Fear & Love-ins in Vancouver
By david Ham
A City in Nature & the Antidote to the Rollercoaster of Football Fandom.
Kitsilano Beach
Credit: Destination Vancouver, Chamber of Commerce
“We are an idea in the process of being realized. We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry. And the design is what makes us more than the sum total of our history”. Shane Koyczan, Vancouver Punk Poet - ‘We Are More’.
Musqueam = xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.
Squamish = Sḵwx̱wú7mesh.
Tsleil-Waututh = səlilwətaɬ.
Again.
Musqueam = xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.
Squamish = Sḵwx̱wú7mesh.
Tsleil-Waututh = səlilwətaɬ.
These are the First Nation hosts of World Cup 2026. One Year to Go.
And this, is a love letter to the resilient hearts of the displaced.
I put them first and foremost at the head of this feature where they deserve to be. By the end of my Vancouver experience I realised that they ARE Vancouver.
Why do some cities leave you feeling like hoisting yourself up from where you are currently and placing yourself in their hands? While others on your penultimate evening there have you uttering the words “looking forward to being home though, are you?”. What - essentially - makes you go somewhere? What are you looking for at this stage of your life? For some it’s insta badges of honour. Others, moral fulfilment. Could be a cultural top-up for the stagnated mind. Perhaps you’re yearning to feel alive and handed a bone of faith to chew on, or you just want to go to a place that you’ll leave feeling in a better space than when you arrived.
Vancouver.
I hit the lottery when I found out Loaded were sending me to Vancouver. Praise be to Destination Vancouver for sponsoring the trip. Although I didn’t fully know to what extent I’d fully lucked out until I was there. An interview with a big city oozing with goodness.
Welcome treats at Hyatt Regency. ℅ Destination Vancouver.
The reason for the visit was to see what Vancouver has to offer for sports fans, and in particular those who might be heading there for the World Cup in 2026 but want a little more besides 24/7 football immersion. I was placed in the loving care of Destination Vancouver - www.destinationvancouver.com - a non-profit member-driven organisation who exist to tell the story of Vancouver, and it became apparent that they have unrelenting love for the city, seemingly carrying various wands with which to conjure up constant magic all stemming from such a lovely welcome. Respect too to Destination BC for sorting the flight. (www.hellobc.com). I didn’t know the significance of June being Indigenous History Month either. This cultural anchor will oscillate around you at almost every turn in Vancouver, and at times, hang heavy over a guiltily setting sun that keeps an eye on the world’s longest uninterrupted seawall at 28k in length.
No longer is Vancouver depicted as a grey city without character, which could be a stick with which the ill-informed beat it in moons gone by. Evoking misguided and out of date fear (I use the word ‘fear’ purely because without it my title and ode to Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas wouldn’t work!) and reservations in travellers searching for globe trotting enlightenment. It turned out to be the complete opposite. In fact this article had to be steered violently away from the rocks of over doing it. A magnus opus dedicated to everything I experienced there, in what can be described as many things, including a global hub for sporting culture, a wellness oasis for football fans, a beach haven married to a city buzzing with diversity and inclusivity.
Kitsilano Beach
Credit: Destination BC - Grant Harder
Back to what makes a city a bucket list destination. I left for Vancouver fairly stressed with various life hurdles, questioning certain aspects of life, probably not smiling at my children as much as I should do and as much as is normal for me. Making sporadic negative assumptions about things I assessed. On day 1 of my trip, within hours of arriving I found myself forgetting about these issues due to clinging like a sea otter in a kelp bed to the sides of a seat high above the city in a Harbour Air seaplane as it banked a hard left and zoomed over and around forests, mountains and the city below.
Harbour Air Vancouver. Credit: Destination Vancouver
I gazed down, for the first time being able to see just how enveloped the city is in nature. It surrounds it and pulses through it. I murmured quietly but assuredly to myself “I’m gonna love you”.
We landed and settled the shakes with incredible food, wines and astounding views over and beyond Vancouver Harbour courtesy of The Five Sails restaurant and Destination BC. The wines were all produced on indigenous owned lands in the Okanagan region. The education had begun. After lunch, I sat and looked over a balcony that I had no right to be on, life shouldn’t hand you these breaks really, and I saw a city alive with abundantly healthy and purposeful people.
