Vancouver, BC (Canada)

In honor of the 2010 Olympics, I wanted to do a piece on Vancouver, BC. There is something magical and exciting about this city. It is a beautiful mix of culture and has something for everyone. It’s climate makes it available to all kinds of interests, including theater, outdoor recreation, and nightlife.

Vancouver is a coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city in Western Canada and the third largest city in the country. It’s climate is temperate by Canadian standards and typically considered a Oceanic or Marine climate. During the summer, the weather is dry. Spring and Fall are typically rainy.

Vancouver has one of the most diverse populations in North America and has been called the “city of neighborhoods.” It’s population mainly consists of English, Scottish, and Irish descent and those cultures are still visible today, especially in South Granville and Kerrisdale. With such diversity comes the benefits of great ethnic food, shops, customs and celebrations.

Vancouver is the third largest film hub in North America, after LA and NYC. It has the second largest TV production, after LA. It has been nicknamed Hollywood North. It also has several theatre companies, including The Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company and Bard on the Beach. Several smaller theatre companies include Touchstone Theatre, Studio 58, Carousel Theatre, and the United Players of Vancouver. There are always theatre productions occurring and during the summer, there are outside productions, one of which occurs at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Finally, Vancouver hosts The Vancouver International Film Festival, one of the larger film festivals in North America. It occurs for 2 weeks in September and over 350 films are shown. Other companies host smaller film festivals throughout the year.

There are a host of museums in Vancouver, including the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, Science World – which is an interactive museum. Finally there is The Museum of Anthropology the Vancouver Museum, which is the largest civic museum in Canada. Vancouver also a diverse collection of Public Art. The Vancouver Art Gallery has a permanent collection of nearly 10,000 items.

Musical also plays a key role in the diversity of the city. There is the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and The Vancouver Opera. There are also several well known punk rock bands, alternative rock bands, heavy metal, etc. There is always live music in Vancouver. Other popular musical artists who hail from Vancouver are Bryan Adams, Sarah McLaughlin, Heart and Michael Buble. To hold all of these events, Vancouver’s music venues include the GM Place, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, BC Place Stadium, the Pacific Coliseum. Smaller acts are held at the Plaza of Nations, the Commodore Ballroom, the Orpheum Theatre. Also notable are The Vancouver Folk Music Festival and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Sports and recreation also fare well in this city, mainly due to the mild climate and close proximity to the ocean, mountains and a host of rivers and lakes. There are over 3,200 acres of parks, 11 miles of beaches with parks attached that boast a host of entertainment. The coastline boasts provides many types of water sports and boating. Vancouver is also a hot spot for runners. It hosts the Vancouver Marathon in May, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon in June along with some smaller races like the Vancouver Sun Run in April (6.2 miles).

Less than 30 minutes away are the North Shore Mountains. Not only are there three ski areas (Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Mount Seymour) but there are world-renowned trails for mountain biking. Also available at North Shore is white water rafting, hiking and swimming. About 120 km from Vancouver is Wistler, a world renowned winter ski resort and summer playground and also the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Like sports? Well, in 2011, Vancouver is hosting the Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League championship game. The Vancouver Titans (International Basketball League) played their first season in 2009. Vancouver is a center for the fast-growing sport of Ultimate. In 2008, Vancouver hosted the World Ultimate Championships.

So, check it out! There is a reason why the Winter Olympics were held there this year!

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Aruba – Rich in History and Culture

Aruba is one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world. It has good weather year round, it is outside of the hurricane belt and has pristine beaches that continue to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. However, Aruba is more than just a pretty place to visit. It is rich in culture has a fascinating history to explore.

“Aruba’s path to the present day is marked by the mystery of ochre-colored rock drawings left behind by island shamans, the enterprising spirit of European adventurers and settlers and the diverse experiences and traditions brought by the many nationalities that have since sought out the island as either a new home or temporary resting place. The look of the people, the languages they speak and the innate hospitality that manifests itself in the Aruban psyche is the result of a multi-cultural mix that reflects a rich past.”
-Courtesy of Destination Aruba Magazine

First Inhabitants:
Aruba was first inhabited by the Caquetio Indians of the Arawak tribe from the South America. They were fisherman, hunters and gatherers. Artifacts, including pottery and erthenware can still be found at the Archeological Museum in Oranjestad and at the Historical Museum of Aruba at Fort Zoutman and William III Tower. Also there are several sites where one can view cave drawings left behind by the shamans. They are located in the Fontein and Guadiriki Caves and at Arikok National Park.

Spanish Rule:
In 1499, Spain claimed Aruba for the Spanish throne and enslaved it’s inhabitants. Most of the inhabitants were shipped to other islands and placed into slave labor. During this period, Aruba became a haven for pirates and buccaneers who preyed on ships transporting goods from the other Caribbean Islands back to Europe. At Bushiribana on the northeast coast, the ruins of an old pirate castle still remain standing. Also, there are many ship wrecks along the coast of Aruba to explore. Many scuba diving expeditions include a visit to these ship wrecks.

The Dutch influence:
In the mid 17th century, the Dutch took control of the Island, after the 80 year war with Spain. The Dutch allowed Aruba’s inhabitants to remain free. Aruba became a chief satellite location for the Dutch West India Company. It is during this time that the construction of the historic fortress, Fort Zoutman and William III Tower, took place. These are the oldest buildings in the country. The Dutch struck gold in Aruba in 1824 which became a leading export for this country (along with phosphate, divi-divi pods and aloe). The ruins of a nineteenth-century smelting plant still survive in Balashi, which is northwest of the Spanish Lagoon near the center of the island. In 1924, gold was replaced by oil as the leading export. Aruba became home to one of the world’s largest refineries and turned the Aruban city of San Nicholas into a major commercial center.

English Rule:
It should be point out that there was also an eleven year period where the English controlled Aruba (1805 – 1816).

Aruban Culture:
Aruba is a beautiful mix of cultures that can trace its ancestry back to 40 different ethnic backgrounds.
The native language is a creole dialect called Papiamento which is made up of elements of Dutch, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, a number of different African languages, and Arawak Indian. Nearly everyone on the island is able to speak English and Spanish, in addition to Dutch, which is the official language of Aruba.
-The Original Official Homepage of the Aruba Tourism Authority.

Color and music are important staples in Aruban life. These two elements are major parts of cultural events, including the yearly Carnival and Dia Di San Juan (St. John’s Day) celebrations. Types of music most often heard on the island are calypso, soca, merengue, and a local combination known as socarengue.

Recommended sites to explore while in Aruba:
Oranjestad: The capital city, located on the southern coast near the western end of the island. There you will see the influence of the Dutch in the pastel colored colonial architecture. There is also a museum in Oranjestad that holds ancient artifacts, pottery tools, and giant earthen jars of the original Aruban inhabitants.
Fort Zoutman And William III Tower: The oldest building in the country built by the Dutch. It now houses the Historical Museum of Aruba, where Caiquetio artifacts from the prehistoric past are now on display alongside of remnants from the Dutch colonial period and other items of local interest.
Bushiribana:
On the northern coast midway down the island. There you will find abandoned gold mines. Nearby are the ruins of an old pirate castle.

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