 VANCOUVER'S GRANVILLE ISLAND
FERRY
Granville Island Ferry,
Vancouver,
British Columbia
The
Aquabus ferries to Granville Island look more like the kind of
boat you would see in a small child’s bath, but they serve the
purpose perfectly. Taking
pedestrians and cyclists across False Creek in Vancouver is not
a tough assignment, unless you count the navigating around the
countless sailboats and cruisers moving in and out of marinas in
the Creek.
On a sunny Saturday, the whole world seems to be in transit, far
too many of them trying to get to Granville Island.
The intelligent few eschew the phantom parking spaces on
the island and arrive under their own steam.
Once
on Granville Island, the locals follow predictable routines,
starting with a meeting of friends at the Blue Parrot for a
cappuccino while planning the itinerary.
The kids have already been dropped off at Kids’ Market
Adventure Zone, or left with an unsuspecting grandmother at the
Water Park.
This
is as close to European food shopping as it gets in Vancouver
– moving from shop to shop picking up everything for a gourmet
dinner or to take on the ferry.
The
prettiest produce and freshest fish, more than one great butcher
and loads of delicatessen style stalls, with cheeses, fresh
pastas, cured meats and sausages. There are permanent stalls that have been there since the
beginning along with the temporary vendors who are allowed one
day each weekend – an arcane formula determines who gets to
show their wares in the middle of the wide aisles separating the
permanent stalls.
Granville
Island has been home to a public market for more than
twenty years. It’s
a market and a whole lot more.
The transition from derelict industrial zone to trendy
place with a million events going on wasn’t without its
challenges, but the evolution of the place is what keeps us
coming back.
Aside
from being a place to buy groceries, Granville Island is home to
several theatres (and a world-class Fringe Festival every
September), an Art school, a score or two of artisans, crafting
everything from guitars to wooden boats to ceramics to blown
glass to tapestries to wood block prints to jewelry. And let’s not forget the beer!
http://www.aquabus.bc.ca/home.html
Infoline:
(604) 689-5858
 Fax:
(604) 689-5838
http://www.granville-island.net
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