Vancouver, Canada ‘24 Trip Report Part One: Almost Denied Boarding & The Most Beautiful Park

Hello!

Welcome to the first real trip report of the Vancouver series! This will encapsulate my first day in Vancouver, including my almost major snafu at the Seattle airport and my first afternoon in the city exploring Stanley Park. I won’t make this introduction longer than it has to be, so let’s get straight to it!

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Red-eyes and Normal Airport Stuff

I woke up at 2:30am on June 24, 2024 excited and a little anxious. I was excited because I was finally heading to another country, one that had been on my bucket list for a while now, and anxious because it was my first solo trip since my study abroad semester in France over 7 years ago. But I pushed that anxiety to the side and focused on the excitement. This is country #40 for me, a huge milestone considering I had been stuck at country #38 since 2019. So I shook off the nerves and the next thing I knew, I was in full explorer mode, raring to go and explore a city I had heard so much about. 

Vancouver’s reputation precedes it. Some call it the perfect blend between city and nature, while others call it the perfect introduction to Canada. Usually when I travel I have a list of things I want to do and will try to hit them in the most efficient way possible, and while that was still the case with this trip, a lot of my itinerary involved soaking in the atmosphere of the different areas of Vancouver. I was excited about that. It’s a different style of travel from what I’m used to, so I was eager to experience it. 

I double checked my packing list, made sure I had all my documents, called the Uber, and was soon on the way to the airport. I left my apartment at exactly 3am. 

I arrived at LAX at around 3:30am and got dropped off at the Alaska Airlines part of the terminal. I walked in through the doors and found that the counters for Alaska Airlines were still closed. Because I’m not a US passport holder, I had to have my passport and documents checked by an Alaska Airlines staff member. Since the counters were all closed and wouldn’t open for another 30 minutes, I had no choice but to wait. 

I waited by a sign that said “international documents check” just so that when they opened up, I would be the first in line. True enough, once the employees came out and got the area ready to receive passengers, I was first in line. Soon I was called to the desk where they checked my passport and verified that I had all the right documents to fly to Vancouver. 

I then headed up to the second floor and went through security. Security was quick and breezy. I don’t really love LAX (mostly because their immigration lines take forever) but I will say their security is always very efficient. After getting through security I bought myself a bottle of water and a banana from a random store and waited at my gate. Soon enough it was 5:20 and we started boarding. 

The flight was uneventful, which I guess is a good thing. I was asleep for about half of the two hour flight time. I know you’re all probably wondering why I had to transit through Seattle rather than just take the bus from Seattle to Vancouver, which would’ve been cheaper. Well as part of the stipulation that I can enter Canada with my US visa, the rule is that I can only do that if I fly into a Canadian airport. So yes, no arriving by land or sea for me. I don’t mind flying anyway. I actually kind of enjoy it. 

So we landed at the Seattle airport and I found out that my flight to Vancouver was at another terminal. I rode their very efficient and quick shuttle to get from the C gates to the N gates. I bought myself a Wendy’s breakfast sandwich and waited at my new gate for my flight. That’s when I heard my name being called on the loudspeaker. 

And boy, was I in for a rollercoaster ride. 

DENIED!!!!! (well…Almost)

So I went up to the gate and told them that I heard my name over the loudspeaker. The gate agent asked to see my passport. I handed it to her. She asked me where my visa was, and I told her that I have a US visa so that should be enough for me to enter Canada. She looked at me quizzically, checked her system, and told me I need a Canadian visa to enter Canada. 

I explained to her that I didn’t and that the US visa would be enough, and that I had an ETA to prove that I can enter the country. She then told me that I need both an ETA and a visa to enter Canada (which makes no sense since ETAs are for people who don’t need visas). She kept saying over and over again that I would not be able to board my flight to Canada and that I would need to go back to Los Angeles.  

I knew she was wrong. I knew I was right. But what was I going to do if she wouldn’t let me on the plane? I showed her the Canada official website that said I didn’t need a visa. I showed her articles saying that they changed the rules for Filipinos. I did everything I could and she kept insisting that I couldn’t board the plane. And then I pulled the “Karen” card and asked to speak to someone else, preferably her manager. I was desperate at this point and needed to get on that plane otherwise everything I spent on this trip would go to waste. 

She obliged and told me to wait off to the side while she contacted her boss. At this point I called my parents, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, ranting to them about the entire situation. I waited 20 minutes. At that point my flight had already started boarding. I was fully convinced I was going to miss my flight, and my worry soon became anger. 

I was full on ready to sue them when the gate agent called me over. She told me that they updated their system and found that the policy for Filipino tourists changed a few months ago. She asked to see my passport again and, after swiping it, told me that I was good to go. CRISIS AVERTED! She apologized for her mistake, and I told her it was no problem, completely forgetting that 10 minutes ago I was full on ready to go to war with this woman. And just as she cleared me, they called my boarding group. So onto the plane I went. 