Five Sails Restaurant
Credit: Five Sails
You can hop next door to Flyover too. The ‘Awaken Canada’ fully immersive 4D experience where you sit, legs dangling and are flown through Vancouver and a snapshot of the multitude of awe inspiring landscapes that Canada has to offer, as water sprays in your face. I was welling up with pride on behalf of one of our hosts - Gemma - from Destination Vancouver, a local girl. The vastness of the country sparked the beginnings of my mind opening up to the hand-in-glove relationship between the city and the nature that surrounds it, as well as the First Nations people.
Not only were we guided throughout by Destination Vancouver (big up to Alanna and Krista too) who allowed you to mind-travel back to the time when you were a child and your Mum would have every potential fall and situation covered, we were also cradled by the Hyatt Regency, a hotel of choice for Inter Miami (there’s a Messi room gag there but it didn’t make the cut). The Hyatt is a fantastic example of a buzzing establishment which still somehow manages to create the feeling of a peaceful HQ. The rooms are perfection, cleaned and refreshed daily and the views just help you breathe freely. The gym was great, sitting adjacent to a rooftop pool with a barrel sauna, and on the ground floor we found - and made the most of - Retreat, a wellness spa. The inhouse restaurant - The Mosaic - was churning out high end food from morning ‘til night with indigenous wines on the menu too. I don’t normally eat breakfast but I was down there every day without fail.
Credit: Hyatt Regency Vancouver
At the heart of Vancouver’s uniqueness sits nature, more of that later, but within that unescapable influence of nature in and around the city, sits the symbolic and almost mythical presence of whales. Humpbacks and Orcas. Whale watching has been on my bucket list for a long time and to head on out into the Salish Sea and the Strait of Georgia to catch a glimpse myself was a knee trembler.
God I love this dirty town.
The Prince of Whales was an awesome choice, the guides were 10/10. Giving us incredible insights delivered with humour and enthusiasm. Particularly the Austrian lady and Spanish lad. Not only did we see humpbacks leaping from the water to a huge “OOOOOOH!”, we were lucky enough to see Orca’s frollicking close by. Unfortunately they didn’t eat the idiotic jet skiers who were getting too close for comfort. What an experience. Thank you! Is all I can say.
Credit: Destination Vancouver
Orcas
Credit: @tommahawkk
Orcas
Credit: @tommahawkk
This place is delivering that’s for sure! Whether it’s on the nature or culinary front, or multiculturalism, the latter encapsulated perfectly at Hastings Park and the Pacific National Exhibition. The PNE is home of the official Fan Festival and Fan Park that will hold almost 10,000 fans. It’s in the beautiful park grounds and shares space with an awesome theme park. Not naming journos but Tom and Michael were too scared to try out the rollercoaster. There is also to be an area specifically created to represent all communities and especially Japanese Canadians interned there in camps in 1942. Alyssa who kindly showed us around was repeatedly clear in the objectives to honour the wide diversity of culture that is apparent throughout Vancouver.
Fan Park Construction Crane.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Fan Park Amphitheatre Under Construction
Credit: Michael Visontay
What else was apparent throughout? The culinary offerings are insane. Here are a few personal recommendations from throughout the tour, pulled together for your tastebuds:
Tojo’s. Hidekazu Tojo to be precise. A legend of his game. A pioneer of Japanese cooking and responsible for introducing Omakase to Vancouver’s culinary scene. The place is a favourite spot of Carlo Ancelotti and also many high profile athletes. Tojo was honoured by Bourdain as the greatest sushi chef who ever lived saying “this is who I know, and knowing him, is what Vancouver is for me”. Tojo is also the inventor of the Tojo Roll, 1971, now globally known as the California Roll. We were in turn honoured to be looked after by the man himself, who informed us that he has remained in Vancouver since then because it enables him access to the freshest produce in the world. That much was obvious. Simply astounding food. Look out for him placing Soy on the table then shouting “NO SOY!” with every dish. Amazing. What a dude. He’s even got a film out. The Chef and the Daruma.
Tojo’s Restaurant
Tojo’s Restaurant
The Tap & Barrel, under a sun that’s thinking about clocking out but not just yet, a ridiculous life moment, and one of those that helps you appreciate the now. The music was on point, the view over the harbour eye watering and the atmosphere buzzes away without being in your face. There’s an Indigenous phrase “when the tide is out, the table is set” that we would hear repeatedly and perfectly sums up the quality and abundance of seafood that you just can’t get away from in Vancouver.
