Sunday morning started early despite us being kept awake late the night before. We headed down for breakfast in the hotel which pleasantly, for a weekend, wasn't as busy as we'd anticipated. Maybe the American tourists in the hotel stayed in bed later due to their independence day celebrations the day before! We then met up with a nice couple for coffee in Starbucks just off Kingsway, it was only the second chance we've had to speak to with people here on a social level, rather than the usual customer - employee situation. We enjoyed talking with them and they gave us plenty of useful advice on Vancouver and BC. The information was great and we're always keen to learn first hand as much as we can about our new home because the books don't tell you everything! After coffee we headed back into Metropolis and to the Sears sale yet again where more purchases were again made.

Lou had a brief nap Sunday afternoon (whilst I wrote my last post!) and then in the evening we headed into Gastown for dinner. Gastown was originally the main part of downtown Vancouver and was apparently named after a Geordie who was nicknamed 'Gassy Jack'. As the story goes Gassy opened the first saloon and the area soon became a popular place for trade soon after the openings of other business's there. Now Gastown is a bit different, there are plenty of trendy boutiques down thereand it is also home to many business and bars / restaurants. Gastown also borders on the verge of the Downtown Eastside (recommended by many to us as a 'no-go' area), and this is what puts me of f the area a little. Lou enjoys it because of the nice shops and bars but I find the outright poverty quite disturbing. Although I kind of like the shops and bars too I feel uncomfortable a lot of the time when I am walking around there. For instance it is not uncommon to see homeless people / drug addicts shoulder deep with their hands in the trash cans rummaging around for things, a sight I saw too frequently with my own eyes on Sunday. You are also guaranteed to be approached at least 5 times for spare change whist you are walking around and because the streets are more narrow there it is harder to avoid the beggars then it is elsewhere. Surprisingly nobody else seems to be shocked at all by this and although it does happen all over downtown too it seems more prominent in Gastown. I guess it's something I will eventually get used to (though I'm not sure it's a good thing to start accepting it as 'normal' and being blasé about it).

Having said all that, we were tipped to go to a restaurant / chain known as The Old Spaghetti Factory which is located down there. We did just that and were not disappointed! The meal we had was great, cheap, filling and the service really prompt despite it being very busy. We sat and ate our meal in an converted old train carriage (built in 1904) which was on the inside of the restaurant, very unique. Our table was made out of an old singer sewing machine too! Unfortunately I didn't take any photo's but you can see their website here : The Old Spaghetti Factory. After our meal we then headed up to the Lennox Pub on the corner of Granville & Robson St and enjoyed a few more drinks before catching the Skytrain back to the hotel.