The weather had cleared up again which also meant the heat was back too. Rather than schlepping up the hill, I opted for a quick Uber for round 2 at Tacos Gardenias. Along with the fried shrimp, this time I went with a fried fish and grilled octopus.

They were once again all excellent with the smoky tender octopus stacking up to the ones I had at Asi y Asado. The fried fish, like the shrimp, was light, crispy and not oily at all. I decided to try some of the avocado crema, which was a great condiment for it. Muy sabrosa!

After cooling off for a bit, I once again headed over to Baja Brewing Co but this time for some sunset cerveza. I took my same seat at the bar to admire the truly impressive vistas and noticed a band was setting up on a nearby stage. I took in a couple of decent rock covers until finishing up my beer.

After a much needed siesta, it was time for the grand finale – dinner at the truly unique El Farallon. Located a mere 10 minute drive from the heart of the action, the restaurant and the surrounding Waldorf-Astoria property were like being on another planet. I was greeted at the front of the hotel and escorted through a winding path with the sounds of the surf growing louder and louder.

The restaurant was perched along the edge of the cliff with crashing waves below. Suffice to say, it was all pretty spectacular, made even all the more so thanks to the full moon brightly hanging above.

I was escorted to my table with the explanation that given the proximity to the waves, it’s possible I might get some spray. I said I was fine being in the splash zone and took my seat. Since I was dining solo, they rearranged the table so my view was the entire coastline. As if that wasn’t enough, suddenly a small fireworks show started at the end of the nearby beach.

I decided to mix things up and instead of the usual glass of wine, I chose their ginger and cucumber mojito, which my server informed me was his favorite. He then explained that they don’t have a traditional menu and that their “fish master” would be by shortly.

After about 10 minutes, the “fish master” arrived, toting a large blackboard. He started at the top, showing the various catch of the day along with other seafood options like shrimp and lobster. I decided to go with the red snapper and picked the roasted tomato with a curry crust and the basil penne pasta as my two sides.

The first course was supposed to be a tortilla soup but that had garlic so instead I got I assume the vegan option – sweet corn cream soup with coconut soup. This was perfectly fine albeit perhaps a bit too sweet. The corn was fresh and crunchy. A nice start to the meal.

Next was a trio of appetizers. A piece of grilled white sea bass, ceviche of sea bass and pickled carrot and cherry tomato salad. Again, none of these were mind blowing but quite tasty. And reality, with this spectacular setting, it was more than acceptable.

Finally, it was time for the main event. The snapper was perfectly cooked with a nice crispy skin. The side cup of drawn butter was a nice touch. The basil pasta was decent but the real surprise was the roasted tomato with a curry crust, which exploded with flavor. A great main plate.

Finally, it was dessert time and since I was oh solo mio, they gave me both that are normally shared. Score! Two different profiteroles- one with a coffee crème and chocolate sauce and the other a mango/vanilla filling with butterscotch sauce and candied peanuts. They were both delicious and incredibly rich so I didn’t have even attempt to finish them off.

I waved the white flag and while tempted for a nightcap of tequila, which my server insisted was great for digestion (right) I politely declined. As I waited for my check, I took in one last glance of the truly awe-inspiring setting and returned back to Earth via the short Uber ride home.

Thus was effectively the end of my 3rd sojourn to Cabo, a great trip and fun adventure as always in one of my favorite spots in Mexico. It definitely wouldn’t be another 21 years to return again.

The weather had definitely turned with rain threatening. Fortunately, I had purposefully planned for basically an off day, including finally checking out one of the spots in the Marina I had passed multiple times. It being Sunday, I wanted to have a Mexican style brunch and chilaquiles (aka breakfast nachos) were on my mind.

I walked literally around the corner to Los Deseos, which had multiple chilaquiles options. I decided to try the chicken gratin version, which featured grilled chicken breast, poblano peppers, chips and blended white Mexican cheeses.

