B.C. is not known for it's positive attitude towards the French, and it's not just the immigrants who give up studying the language. With over half its citizens claiming English as a second language, however, even Vancouver has a French Quarter. Granville Island is the closest you'll get, at any rate.
It's a small but cute little place, with fresh-fish markets, and an amazingly abundant Public Market (with some ace Hot Chocolate and cakes). There's lots of gallerys and kooky boutiques such as the Kid's Market and The Umbrella Shop. Basically it's just another excuse to go shopping - which sucked as I had no money.
Thanks to the impoverished pocket I couldn't see the Granville Island Brewery Co. either, and as there aren't many bars per se, we couldn't just pop in somewhere for a quick drink.
That's not to say that there's nothing for free. For starters you can grab some cool views at the waterfront area, out across False Creek towards downtown. Plus, with wide open performance areas, Granville plays host to plenty of buskers. They even offer a timetable for you to consider when you'll swing-on-by. We happened upon a French-Cafe singer, which was very romantic but sadly, I just don't feel that way about Jules, and I'm sure she doesn't feel that way about me!
Still it was very pleasant to sit there, after a long walk, with a hot chocolate and brownie slices, and listen to something I didn't understand:
Again, sorry for the poor quality! Clearly my camera's microphone didn't like the warm fuzzy-base sound that he made.
Granville Island's also playing host to the Swiss house, Atlantic Canada House and la Place de la Francophonie 2010 over the Winter Games, but they weren't really open when we were there, and I presume the place will be heaving when it does.
Next time I visit though, I'll be sure to go the right way round. Poor Jules had to suffer a particularly bad case of taking the wrong directions, because Google had informed me that getting off the SkyTrain at VCC-Clark was a good idea - wrong. Don't, just don't.
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