The day I go back home. I cooked myself some pancakes and bacon, swimming in maple syrup – an appropriate breakfast and a good nod to this fantastic country.
I was pretty much packed, though my suitcase managed to gain two kilograms over night.
My plan for the day was to eat some delicacies I hadn’t got round to. So I had a Vera’s burger for lunch, which was immense. Then, after sitting round in the Pacific Centre for hours with my luggage (plenty to do but with a suitcase of 23Kg, it was hard to get around with), I went to the food hall to eat poutine. This is a Quebec dish which is pretty much cheesy chips in gravy. It’s cheese curds, which sounds revolting as it’s soured milk, but it was actually really nice. For my own future reference, I ate it at New York Fries in the mall, and had the pulled pork poutine.
I took the SkyTrain to the airport and it started to set in how much I’m going to miss this place. It sounds pathetic but at the airport I felt really emotional. Vancouver is comfortable, in a good way, and felt right. Mixed with going back to work, which sucks, and a town which offers little. But then, I was thinking of how much I miss Chloe and my family.
When I was in the mall having to wait for time to pass by (such an unfortunate thing to be doing in such a great city), and thinking how I really could stay here for a lot longer, someone passed by with a vest saying ‘Jus’ liv’ it”. I’m only here once, but I’m in love, and the thought of seeing my family just a couple of times a year is a tough prospect.
So at this point, I want more from Canada, and though I don’t want to give up on that thought, whilst being realistic at the same time, I’ve had an incredible journey for nearly six weeks, spread across this huge beautiful continent. I’ve done some amazing things, that some many never have the opportunity to do. But for me, some of the most simple activities were the most impressive. For example, driving for hours to Banff and seeing miles of natural beauty. Or standing in Stanley Park, as the nine o’clock gun fires, as Vancouverites are jubilant, I was taking photos of their beautiful city at night.
The flight home was full of highs and lows. I sat by the window on a full aeroplane, the two people sat next to me were asleep all the way through the nine hour flight. I was desperate for a piss and couldn’t get out for one. We flew over the coast of Greenland in the morning which was an amazing sight to behold. I had boiling coffee spilt over me by the person next to me, all over my brand new Hollister camel chinos. Flew over London in the morning and could see the newly-completed Shard so close. And then best of all I had my Chloe waiting for me at the airport – (though I couldn’t find her for ages). I was very sad and very happy, tired, relieved from a very full bladder, and covered in coffee.