Tap and Barrel
Tap and Barrel
Tap and Barrel
Credit: @tommohawkk
Vancouver Foodie Tours at Granville Island Market is in the top 10 food tours in the world, and 2nd most visited food attraction in Canada! Forbes included The Granville Island Foodie Tour in their list of Top 10 City Tours for Travelers in 2025 and according to The New York Times it’s the best place to have Chinese outside of China, the 2nd largest Chinatown in North America. With more than 10 million visitors annually, Granville Island is an iconic neighbourhood and Veronica taking the tour was surely 3D printed for the role.
Veronica, Granville Island - Vancouver Foodie Tour
Credit @tommahawkk
She was madcap, knowledgeable, hilarious and stuffed us full of bites and snackable info. If you’re in Vancouver, food orientated or even if you’ve basically eaten food in your life, you have to squeeze this in. Another showcase for just how fresh, abundant and diverse Vancouver’s produce is. They’re very proud of Lee’s doughnuts, which was made famous by Seth Rogan and David Chang getting mightily stoned and heading there with the munchies in Chang’s Netflix series Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Seth: “always chasing the dragon of jelly doughnuts because no jelly doughnuts are as good as this jelly doughnut.”
Granville Island.
Credit: Destination Vancouver
Lee’s Doughnuts
Granville Island - Vancouver Foodie Tour
Granville Island - Vancouver Foodie Tour
Granville Island - Vancouver Foodie Tour
Granville Island is incredibly wholesome and aims to become the most inspiring attraction by 2040. The “inspiring” aspect was probed but was left as an intangible. So what. Aim high! And in a world of stats and post truth facts, I’m having that outlook and I’m gonna eat it.
Refreshments followed at Havana in the largely Italian community of Commercial Drive. I could have stayed there all night. Great music, banging cocktails and the best nachos I’ve ever had.
I started to feel like I was in a version of The Truman Show. At this point myself and the other journalists started a sweepstake. The goal? To meet a grumpy Canadian. I wasn’t holding out much hope. They’re just really bloody happy and nice.
I was also starting to feel on the plump side with continuous consumption of gorgeous food, so the Takaya tour came at the perfect moment. Hosted by Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, we began by learning the Cedar tree stance. Female trees’ branches turn upwards at the ends, viewed as a symbol of cradling and care, to hold you and keep you safe. We sat silently on peaceful water alongside Cates Park as she sung Indigenous songs to us and told us of Orca whales that accompany their deceased loved ones when they are moved by water. A truly humbling experience.
Takaya Tour
Credit: @tommohawkk
Takaya Tour
Credit: @tommohawkk
Zen time was kicked into row Z that afternoon and the following day. Football time. Beginning at the Willoughby Community Park Stadium to see Vancouver FC vs Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League.
Vancouver FC.
They’re a new franchise with a young crowd, so wholesome, you can only see one way for football in Canada after the World Cup and that is to the sky. It’s at an embryonic stage but there was something heartening about seeing the early stages of what will undoubtedly be a strong story. The hype man - Crazy P - is worth the visit alone!
Crazy P.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Crazy P.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Pivoting to women’s football and a shotgun trip to The National Soccer Development Centre to see the aptly named Vancouver Rise team train. This was also eye opening. The people there emanated serious bizzle with an incredibly smart and affable President Sinead King. The talent level was notably high.
Day 2 of football fun began at BC Place, home of the Vancouver Whitecaps and a host stadium for seven World Cup matches in 2026.
BC Place.
Credit: Destination Vancouver
But first, a humbling pause at the Terry Fox statue. A Canadian hero who had his leg amputated at the age of 18 due to osteosarcoma. Just three years later, Terry ran a marathon every day for almost five months - The Marathon of Hope - to raise cancer awareness, and this only ended when he was unable to raise his hand to brush away a fly. The cancer had spread to his lungs and he died within a year. His legacy lives on with over half a billion raised in his name. There was a noticeable silence after we’d all read Terry’s story.
Terry Fox.