I normally associate the dish with poached eggs so this was more like actual nachos. Still, it was pretty damn tasty and a nice change of pace from all of the seafood I had been eating prior.

I had passed by a sign offering 90 min massage for $40 and given the bad weather thought that was a good option. At such a price, I wasn’t expecting much but turned out to an excellent massage.

By night time, the weather had returned to normal, which was a good thing as the restaurant I was going to, Metate, is almost all outside. It being voted the best new restaurants in Cabo was intriguing enough, but what really made me book it was the fact it was outside of the “golden zone.”

After being driven down literally a dirt road (but still only 15 mins away) , I entered into what felt like an entirely different world than what I had experiencing since I got to Cabo. Gone were dudes in floral shirts and shorts at dinner (it’s not an effin luau guys) and instead was a calm, serene vibe I had been craving.

I was warmly welcomed and led to a lovely table in the courtyard where they had a sign with my name, a simple but graceful touch. Metate is known for applying new techniques to classic Baja cuisine, including offering cooking classes in their large outdoor space.

I decided to get 2 starters in lieu of a main to get a bit more variety. First up was a roasted beet salad with fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, curds in a tepache dressing. I had never had beets with cherry tomatoes but they really worked together in this dish. The dressing was particularly interesting with a mix of sweet, sour and a bit spicy.

Next up was their signature starter – Huesos de Corado – roasted bone marrow with toppings that are changed on a regular basis. Tonight’s version was Roasted bone marrow with shredded Machaca beef, grilled shrimp, watermelon radishes and creamy avocado.

It was served with both grilled bread and corn tortillas. The bread was the way to go to smear all of that combined goodness into a single bite. The rich bone marrow and shredded beef was nicely paired with the slightly bitter radishes and the avocado cream. Delicious and very glad I made that my last savory course.

I had yet to have a dessert on this trip so after taking a breather, I zeroed in on an intriguing option – Mexican chocolate lava cake with blue corn ice cream and peanuts. It was quite simply the best dessert I had in a long, long time.

I was first puzzled why the ice cream was on top but it soon made sense as when I cut into the cake, the hot Mexican chocolate oozed out making a combined wondrous sauce. There’s really nothing better than high end Mexican chocolate with those spices mixing with slightly savory ice cream. Mind blowing.

I said my goodbyes and decided to hit up a spot close to apartment for a nightcap. My heart sank a little as I was once again surrounded by some truly Ugly Americans who were basically yelling at each other in various states of inebriation. I tried to tune it all out and enjoy my port, which more or less worked. The most obnoxious group thankfully left so I was able to enjoy the last quarter of my drink in relative calm.

I took the quick walk back to my place, still thinking about how special Metate was. Tomorrow would be the last hurrah, revisiting some spots both new and old as my time in Cabo was quickly coming to a close.

It was a perfect day to head to the beach or in my case, next to it so I made my way to the end of the Marina and crossed over to Medano beach, which was not surprisingly packed given the weekend. The sand was quite soft, making it hard to get proper footing so by the time I made it to my destination, I had put in quite the workout.

The Office is a Cabo institution, a home to both families enjoying a meal at the beach and scalawags who flock to the large bar for the generous portions of margaritas and other classic libations. I went here both of my previous trips but not for lunch so I was curious how the (not cheap) food was.

I was hoping to try one of their breakfast dishes but alas only lunch menu now. Still, the shrimp tacos “governor style” (stewed tomatoes, green peppers and Jack cheese) sounded like a good stand in. Served this way and with the large flour tortillas it more like a crepe than a traditional taco trio. The shrimps were perfectly cooked paired nicely with the veggies and melted cheese. Not cheap but delicious.

The nice weather quickly got fairly cloudy so I decided to leave the beach to go check out this small batch tequila store to do a tasting. The owner was very jovial and accommodating, allowing me to try not only their more standard repasados and añejos but also a couple of “extra” añejos. Of course my favorites were the most expensive ones. I told him I had to think about it and asked how much for the tastings. He shook his head and said it was free. I tipped him a few bucks and went on my way, now just a wee bit tipsy.

