Christmas Shopping, Part 1: Gastown, Vancouver
I went on the first of what will probably be several shopping trips, this weekend. I decided that I’d use touristy souvenirs from Vancouver as the theme of my gifts, so I traveled to the best spot I know in order to get some.
Downtown Vancouver, in the Gastown area, was just as captivating as the last time I was there. Seeing (and hearing!) the Steam Clock, while walking the cobblestone streets and seeing the antiquated buildings all around, is such a fantastic novelty!
Luckily, there were quite a few souvenir shops in the area. I had a lot of options to choose from, and I took my time in deciding what to get for each of my relatives back home. I also came up with the idea to use postcards instead of ordinary Christmas card, which I think was much more fresh and interesting.
It wasn’t all fun, though. I became more and more exhausted as I walked around. My feet were getting tired, and I was hungry. As I desperately scanned the streets for the nearest restaurant where I could have a late lunch, I caught a glimpse of a small wooden sign on the sidewalk. “Cottage Deli”, it read. I looked around. I couldn’t see the restaurant; there was only a path leading into a crescent-shaped arcade filled with tiny shops and boutiques. I followed it.
![Me, sitting down to eat inside Cottage Deli](https://justinbelanger.com/adjustin_in_bc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2016-12-04_14-47-01_243.jpg)
Me, sitting down to eat inside Cottage Deli
It didn’t take too long for me to locate the restaurant among the little stores in the arcade. Oh boy, what a pleasant surprise the Cottage Deli turned out to be! I stumbled into the tiny restaurant, tired and hungry, and ordered a delicious spinach and feta omelet. As I sat down to eat, I noticed the incredible atmosphere in the eatery. And the view! Incredible!
![The view from the windows along the dining area in the Cottage Deli! Canada Place, the bay, and the mountains are all visible!](https://justinbelanger.com/adjustin_in_bc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2016-12-04_14-31-35_54-1024x577.jpg)
The view from the windows along the dining area in the Cottage Deli! Canada Place, the bay, and the mountains are all visible!
All in all, it was a great experience and a productive one, too! I look forward to where my Christmas shopping journeys will take me next.
![A clearer view of the brick-walled dining area inside Cottage Deli!](https://justinbelanger.com/adjustin_in_bc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2016-12-04_14-32-35_553-1024x577.jpg)
A clearer view of the brick-walled dining area inside Cottage Deli!