Inside the impressive 54,500 capacity stadium, we were given a wonderful glimpse at the inner workings of the place, the proposed food menu for next year, where the golden doughnuts prepped for the Concacaf Gold Cup game we were due to attend were rolled out. The food options will change for each game to reflect the teams playing on that day.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Credit: @tommohawkk
These doughnuts were almost seen again half an hour later after we injected some vertigo straight into the jugular. We were taken around the Catwalk that sits just below the roof of the stadium.
BC Place.
BC Place
This city is going all out. There’s no doubt. They are prepped and ready and unless I’ve lost my emotional intelligence, every single person we came across on this tour was consumed by the potential.
The veins are the people and their pride is the blood.
The dream this end is to go back next Summer and capture the moment, close the circle, see the efforts and creativity manifested and also witness multiple nationalities blown away by what I was experiencing on all fronts.
Dinner at Salmon n’ Bannock. This was the night when it all came together. When we were honoured to be in the only Indigenously owned restaurant in Vancouver. Since 2010. A year which arose repeatedly as a bit of a watershed, Olympic year, and told to us this night and on the Takaya Tour as a year that brought a halt to the wars between the varying First Nation peoples and brought unity instead. 2010. A LOT has changed since then.
Credit: Salmon n’ Bannock
Even before this point in the trip, I’d say that during 75% of any dialogue that we were involved in, it was made clear that the First Nation people had not just a shadow footprint on the city and surrounding landscape, they were now, at last, legally taking back the land that was once theirs. Owning huge construction sites and developments. Legal courts ruling in their favour. Learning the laws and mastering them. The wind pushing them on ever forward and softening the hard carved edges of the past without emaciating them. I ate endless incredible indigenous food with Mateo and his lovely wife, as well as Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Chief, and Talaysay Campo of the Squamish Nation, who has just won Tourism Woman of the Year for her company Talaysay Tours.
Talaysay Campo.
Credit: FAM Press
Mateo grew up on a reservation. He found the drive and resolve to leave and study and come back to make a positive difference to his community. Much of the fire behind that was football. He has established - with the help of his wife - the Indigenous Athletic Academy. He was 100% serious when he said that football is now their “tribal warfare”. The new tribal battles take place on football pitches. He said it gets violent. “Tribe vs tribe”. Pan-tribal friendships that have love and loss etched into their everything, come together and clash. The victors celebrating with their traditional dance as children look on. The Indigenous Athletics Academy brings soccer camps and training into the reservations, to benefit as many children as possible. Mateo handed me a badge. A tiny orange shirt which represents National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day. 30th September. The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools.
So imagine this for a moment. You find yourself in an Indigenous restaurant somewhere in Vancouver. Everyone working there is First Nation, real stuff, you’re trying to absorb it all, there’s one of the most respected Chiefs in the whole slab of Canada speaking about One Heart and One Mind, that all First Nation people are now together and “mountains can be moved”. You’re getting your order taken and you never mutter, but you stutter, you forget the menu, completely, you feel a slight fish out of water, there’s no blagging this, you’re conscious of the way you sit, the way you listen, wanting to show how much respect you have without being obsequious, your elbows feel slightly painful on the table, you’re out of your depth. Why? I’ve met many heroes of mine and not even batted an eyelid. You’re in the presence of the lineage of thousands of years of something you cannot even fathom. You’re being allowed a slither of an insight. These people to me are wondrous and they are the stars. The curtain had been momentarily pulled back for us, and everything that any morally solid person values was embodied right there and then. A pure love for and connection to nature and each other. A fierce roadmap to amendment. Humbling isn’t the word. There were whiffs of shame, awe, humility, desire and ground zero. To encapsulate the weight of history, horror, anger, determination, values and humility I heard and witnessed that night isn’t possible. It’s gonna haunt me. In a good way. The World Cup isn’t happening alongside, without or around these people who owned and are now owning these lands again, it’s happening because of them and in many areas, it can only happen with their blessing and stewardship. If you don’t see it that way or you countenance anti-stories, then we probably can’t be friends. These First Nation people are the Musqueam xʷməθkʷəy̓əm. They are the Squamish Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. They are the Tsleil-Waututh səlilwətaɬ who blessed us with the Takaya Tour knowledge for a moment in time. To be present and to witness and recognize the stewardship of the lands and waters of these unceded territories that the tournament will take place on, felt to me, overwhelming.
If positive legacy and an enlightened future is among the objectives of these beautiful First Nation people, I can sense the horizon bending to them.
