Vancouver or Bust!

English Bay, Vancouver, May 2014

Last year I went to Vancouver and ever since that I was itching to get back. I loved that you could both have culture and nature in one city. In one day you can go to the art museum in the morning and lay out on the beach in the afternoon. 

Upon my plane's arrival in Vancouver on Friday I headed to the the hostel, dropped of my bags, and headed straight to yoga at YYoga in Yaletown for their YHot with Music. Total cost for class, towel, and mat rental: $0. At YYoga you get free rentals and a class for your birthday. The studio itself was clean and bright, the locker room was a bit small with just hooks for your belongings, purses and bags can be left up front. The class itself was decent, but it wasn't amazing. You could smell the sweat before you entered and the class was a tie bit overly hot. I understand it was hot yoga, but in my previous class in Montreal the heat seemed to help assist flexibility in positions, while the heat at YYoga seemed just there to produce mass amounts of sweat to give the appearance of working out. 

What the Yaletown location lacked, the YYoga Downtown Flow location made up for. The space is much larger, the locker room actually has lockers, and upon walking into the hot yoga room I smelled...nothing. I took a class Monday before I left Vancouver, a class which was once again free because of my birthday, and had I not had a ferry to catch I would have spent more time to use their facilities. At both locations the locker rooms have shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair dryers, deodorant, and hair spray for your convinence. The downtown location also has a sauna for your use. The class was better than the one at the other location I had attended and the lounge was a nice peaceful place to grab a cup of tea and relax after the class. 

Tea Lounge at YYoga Downtown Flow

In my 3 days in Vancouver I made sandwiches and binged on the hostel breakfast, which at the Samesun consists of warm and delicious bagels and muffins and a variety of beverages. One thing I've learned about traveling alone though is that if you want to eat well, you can't fear sitting at a table for one. My lunch date I took myself on was to The Flying Pig in Gastown. I read mixed reviews about it online, mostly about the service, and although I was seated at the bar right away, it did take a moment for someone to come and take my order. The food though was amazing. I indulged in the Braised Beef Short Rib Jumbo Macaroni which was absolutely delicious. The beef was tender and succulent and the creamy mushroom sauce was the lovely.

The Flying Pig

The Samesun does have a very active social atmosphere which I chose not to partake in this time around as I opted work on my physical and spiritual health this time around. In addition to my two days of yoga I also spent a day taking a Reiki course. My journeys will bring me to Vancouver again so my next time around I plan on visiting either Granville Island or Stanley Park to see more of what is beyond the downtown area. 

Montreal

Currently I'm on the train from Montreal. I have the section of seats to myself, and the sun is shining on me, promising to make this a worthwhile journey.

I was only in Montreal for a day and a half. Maybe since I had just left my bubble in Banff, or had been traveling for 12 hours, or had 3 hours of sleep when I arrived, I didn't give it the chance it deserved. Or maybe Montreal and I were just not right for each other at this time. I was followed down the street by panhandlers, my friend and I were completely ignored at two restaurants and ended up walking out, and at the third the waiter only talked to us when we were about to leave to point out that my friend did not leave him a tip after he had served everyone around us and ignored us throughout our dinner.

Although there were a few unfortunate events, there were a few things that I did enjoy while I was there. I stayed at the M-Montreal. The area it is located in wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but the hostel itself is amazing. It looks more like a hotel than hostel, the rooms are clean and airy, the shower in the ensuite had a multi-stream fixture, you're provided fresh towels everyday, and they also provide breakfast in the bar downstairs from 7-10 every morning.

Bar in the basement of the M

Yesterday after having my breakfast I made my way to ensō yoga for the 10am community hot flow which is only $10 for the class, but because I rented a mat, towel and also got a bottle of water, my total came to $17. When you walk in everything is clean and beautiful. Shoes are left in a coat room in the front so the floor is spotless and you don't have any fear about walking around barefoot. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the locker room was immaculate with large wooden lockers that have a keypad on it so you don't need to bring a lock. For those of you who have done hot yoga before you may be aware of some places have the problem of the stench of sweat being permanently embedded into the room. Here though, that is not a problem at all. You would think the room was being used for the first time. The instructor gives the lesson in both French and English, and even though I haven't done hot yoga in 2 years, it was easy to follow, but I'm still sore in a good way today. There were plenty of showers for everyone and they provide soap, shampoo and blow dryers. I only wish I would have  time to go more than once. 

Afterwards yoga I made my way to Old Montreal. It was a 20 minute walk from the hostel but when I got there I wished I would have gone the night before when I arrived, because it would have made me appreciate Montreal a lot more. 

I visited the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal. Even if you're not Catholic or not religious it is an amazing church to visit and you have to have respect for the amount of work and detail put into building it. 

My friend and I had a late lunch of sangria and duck and rabbit crepes then went down to BotaBota for a day at the spa which is also an old boat. Now I know this makes me sound like the worst backpacker ever, but it is my birthday week, and on Tuesdays you can do the water circuit and get a 60 minute massage for $110. There are a few rules on the boat that you must be aware of though. Starting on the 2nd floor you must remain silent, which is hard if you come in a group, but as a former spa employee I understand why this rule is in place, as it's not a party boat, but a place that people come to relax, and you don't want to hear 50 people chatting at once. You're also not allowed to take photos without asking an employees permission first  because they don't want you to bother the other guest. You're given a bracelet with a key fob on it for you locker, and also a robe and towel, which you have to bring back at the end of your time there. 

There were quite a few people when we arrived, but not all of them were having treatments. You can just come and pay an access fee for the water circuit, and it's understandable why people would chose this option, because it was a beautiful warm day for sunbathing, and the water circuit is excellent for detoxing. You have the choice of sitting in the steam room or sauna first as part of the circuit, both which smell like eucalyptus which is excellent for clearing out your sinuses. After you plunge in the cold pool, which is slightly shocking, but you're entirely grateful for it after coming out of the steam room. Then you can relax outside on one of the chairs or bean bags they provide on the decks. On the decks there are also hot pools for you to relax in while viewing horse drawn carriages passing through Old Montreal. 

In regards to Montreal, I just may have not had enough time or done enough research before coming to make the most out of the city. I did have a few good experiences though, but alas here I am headed to my next East Coast journey. Next stop, Quebec City!