Just a few steps from the previous picture there is a small dock from which you can catch one of the many water taxies that scuttle about from one side of False Creek to the other.

Hop Aboard

Two loonies will get you from one side of the water to the other. You can also take them to other places along the waterfront, such as the Science World globe. Today, however, I'm just going to explore Granville Island.

After spending less than a minute on the tiny ferry, I find myself ashore on Granville Island, ready to explore the much-touted place.

Ashore on the Island

Island Streets

Granville Island isn't really an island. At least not anymore. It is, however, sort of a haven for artists and businesses that sell their goods. It feels far more comfortable -- far less contrived -- than Pier 39 in San Francisco. It's laid back, informal, unassuming, and interestingly quirky. If I had to complain about it, though, it was that it was closed at six in the evening (note the sunlight at 6:30!) Considering that my business keeps me indoors and away from these sorts of places during the day, it's irksome to finally be able to come here, only to find the store-fronts shuttered and dark. Oh well, maybe they'll figure it out by 2010. Vancouver Tourism Board, take note!

Not everything was closed, though. The many restaurants and public houses seemed to be doing a thriving business with the after-work crowd. One or two dinner theatre houses also seemed to be open "extended" hours. But I wasn't in the mood for dinner yet, so I passed up the opportunity to take supper at water's edge.

Open Boardwalk

Public Water slide

This is completely cool. Literally. Granville Island has a little park with a public water slide. You can just make it out here -- the yellow structure behind the trees in this picture -- and despite the fact that this, too, was closed, it didn't seem to discourage the local kids from trying to slide down the isolated segments.

Another water taxi ride back to the downtown side of False Creek, and I could walk back to the hotel room. Now closer to seven in the evening, I decided to get some dinner. Not up for the pomp of a full sit-down meal, I got some take-out Indian from a tiny little place up the street here. You know, some of the best meals can come from some of the most unlikely places.

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