Jamin was another integral person there. The artist who won the competition to design the official World Cup poster. He has native heritage and he won the race to be the chosen artist. Embedding Orcas into the imagery, as is befitting of the culture.
Credit: Destination BC
At every turn, in every face you looked into, there was a story, a fact, a notion, a memory, that retold or related to the First Nations people. It’s a story and a reality that weighs heavy, but also fuels the desire for change and a desire to chip away at the bricks of dark castles.
Jamin told me about a friend of his, Carey Newman, who created The Witness Blanket. witnessblanket.ca. A project that shines a light on the horrific history of the residential schools that indigenous children were forced into and subjected to unspeakable treatment. A work of art that encapsulates - attempts to, because encapsulating hell is impossible unless you lived it - via donated and rescued items from these schools. An orange shirt belonging to a child was one of those items.
Having laid in bed that night mulling over everything I’d learnt so far, I woke to a sunny Vancouver and an appointment at the EA SPORTS Lab Tour.
Vancouver is home for them now, as it is for lululemon and Arc’teryx too.
Thanks to Paolo and Mitch for showing us around EA, mind blowing! This epic sprawling EA city is on Squamish land. When you enter, a huge foundation wall built from rocks from that land serves as a visual reminder.
My God this place is impressive. A gym. A car wash. Basketball Court. Beach volleyball court. Physios. Mental health practitioners. Chiropractor. Games room. And the jewel…a full sized football pitch that plays host to an internal league, fully set up, each team managed, and each manager wears a John Motson style sheepskin coat with an EA logo on the back. (I made that bit up cos I’m 3 drinks deep at Vancouver airport writing this due to a very tight deadline that only just became apparent).
The whole place is a microcosm for this thriving city. Wellness, life balance, innovation, inclusion. “Why Vancouver?” I asked Paolo.
“Working to live, not living to work” was his answer. “We are nature, water, mountains and city”. (I made that last quote up as well but it sounds good and also typifies Vancouver).
Paolo Carcomo, EA Sports.
EA Sports.
Credit: @tommahawkk
Planes, Trains and automobiles Vancouver version continued with the Cycle City Tour.
Zach and Dave hosting us. Funny, kind, knowledgeable to silly levels and very proud of the city. A theme concurrent throughout this trip, with none of the self-deprecating side jokes we’re used to making back home about living in the UK.
Learnings gathered:
Vancouver is known also as the ‘Glass City’. Being surrounded by water means that vertical is the only pathway to the future. Buildings are wedged into every nook and cranny.
Credit: @tommohawkk
The glass buildings have blue hues so as to rest better against the skyline. Any building with a footprint of over 100,000 ft has to donate to public art. One of the more contentious being this Chandelier hanging from a bridge.
$4.8m and the locals despise it!
We peered across the bay at the Convention Centre which also houses Five Sails where we ate upon arrival in Vancouver, with its roof bedecked in green, alive with growth, harbouring wildlife and producing rain for usage.
There’s ONE petrol station downtown. Yes, ONE.
Stanley Park is bigger than Central Park - the locals LOVE this - and that fact remains right back to when there were only 7,500 living in Vancouver. The intent was set out. It’s now a major habitat for Bald Eagles which we were lucky enough to see.
Credit: @Tommohawkk
‘LET NATURE IN’ is a clear signpost of the city. It was designed to be that way from day one. Nature seeps into the streets. For those who recognise that Ocean Colour Scene are the best band since the Beatles, you’ll be familiar with the opening refrain in The Circle, “Saturday, afternooooon the sunshine pours like wine, through your window”. That rolled around my head daily at various hours as I turned corners, peered out through bar windows, and was blasted with citrus sun volts or positively intimidating mountainous fury, endless banks of green trees calling my name. “DAVE!”. Ignore that last bit. Ruins the imagery.