The flight was uneventful, mostly because I was still running on adrenaline from the gate debacle. This was also the shortest flight of my life. The fasten seat belt sign was off for a grand total of five minutes before the pilot told us we were going to land. The whole flight from wheels up to wheels down took about 35 minutes. And soon enough, I was in VANCOUVER, CANADA! My 40th country!

Upon deplaning I went through customs really quick. I got a customs receipt from a terminal at the immigration area, showed my passport to an officer, was directed to another agent who asked me a few questions like what my plans were and if I had a return ticket. Then I got my bags and soon I was in the arrival hall. 

Pre-Adventure Things

I booked an Uber and was soon on the way to my Airbnb. My Airbnb was a room in a shared space, meaning there were other people staying in the other rooms. The common spaces and bathroom were shared too. It took about 15 minutes to get from the airport to my Airbnb. The instructions to get inside were pretty easy to follow, with a simple code being used to open the door. Once inside, I found my room and saw that the key to my room was in the doorknob.

My room was tiny. I wish I took a picture so I could show you guys just how small it was. It had a desk, a swivel chair, a bed, some closet space, and that was it. You get what you pay for on Airbnb, I guess. But for my purposes it was fine. I would be gone the entire day anyway and really only needed to shower and sleep in the room.

I quickly rearranged my stuff, left some of the things that were in my backpack at the Airbnb, and quickly made my way to the bus stop. The bus stop was really conveniently located. It was a one minute walk from my Airbnb. I figured out that I could use my apple wallet to pay for my bus rides, but eventually realized later on in my trip that I was paying an additional 50 cents for using my apple wallet instead of buying a metro card. But you live and you learn I guess. 

Soon the bus arrived. I tapped my phone on the reader and quickly headed inside. The bus drove past some residential houses, then eventually made its way to the bridge that connects Kitsilano with the Downtown area. I also saw that I was passing directly over Granville Island.

I got to my stop and quickly got off the bus. I soon found myself spellbound by the picturesque views of the mountains peeking between skyscrapers. It was a scene I will never get out of my head and it was the perfect introduction to Canada. I then found my second bus, got on, and next thing I knew I was at the entrance to Stanley Park. 

Galavanting Through Stanley Park

There aren’t enough words I can use to describe just how beautiful Stanley Park is. Voted the best urban park in North America (yes, over Central Park), this 400 hectare slice of Canadian rainforest is probably the number one tourist attraction in Vancouver. It has 27 kms of trails, including a 10 kms Sea Wall walk that is the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path spanning 27 kms including areas outside Stanley Park. 

It’s also an important place for Indigenous people and continues to be significant for the First Nations people, such as the Musqueam and Squamish. A little controversially, the land is unceded, meaning it wasn’t given up willingly by First Nations people. 

I have to admit this park was my favorite spot in the city, with Granville Island coming in a close second. The sea wall is a fantastic walk. I didn’t walk the whole thing but I walked a significant portion of it. The views of Downtown Vancouver, the yacht area, the surrounding mountains, and the Lions Gate Bridge are unbeatable. When I was there people were walking around, exercising, riding their bikes, roller blading, and just enjoying the park atmosphere. 

I remember stopping a couple of times and just stared at the gorgeous view. I was soaking it all in. I couldn’t believe I was actually in Canada. My 40th country. A huge milestone and one that I am so thankful for. But I couldn’t stare for long as I had a small agenda for the day that I needed to stick to. 

I reached the area with the horse drawn carriages that pull people around the park and headed into the park itself. The different trees that populate the park, and the denseness of the rainforest, made me temporarily forget that I was in the middle of an urban city. I headed deeper into the park with one goal: to make it to the aquarium. 

Getting Fishy at Vancouver Aquarium

So here’s the situation: the last entry into the Vancouver Aquarium is at 4pm because it closes at 5:30. At this point it was 3:45, and I wasn’t sure where this Aquarium was. I mean I could see it on Google Maps, but I wasn’t sure what was the best way to get there. I had also lost track of time so I had to basically half-run my way to the aquarium. But I made it on time and, after paying the entry fee and getting my ticket, I was inside by 4pm. 

Arriving 90 minutes before the aquarium closed meant that I was semi-rushing through the entire place. But I did take time to stop and admire some of the animals. I was happy to pay the admittedly pricey entry fee as part of your entry fee went towards conservation efforts, which is as good a reason as any to pay for something. It also contains Canada’s only Marine Mammal facility, which helps take care of sick, injured, or orphaned aquatic mammals.  

This wasn’t the biggest aquarium, and it wasn’t my favorite of all time either, but they had a good number of aquatic species on display with over 65,000 critters calling the aquarium home in over 120 exhibits. The exhibits ranged from the Canadian Pacific to the Tropics. They didn’t have orcas or dolphins, but they did have sea lions and otters. I was particularly excited about the otters as, if my memory serves me right, I had never seen them before. I was surprised to see monkeys in the aquarium too. I caught them as they were feeding so they were pretty active.  

