Commercial Drive

Today Dan and I walked 89 sidewalk blocks together. Trekking across two of Vancouver's most walkable neighbourhoods, we dedicated our day to exploring Commercial Drive and seeking some of our favourite spots in the West End. It was a beautiful day for urban explorations, with sun, warmth, and a breeze keeping the air fresh and cool.

I've long suspected that had I moved to Commercial Drive & Broadway, I would have liked this city from the start. Admittedly, I had little basis for that suspicion; it developed from things read and things heard from others, and before today, I had never actually explored the area. A deplorable blotch on my Vancouver record, finally set right - and my suspicions were vindicated.

53 of the blocks traversed today were in the Commercial Drive area, and I made sure I snacked my way through most of them. Commercial Drive is lined with one coffee shop after another, one tempting ethnic eatery after another, one organic co-op and specialty food store after another. We sipped tea from The End Cafe, ate vegan Indian food from Desert, found local dairy-free chocolate at the East End Food Co-op, and (best of all) I discovered the bakery case at Sweet Cherubim Organic and Natural Food store, filled with raw desert bars, vegan everything, and more gluten-free baked goods than I've ever seen before (the disgusting excuses for cookies in the grocery aisles do not count). I've been experimenting with sugar in my diet again (this could be restated: I've fallen off the sugar wagon...), and the vegan, gluten-free nanaimo bars and date squares were too tempting to resist. The plate of chocolate-dipped, cashew-studded halva will have to wait until another visit, if one can be had in our last week here.

The food in the area is amazing, but the real draws are the beautiful, heritage houses that line each cross-street; the maturing trees, leafy green horizons, and inviting parks; the people who smile and talk to each other, as humans should; and the good vibes that this enactment of humanity creates.

I should have visited sooner, and I should have lived there all along. At least I have a backpack full of food and another long day of travel ahead of me, rife for snacking. Tomorrow Dan and I are heading to Vancouver Island to spend a few days in Victoria. Hooray for Victoria, and its West Coast loveliness!