Credit: @Tommohawkk
It truly is a “City in nature”, imagine the Avatar set was real and you were allowed to jet-pack around it, and you’re getting the feels.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge plops you right into the yawning mouth of this nature. It’s jaw dropping. It’s also see through. Resulting in a lot of anxiety fuelled feet shuffles, hands gripping on tight and very odd human noises sporadically emanating all around you. 230 feet above the water. Named after Squamish Chief Kai’palano. It’s Vancouver’s oldest paid attraction.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Credit: @Tommohawkk
Credit: @Tommohawkk
Nerves were eased off at Yaletown, which is simply put, a fun-time stretch of cheek by jowl food and booze joints that beckon you in with a different painted nail. We kept gravitating back there, it’s impossible not to unless you’re dead on the inside or have no lust for life. Yaletown Brewing Company was selected, followed by Earl’s for lunch which was the sort of decadence I could get used to and another eye opener on the seafood sensation this town is capable of delivering.
Earl’s, Yaletown
Earl’s, Yaletown.
I was really looking forward to the Concacaf Gold Cup game back at BC Place. Seeing the stadium doing what it was built to do and host a game of football that meant something… Canada vs Honduras.
Concacaf Gold Cup
Credit: Destination Vancouver, Miguel Valentin
Concacaf Gold Cup
Credit: Destination Vancouver, Miguel Valentin
The uninitiated and football-unobsessed may hazard a guess that CONCACAF is a playground hut for lunch time at Grange Hill (those who know…), it is not that. It’s a major continental tournament for men's national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Watching the fervour outside, followed by the steamrolling of Honduras 6-0 whose defense had more holes than those golden doughnuts, it was all a little like seeing a sleepy dragon begin to stir, knowing that in a year’s time it will be breathing fire and the world will feel the heat. Red, and ready. We were joined by ex Canada National team Manager Bob Lenarduzzi. The man has played against Pele, Cruyff and Best. He spoke. We listened. Total gentleman too. (Cruyff was the best apparently).
Credit: BC Place
Credit: BC Place
The end was near. A final day venture to the top of Grouse Mountain. In a cable car that sailed through clouds and exposed bears, chipmunks and eagles and a, er, lumberjack show.
Grouse Mountain.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Grouse Mountain.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Grouse Mountain.
Credit: @tommohawkk
Vancouver delivering until the bell tolls. There’s a notable difference between Canada and the U.S. No one wants to generalise and I’m not, but I’d be dishonest if I didn’t speak from the heart. This place is immense. The pride is real and tangible but it’s not served up as something that’s a necessity or with an essence of superiority. We stood at the top of Grouse Mountain and it felt like there might just be a God. As people ziplined through the mist across cardiac-inducing valleys and I came to terms with leaving Vancouver the next day, the clouds parted and the light streamed down in golden ribbons on the land below. To quote Biggie Smalls, “if you don’t know, now you know”.
Grouse Mountain:
Credit: @tommohawkk
One year to go. I’ve gone from atheist, to agnostic. To a believer. I believe in Vancouver. I believe in its people, its humility, its nature, its food, its wildlife, its humour, its glass, it feels new and fresh but laced with history and about to overflow with passion for the beautiful game.
Last night hurrah then. Back to Yaletown. Being a group of almost entirely male journos we’re simple when it comes to making choices around drinking so went straight back to the devil we know. Yaletown Brewing Company. Managing to introduce our Korean counterparts to the art of aggressive binge drinking, usurping the pace set by Roger Bannister when breaking the mile record in Vancouver in 1954. The night ended with the Champagne Supernova intro slipping inside the eyes of our minds and with my now brother from a major UK paper shouting at the Australian contingent “SHUT THE F**K UP THIS IS OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM!”.
I send my love to Destination Vancouver. Alanna, Gemma, Krista, Natalie, Laura, Stefan, and it comes as no surprise that they have Indigenous people on the board. I have learnt immeasurable things thanks to you. You truly were and always will be, our Cedar tree.
Massive respect to the new brothers and sisters I’ve shot laughter bullets around the city with, and to @Tommohawkk, for unselfishly seeing and capturing all of the beauty we witnessed and allowing Loaded to have those pictures with nothing in return. Respect.
Let’s leave it with another quote from one of the greatest travel and food writers of all, Anthony Bourdain.
“How do you make American cities cooler? Be more fucking Vancouver”.
PS: No one won the sweepstake.
David J Ham
Purely Travel (www.purelytravel.co.uk, 0844 80 444 80) offers a five-night trip to Vancouver from £999 per person, including return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to Vancouver and five nights at the Hyatt Regency (on a room only basis, based on two people sharing).
For more information, hellobc.com / destinationvancouver.com
Respect due to:
@concacaf (gold cup?)