Despite the looming dark skies, I decided to head up to my roof deck pool again, this time actually getting in the water, which was exactly what I needed. I hung out a bit on the chaise lounge to dry off and eventually went back to my room for a siesta and change of clothes for my nostalgic tripped dinner.

Edith’s is another Cabo staple and in fact shares the same owner. I had been here both of my previous Cabo trips so another visit was a must. The restaurant basically put Baja cuisine on the map and is a truly stunning venue.

I was welcomed with a vegetable tostada, which was delicious. In classic steakhouse fashion, I was soon present with tray full of options from which to choose. It was a no brainer to get the wood grilled Catch of the Day with grilled asparagus, sautéed spinach and mashed potatoes, a meal my dad often tries to get even when not on the menu prepared that way. So this one is for you, Dad.

The generous filet was perfectly cooked and so fresh. The vegetable medley with a nice accompaniment and the mashed potatoes were very creamy. Simple but delicious.

As a night cap, I decided to go check out Bar 360 next to the restaurant. The venue was in the same hotel as the Baja Brewing but a few floors higher so the views were even more stunning.

I selected a Mezcal based margarita but told them to hold the agave syrup so I could enjoy more of that smokiness I love so much in a cocktail. I sipped on my drink and did some prime people watching – a mix of sauced hotel guests and those just out for a night on the town.

I was starting to fade pretty fast so I finished up my drink and made the quick walk back to my apartment. I didn’t have anything planned the next day but that night would be a different story. Stay tuned.

The next day it as time to finally hit the playa so I made a hike up a surprisingly steep hill and then back down again to get to the heart of the Medano beach. I had read about a relatively chill spot that had a nice view, Milky Beach.

There were 3 levels but I chose the middle one which my hostess said was her favorite. It was indeed a beautiful view that I basically had all to myself. Wanting something a bit lighter for lunch I opted for the seafood ceviche with fresh shrimp, octopus and tuna.

I should have put something next to this for scale but it was a massive bowl of seafood goodness. It was a bit spicier than I prefer but I eventually got used to it. They even gave me a free bottle after apologizing for it being a bit too spicy. That was a nice touch.

I had read about a local brewery, Cabo Brewing Company, which happened to be right up the hill so off I went. I navigated my way through a new, sleek hotel and went up to the 7th floor to be greeted by this truly stunning view.

The owner, Guillermo, welcomed me and asked what type of beer I liked. I said I wanted to try a few different ones so he gave me a taster option of 4 of his favorites – ranging for a hazy IPA to a Black IPA (my favorite) The quality was quite good and I mean just look at the view!

I remarked to Guillermo that the biggest change that I’ve seen since I was here 21 years ago is the height of the buildings. I never had really gotten an aerial view like this before of the coast.

I decided to have one more round of 2 other beers – their signature blonde and a sweet potato one (interesting but a sample was enough) along with the black IPA and the stout I had earlier.

Tonight was the only night where I didn’t have any dinner plans so I asked Guillermo where he goes on his night off. He quickly replied with Gardenias Tacos. Sold.

So after a much needed siesta, soon I was off to go check out this favorite of the locals, which was pretty close to my apartment. I love hole in the wall places like this so I was a happy camper.

I had yet to have a fish or shrimp taco so why not both? I selected a grilled fish, shrimp and fried shrimp taco. Not exactly the speediest of service but eventually was presented with this glorious trio. I started with the fish, which was perfectly cooked and smoky. The grilled shrimp was nice and as good. But the mindblower was the fried shrimp, with a light but perfectly crispy batter and paired beautifully with their outstanding crema. By far the best meal I had had thus far – and only $15 with tip.

Wanting to walk off the tacos, I headed towards the bar district to check out the scene. It being Friday night the area was bustlingly. I stopped into a few including the famous El Squid Roe, which really hadn’t changed since I was last here.

