Granville Island

During our Vancouver sojourn, we packed in a lot of fun experiences.  One of the most memorable would have to be our visit to Granville Island.  Granville Island is located in False Creek, adjacent to Yaletown, where we were staying. 

[courtesy Google Maps]

With a home-brewing husband, it's hard to turn down a brewery tour whilst on vacation.  Especially when that brewery touts themselves as the oldest microbrewery in all of Canada.  The Granville Island Brewing Co. boasted at least seven brews during our visit.  The tour was detailed, informative, and included an actual taste-test of the various malted grains used in their brewing process.

My absolute fave, hands down, was the Brockton India Pale Ale.  Unlike some I am familiar with, this I.P.A. is true to its hoppy history.  The hops aroma, flavour, and bitterness were all present.  This is a trend I've seen in the past few years, with Garrison, Propeller, Sam Adams (and many more small breweries) earnestly using that fourth ingredient that the larger breweries seem hesitant to take on.

[under the Granville St. Bridge with the husband]

Next stop on the Island was the Public Market.  A veritable feast for the eyes, nose, and palate of someone who spends the better part of the year on a less-than-fertile island on the opposite coast.

Check out some of this produce!  Stall after stall was filled with fruits, veggies, and herbs to the hearts content.  I would have bought some to take back to Newfoundland with me, but after another week of travel it would be in the same category as our usual grocery store produce.

There was a large deli selection as well.  Ranging from the usual:

To the exotic:

Yes, you are reading the sign correctly - it says camel.

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post, reader.  If you are lucky enough find yourself in Vancouver, I highly recommend a tour of Granville Island.  I know I'll be going back some day!