Gastown

I think that Chinatown and Gastown are two of Vancouver's most popular attractions and everyone should take time to tour around both.

Gastown got its name from Captain Jack "Gassy" Deighton, who opened Vancouver's first saloon in 1867. This was at a time when the area was a stopping- off point for prospectors heading for Barkerville during the Cariboo Gold Rush.

A statue of Jack stands here on the corner of Carrall and Powell Streets.


In 1886, an out-of-control brush fire literally burned Gastown to the ground, and within 12 hours, a new city rose from the ashes...Vancouver.

An extremely popular site in this area is the Gastown Steam Clock at the corner of Cambie and Water Streets.

It was built by Canadian horologist Raymond Saunders in 1977, as a tourist attraction for the newly renovated district.

I sat in a little cafe enjoying fresh halibut and chips and watched folks studying and waiting for the clock to blow steam and sound the "Westminster Quarters"


There are lots of boutiques and restaurants on this street, and I tried to visit as many as possible.
One such place that I happened into was McLean's.
It's owned by the former Vancouver Canucks goaltender, Kirk McLean; and was very upscale... so I sat at the bar and just had a glass of wine.

Apparently, this part of the building was once a pharmacy, as evident by little black and white ceramic tiles on the floor.

Since it wasn't very busy, I was able to engage the waitress in some conversation, and found that there was a clock of a different sort (not working) hanging in the back stairwell, that leads to the downstairs bar.

Neat, eh?