Overall it was skewing a bit too touristy for my tastes so I walked back towards the Marina to a local favorite, The Nowhere Bar. I hung out a bit there but eventually heard my bed calling so I made the now familiar path to my building. Tomorrow would be a day of visiting old haunts, which would be a lot of fun.

It’s not typical of me to do multiple foreign trips in the same year. However, when I discovered I had $400 in United fare credits I had to use by the end of the year, that gave me an excuse to do so. Viva Mexico!

It had been over 21 teas since I was last in Cabo and since it was both a short trip as well as being in my fare credit limit, seemed like a perfect time to return. Hola, Sammy.

After leaving the airport, my first stop was a place featured a few years ago on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives where I lusted over the octopus tacos show in the segment. Since it was just outside of the main drag of Cabo, it made sense to go there straight from the airport.

A funky little spot with colorful art and a series of ceiling fans to cool off the main room, it was a perfect way to reintroduce myself to the charms of Cabo when avoiding the tourist traps.

By this point, having been up since 5am, I was starving and shorty after ordering, the tacos arrived. I had selected 2 of the char grilled octopus tacos and an el pastor as suggested by my server. The main event was as good as hoped for – with the smoky flavor of the grill penetrating the tender pieces of octopus enveloped in a truly exceptional flour tortilla. Outstanding.

The el pastor was straight off the trompo with large slices pineapple to give that signature savory sweet combination. Another winner, especially with another exceptional flour tortilla.

In desperate need of a siesta, I headed to the Airbnb I had rented in the heart of the Marina. It turned out to be even more charming than the photos and surprisingly roomy for a small one bedroom.

I’m a sucker of an old skool seafood restaurant and when looking at nearby options for my Día del Pavo Baja style, Neptune Seafood Restaurant stood out because of its alluring open air concept with outdoor seating high above the crashing surf.

I decided to give a Baja based Chardonnay a shot and was pleasantly surprised. Nothing award winning but quite nice. As a starter, I chose the Crustacean Crema – a soup made of up shrimp, lobster and crab with chunks of lobster. This was delicious. Deep in flavor but surprisingly not to heavy at all made even better by the mini baguettes to sop up the last bits of the soup.

For my main course after my usual garlic negotiations, the chef decided to make me a pan roasted filet of local white sea bass along with white quinoa in a balsamic glaze and grilled asparagus. The fish was perfectly cooked with a gloriously crispy skin and the sides paired nicely. An excellent dish.

I initially considered a dessert but quickly realized I was actually pretty full. Plus, this hadn’t been a cheap mean already so it was time to go although I had to snap a pic of this pirate ship bar that apparently was only open during the day.

I took a quick Uber back to the Marina but it was so nice out, I decided to stay a quick stroll.

Quick being the operative word as the long day caught up with me. Tomorrow was planned to be another day of exploration, this time beach-side so I needed the sleep.

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After I emerged from the park, I made the quick hike downhill to famous Stanley Park Seawall, which took over 60 years to complete. My goal was to make it to the viewpoint at the top of the Seawall and then take an Uber back to my place. So, off I went on this magnificent pathway.

I eventually made it to the Lions Gate Bridge, which connected to West Vancouver.

Just on the other side was the lookout point.

As evidenced by the pictures above, the lookout wasn’t exactly an easy spot to catch a ride so I decided to continue down the path.

I eventually came across a small beach where people were taking advantage of the last bit of sunny weather probably for awhile. At this point, I decided I might as well just finish the entire path, which ended near English Bay Beach.

I was exhausted by the time I got back to my place but still had one more night out ahead of me where I’d finally check out the Gastown section.

Gastown was on the other end of town and had become the new hip area, with more of an industrial chic vibe than the sleek modern part where I was staying. My friend Stephanie had recommended a spot called L’Abittoir and I soon was sitting at a great table overlooking the main room

I opted to stick to sparkling water this time to give my body a break. I also didn’t want to eat a ton so I opted for 2 appetizers as my meal. First up was smoked trout with fresh horseradish and a peasant bread lathered with butter. I tried the trout first with a piece of the bread, which while delicious, was way too rich. So I ate the rest without anything else. It was delicious, with the horseradish adding some nice kick to the perfectly smoked trout.

