Just got back – interesting and neat part of the world! It was my 2nd time in Vancouver and first time in Seattle so I noticed a lot…

1. The Vancouver SkyTrain is awesome! It’s not express from the airport to downtown but still quick, affordable and roomy. Toronto could learn.

2. There are trees everywhere, and they’re really tall.

3. Not humid…nice fresh air.

4. The west coast is crazy for music, but then again, where are they not??

5. I smelled pot on someone when we were at a tourist site in Seattle…oh wait, that’s legal there!

6. Hiking up a mountain is fun, running down is even more fun:)!

7. Definitely more of an outdoorsy focus among the locals there compared to anywhere else I’ve ever visited.

8. Because it’s so temperate, there are way more street people out and about compared to Toronto…sad.

9. Both cities have amazing waterfronts. Vancouver’s waterfront trail is boundless and beautiful. Hurry up, Toronto!

10. There are a lot of dogs in Seattle. Every person is walking something on a leash.

11. Granville St. in Vancouver is even more hustle and bustle than Yonge St. in Toronto.

12. Every 3rd person drives a Toyota Prius in Seattle.

13. For a population of over 650K, Seattle has a really bad traffic and infrastructure problem.

14. Seattle’s metropolitan area has over 3.6 million people…perhaps some urban sprawl issues?

15. Air conditioning in homes is rare.

16. Starbucks is king in Seattle. Didn’t see one Dunkin’ Donuts anywhere.

17. Love the architecture in Seattle. Modern apartments have interesting edges and are multi-coloured.

18. I saw logs collecting in waterways around Vancouver, but no sight of Relick or Bruno Gerussi.

19. The buses in Vancouver can’t decide if they want to be buses or streetcars.

20. Very few multi-national food companies in Seattle proper, except for Starbucks of course. Where has McDonalds disappeared to?

21. Compared to other parts of the US, Seattle does not seem to be as much into the patriotic flag waving of the stars and stripes.

22. I saw lot’s of crows and seagulls, and hardly any pigeons and not one squirrel.

23. Lot’s of public signage in Vancouver is available in Chinese, but not in Seattle.

24. If someone put a gun to my head and said, “you MUST live in Vancouver or Seattle”, I could!

25. Left coasters are super kind and friendly…pretty laid back too.

My mind works overtime, these are just some of the things that raced thru it as I checked out the sights.

Soaking it all in on top of Rattlesnake Ledge near Seattle.

Vancouver’s Waterfront.

Seattle’s Music, Sci-Fi and Pop Culture Museum.

Can’t help but think of scrambled eggs.

Where the money goes to save the world.

Pike’s Market of Flying Fish!

Around the lake.

Like so many of us, the gnome under the bridge is misunderstood.

Seattle’s got trees!!!

The West Coast has it all!