The aquarium has a little of everything from jellyfish to sharks to frogs to snapping turtles to bats. Their displays were informative and educational, with placards that would explain things about the animals on display. The sections were big enough to contain a lot of animals but small enough that you could get through them pretty quickly. The sea lion and otter exhibits were outside the main building. The otters were the highlight for me. The way they would swim in the water and do somersaults was just so cute. I almost took home a stuffed otter, but ultimately decided against it. 

I would recommend going to the Aquarium, but don’t do it with only 90 minutes to spare. Do it if you’re at Stanley Park and you have a lot of extra time to kill. I will say that while it added a lot to my Stanley Park visit, missing it wouldn’t have detracted from my Stanley Park experience either. Stanley Park has enough going for it that you could skip the aquarium if you’re tight on money or time. But if you’ve got plenty of either, it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon. 

Walking the Sea Wall

After visiting the aquarium, I walked down away from it towards where I came from and came to the sea wall again. There was a playground to my left and off in the distance was Lions Gate Bridge. It looks exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge but is painted a nice shade of green. I’ll delve into the bridge more in the coming posts when I actually cross it, but from Stanley Park it looked immaculate against the backdrop of mountains. 

Hundreds of people were passing me as I stared at the bridge. The park was alive with activity, which made it seem so vibrant and kinetic. I loved the energy it exuded. Add to that the sky was blue and there were barely any clouds and it made for an amazing stroll. 

As I walked the length of the sea wall going back to where I came, I came across a statue that reminded me of the little mermaid statue in Copenhagen. It was the girl in wetsuit statue, and to the untrained eye it looks exactly like the mermaid statue in Copenhagen. But this one is a unique statue made by Elek Imredy specifically for Vancouver. 

Past the statue I ended up by the pathway that went to the area that had the Brockton Point totem poles. I quickly crossed the bike lane, making sure there were no incoming bikers, and headed towards the totem poles. 

The poles were pretty interesting. It was here that I learned that totem poles are meant to symbolize a family’s privileges, history, or ancestry in the form of animals that tell a specific story. I also found out that they are still being carved today for collectors and to preserve and continue this specific cultural art. The poles here were colorful, tall, and very intricate. Many animals were represented, and my favorites included the whales, eagles, and birds. 

There were a lot of people in the area. When I was there, a tour group had just pulled up to the site. While it was crowded with people taking pictures, no one was really reading the descriptions, so I took it upon myself to read each one. This wasn’t the only place I would see totem poles. I saw them too at the Anthropology museum, Capilano suspension bridge, Grouse Mountain, and the VanDusen Gardens, but the ones here were a good sampling and introduction to this sacred art. 

I then cut across the area with the totem poles and ended up back where I was before I cut through the park to get to the aquarium. I put on my headphones and had a nice stroll back to the bus stop. As I was walking, a calm overtook me. It happens all the time when I travel, when I’m just so grateful and in awe of the beautiful things I’m seeing that I just can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s a great feeling, one that I always long for when I travel. I guess Stanley Park is just that beautiful and the views are just so jaw dropping that I found myself in the moment, savoring each second in the park.  

I got back to the bus stop and headed back to the interchange I was at and decided that, since I had 6 days in Vancouver, I wouldn’t rush to try Canadian food at first. Instead, I headed to my favorite fast food joint: Jollibee. I know, I know, but the Filipino in me couldn’t resist when I saw it from the bus window when I was heading to Stanley Park. I ordered spaghetti which wasn’t as good as the ones back home, but it definitely hit the spot. 

I wanted to explain at this point too that I was beyond tired. Being awake since 2:30 am will do that to you. I hit a wall when I was in the aquarium and ended up feeling very tired the rest of the day. This didn’t totally ruin my day, but it made my experience in the park and aquarium significantly less enjoyable. It was because of this that I decided that if I had extra time on my trip, I would go back to Stanley Park to experience it without the effect of tiredness (spoiler alert: I did)

So after eating Jollibee I got back on the bus and headed home. I went to the supermarket across from my Airbnb and bought some water and food for the next few days. After, I quickly showered and went to bed. 

And so ends my first day in Vancouver. It was nerve-wracking, exciting, and everything in between. And looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Stay tuned for part 2! Also known as the most tiring and jam packed day of my trip.

Vancouver, Canada ‘24 Trip Reports Introduction

Vancouver Canada ‘24 Trip Report Part Two: The Most JAM PACKED Day Ever Part 1

Vancouver Canada ‘24 Trip Report Part Three: The Most JAM PACKED Day Ever Part 2

Vancouver Canada ‘24 Trip Report Part Four: Museums Galore!

Vancouver Canada ‘24 Trip Report Part Five: 200 Feet in the Air

Vancouver Canada ‘24 Trip Report Part Six: Climb Every Mountain