Next up was the grilled scallops with sliced fennel in a pumpkin sauce. The scallops were dense and beautifully cooked with the fennel helping cut through. The pumpkin sauce was bursting with flavor and surprisingly light.

I decided to walk off my meal by taking a stroll around the area, which for a Sunday night, was pretty active. It was fascinating though how different the look and mood was from Yaletown.

My final stop was at the famous steam clock, which as the name implies, is a large clock powered by steam. A tribute to the city’s more industrial past and a fitting way to essentially end my visit to this great city.

The next morning, the weather had finally turned, with a steady downpour that lasted throughout my departure. My trip home was thankfully uneventful (and not really pic worthy) but I intend to return sooner rather later to continue exploring this jewel of a city.

Vancouver had been on my list for quite awhile since I fell in love with it while visiting when I was a kid. With birthday pending, it seemed like it was finally time to return for a few days.

Unlike most of recent travels, my plane seat for this one was a wee bit cramped. Fortunately, it was a quick 2.5 hour flight and next thing I knew, we were landing, greeted by this fella.

It was a pretty quick drive to where I was staying, an Airbnb in a very central location. Given it that was now after 9pm and in a state of hunger, I opted for a spot very close by – a sake bar with plenty of food options too.

My very friendly server soon presented me with my choice of cup I wanted for my sake. Given it was my bday, I opted for the festive glass one. To go with my sake, I ordered a Japanese bar staple – takoyaki aka “octopus balls” – and some mixed tempura.

The takoyaki was just the right texture with the perfect amount of Japanese mayo and bonito flakes – delicious. The mixed tempura was light and was enhanced greatly by dipping into the accompanying green tea salt. I also was intrigued by a sake they had that was stored in cedar to ferment, which gave it this faint smoky flavor. I said my goodbyes and headed back to the condo to get some much needed sleep.

After working for a few hours (gotta pay for this trip somehow!) I hopped in a quick Uber to another Japanese spot for lunch – this time for a local favorite – aburi sushi.

Aburi style sushi, in which the fish is seared with a torch, has apparently become all of the rage in Vancouver and Miku is considered to be one of the vanguards. I decided to go with a set lunch which featured both aburi sushi and some of their other favorites.

First up were a pair of chef’s choice appetizers – tuna sashimi and seared sable fish with edamame. Both delicious along with a really good miso soup. Given how hungry I was, this was a nice start.

Next up was the main event – an assortment of their deluxe rolls, premium nigiri and of course, the aburi sushi (the ones in front) All it was very good, and I was wise to save the aburi sushi for end as I was very full after those.

The weather was pretty much perfect so I decided to walk off my lunch with a stroll along the waterfront, including watching sea planes land and takeoff for parts unknown.

I continued my walk along the water until the marina, which featured some truly unique looking boats amongst the usual yachts. Further on there were a series of luxury condos that probably cost a pretty penny.

The weather was so nice I decided to continue my wandering to the other side of the coast, which featured the 2 main beaches of Vancouver- English Bay and Sunset.

Next thing I knew I had basically circled all the way back to my neighborhood, which was a good thing as I was starting to tire. I gave it a final push forward and made my way back to my condo for a much needed nap. Tonight would be what I was considering my real birthday dinner. But that’s for another post.

During my research for places to eat in Vancouver, one stop kept coming up again and again – Published on Main, which also had recently received a Michelin star. That, unfortunately, had also led to it being very tough to secure a seat.

Fortunately, they had a sister restaurant – Bar Susu, which had a slot available for me. Even better, their version of a tasting menu was half the price. Score.

The original Bar Susu had unfortunately suffered some major damage due to a fire, which had made them move temporarily to a coffee bar they also owned. They actually did a great job of disguising it with some mood lighting and transforming the coffee bar with an actual bar.

