struck by how intimate the downtown of Vancouver feels in places, compared with other big North American cities. I also noticed how touristy everything felt second time around. I would like to go again, but feel next time I want to spend longer in Seattle (where my wife is from) for comparison.
Posted 2 months ago.
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The spectacular mountain view from the airport - this was 30 years ago. I come back on a regular basis - so much that I recently bought a house in Van.
The view hasn't changed.
Posted 2 months ago.
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Just green... everything. It was Mar 14, 2003.
Posted 2 months ago.
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Y'all got some huge crows here. I've never seen crows so big!
Posted 2 months ago.
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The Lion's Gate Bridge from the Greyhound window.
Then the seedy underbelly and the nightclubs. Oh the 90's were fun.
Posted 2 months ago.
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First time - can't remember that far back.
2006 - the snow. 
2007 - Stanley Park and its beauty and wildlife 
As far as museums go, I think that Vancouver's Museum of Anthropology is truly unique. 
Originally posted 2 months ago.
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Ron Hay edited this topic 2 months ago.
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i moved here from London, UK in September 01 (!) and one of the first things which struck me was how primitive the supermarkets were!
about a month later (yes, i was really homesick, my dog was trapped back in the uk and world events weren't helping) i started noticing the beaches and then once the dog arrived, we started enjoying long walks from kits beach to false creek and to spanish banks together.
the beaches and the amazing views from them were what helped me fall in love with Vancouver
Posted 2 months ago.
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I moved here from Melbourne, Australia, a bit over six months ago, and one of the first things I noticed were the flashing green traffic lights... took me a while to figure them out :)
Posted 2 months ago.
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green flashing lights: goodness, in Montreal they mean 'advanced green when flashing - eg you can turn left while opposing traffic stands still'
in Vancouver, flashing green means 'it's green and will remain green until a pedestrian pushes a button and then traffic lights will go yellow then red, permitting the pedestrian to cross the street'
it's amazing that I didn't get t-boned on my first day driving here.
Posted 2 months ago.
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seawallrunner Did you also notice the people that roll through these intersections instead of stopping on the sensor pad? They can't figure out why they don't get a green light to proceed? :D
Sorry...hehe
Posted 2 months ago.
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hah - that'll teach them for sitting on the pedestrian walk lines. Bugs me when people do that.
See, every city has bad drivers. Every single one. It's just that here, we have an entirely *different* class of bad drivers :)
Posted 2 months ago.
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maybe you've seen a few ravens... the common crow up here (north western) isn't all that big...
Posted 2 months ago.
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The drivers. You're all insane ;) And I've lived in Montreal which has a reputation for bad drivers. I had fond memories of the greater Vancouver area from when I was younger, and had hoped to move back, but after my recent trip I'll have to rethink things. Or get a beater car with cheap insurance.
Posted 2 months ago.
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seawallrunner thanks for clearing that up. I couldn't figure-out why opposing traffic was also going through the light when it was flashing green.
Posted 2 months ago.
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I'm born and raised in small town BC, so when I moved to Van, I thought I'd hate it. I figured I'd move as soon as my degree was done. The first thing I noticed was that living in Vancouver is completely different from visiting Vancouver. I lived in Kits, I knew all my neighbours, it was dead quiet at night, and during the day the streets were drowned in the noise of kids playing. It was exactly what I imagined Vancouver couldn't be - personable, friendly, and quiet.
Posted 2 months ago.
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