I was soon greeted with my first course, which they dubbed as “snacks”’- chicken liver rosette and fried cheese with tapioca. I’m not the biggest fan of liver, mostly a texture thing, but I did my best with this version. Not my bag but I could tell it was expertly made. The cheese was definitely more my speed, with the tapioca adding some next texture.

The next course was much better – scallop crudo with watermelon radishes in a coconut, ginger, lime leaf broth. The scallops were perfectly seasoned and the slightly bitter radishes paired beautifully with the acidic broth. Absolutely superb.

Next up was one of the best salads I’ve had in a long time – autumn salad with a white mustard miso dressing, radish, beets, shaved goat cheese, seeds and nuts. This was a symphony of flavors and textures, each bite different than the last. I was blown away.

The next course was really why I was there. It wasn’t supposed to be my main course but I sweet talked them into allowing me to swap it with the other main course. Hot smoked trout with sautéed spinach in a tomato tamarind dashi. The trout was perfectly cooked and so fresh, and the dashi was bursting with flavor. Absolutely superb.

My final course was Basque cheesecake with quince sorbet and shaved beets. As shown in the pic, they added a birthday candle but thankfully did not sing to me. This was a great way to finish with the rich cheesecake tempered by the tart sorbet.

I chatted a bit with the manager and told him how I had originally tried to go their main restaurant. He said if I wanted to go there for a nightcap he could set that up. I graciously accepted.

After hiking up the hill a bit, I arrived at Published on Main, which was still quite bustling. They had set me up at the bar, and I was soon handed a book – I mean a literal book – of their autumn cocktail selections. Each cocktail had a page story from the bartender about their childhood home and what inspired them to make the cocktail.

I decided to go with one made by the bartender who was serving me – Oban Little Bay, Los Siete Misterios Doba-yej mezcal, Campari, Coconut bitter blend. This was one seriously complex drink, especially the coconut bitters mixed with the various alcohols.

I chatted a bit more with the bartender, who was from Nova Scotia and had bartended all over the world before landing in Vancouver. He also told me how amusing it was for people here trying to deal with some rare snow they had last year. He, of course, was more than used to it and had to help some friends with their snow shoveling.

I finished up my drink and said my goodbyes. Tomorrow was going to be another beautiful day so I intended to take advantage of it as much as possible.

I woke up to a bright and sunny day that beckoned me to get out and about. So off I went to the nearby Granville Island.

Not surprisingly, it was already packed with locals and tourists alike. My main destination was the Granville Island Public Market.

I saw what I assumed was the line to get into the market but turned out to be just for what was apparently the best donut shop in all of Vancouver.

The line actually moved pretty quickly and soon I was faced with a wondrous variety of donuts from which to choose. I opted for a glazed pumpkin donut (apparently one that people stand in that line for) along with a German chocolate and coconut donut.

I wandered around the massive main hall, which featured just about every type of food imaginable and was ultimately drawn to a small stand that featured both whole rotisserie chickens and carved sandwiches. I chose the chicken au jus with caramelized onions, lettuce and Dijon mustard on a pressed ciabatta roll.

This was a mighty fine sandwich, with the juicy slices of chicken blending perfectly with the lettuce and the tangy sauce. I ate it on a bench outside listening to a guitarist strum softly away mixed with the occasional outbursts of screaming kids running around.

I finished up my sandwich and decided to explore the rest of the island for a bit. For such a relatively small area, it boasted an impressive variety of stores, theaters and even a couple of breweries.

I had originally intended to go dinner at a spot on the island called Bridges, which I had gone to as a kid many, many moons ago. It had closed during the pandemic but had recently reopened as part of a local chain. I needed a beer break so instead of dinner, might as well go there now.

It turned out to be a wise decision as the restaurant had been complete gutted of its fine dining past in favor of what didn’t look like very good pub food. Fortunately, the local beer I had was quite refreshing, and I had a table with a great view.

The best and more economical way to leave the island was via one of the ferry services, in this case False Creek Ferries, which shuttled people up and down the coast. After waiting about 20 mins in line, I was soon puttering away towards my nearby destination- David Yam Park.

The park ran along the waterfront, which was filled with what I assume were very pricey condos. The weather continued to be perfect so I continued down the waterfront along the park, which was filled with people similarly appreciating the sun mixed with pleasant breezes.

My entire body indicated it was done with my strolling so I turned around and made the relatively short trip back to my place. After some rest, it was dinner time and fortunately my choice for tonight was very close by.

A local favorite celebrating its 20th anniversary, Nuba is a Lebanese restaurant in the trendy Yaletown neighborhood, only a few blocks from my place. The menu was heavy on garlic but fortunately one of their signature dishes – Najib’s special – didn’t.

It was a large bowl of perfectly fried and seasoned cauliflower with tahini and pickled red onions. Delicious.

I decided to stick to vegetarian and next ordered the grilled halloumi cheese with a grapefruit and arugula salad. This was another winner with the dense salty cheese nicely balanced with the tart grapefruit and the peppery greens.

I wasn’t originally going to get a dessert but a white chocolate crème brûlée was too good to pass up. With a perfectly crisp top and dense, luscious white chocolate with some hints peppermint, it was a very unique but delicious brûlée. Too bad I didn’t have anyone to share it with as the portion size was massive. I made the prudent choice not to eat the whole thing.

I had just enough energy left for a quick nightcap and the nearby speakeasy The Stock Room sounded like a cool spot. Hidden behind a burger joint vía as the name implies, a stock room, it definitely had a speakeasy vibe and I was soon seated at the end of the bar.

There were lots of intriguing options but my eye was drawn to one called Lost Luggage, which turned out to be one of my bartender’s favorite.

The drink was a fascinating mix of Havana Club 3 year, Campari, Aperol, Lime, Orgeat and toasted cinnamon. The lime counteracted the bitter notes and the rum with the toasted cinnamon sweet notes were in turn balanced with the bitterness. I enjoyed the deep house beats and the overall vibe of the room but I suddenly hit the wall, hard. It was time to go and catch some Zzzs to save up strength for my final full day.

I woke up to the cumulative toll on my body starting to come due. Still, the show must go on so I dragged myself out of my place and headed to the West End for some dim sum.

Vancouver has a massive Chinese population so dim sum is very popular and plentiful around town. Since I wanted to check out Stanley Park, I selected a spot called Jingle Bao which had been highly recommended.

I decided to try an item from each of the main sections of menus, starting with dim sum sides – fresh shrimp spring rolls.

Most shrimp spring rolls have a fair amount of shrimp mixed with filler. Not these though. It was entirely shrimp completely through. Delicious and a great way to start.

Next up my favorite – sui mai or pork dumplings. I should have taken another pic to show how huge these were. It took 3 full bites to finish one off but they were fantastic.

Finally, I had to get something from their bao (buns) options and chose one of their specialties – the bun platter, which was a BBQ bao, a pandan (veggie) bao and a chicken bao. The pandan (the green one) was the particular standout and would never have guessed it was vegetarian.

Needing both to walk off all of that food and also wanting to check out Stanley Park, I set down the street to the entrance of the massive park.

The weather was once again perfect and the path was filled with tree changing into their autumnal colors. Soon I was greeted with my favorite statue in quite awhile, welcoming me to the park.

Why thank you, Lord Stanley. Shortly beyond the entrance was a series of massive sequoias trees that shaded the entire area.

I made my way through this beautiful trellis and into the main trail of the park.

My ultimate goal was walk the Stanley Park Seawall but first wanted to check out Beaver Creek, which was teeming with endangered species.

Unfortunately as evident by the pic above, it wasn’t exactly easy to spot anything. My back was staring to hurt too so instead of trying to get a better view, I went up the trail to connect with the Seawall.

What followed was a 3 hour along the entire Seawall that was so stunning, it deserves a separate post. Coming soon…