My initial impressions of the city was that is was pretty big...however i turns out to be not much bigger than central wellington, if you exclude stanley park...
i picked myself up a ticket to one of the tourist buses, that does a circuit of the "sites" of downtown vancouver, that allows you to jump on and off whenever you feel like it for 2 days..
i didnt know how adventurous i was going to be on day one...i spent the morning wandering around Robson street, which is the main 'high-end' shopping district, and adjoining central shopping areas...i was still pretty sick with a fever and cold sweats and im sure people were staring at me as if i was a drug addict, which i sort of was, dosed up on cold/flu drugs (the non-drowsy kind..but i was probably being paranoid...
In the afternoon i explored the waterfront/Canada Place and the historic Gastown area...which mainly consists of incredibly overpriced touristy souvineer shops...
Day two was thankfully feeling a bit better so decided to do the outdoor, healthy Stanely Park; walk around the seawall, rose gardens and a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium...which has an amazing tropical exhibit with a butterfly house, i also saws Beluga Whales...the arctic white whales...and the cutest, fat little sea otter...
then sat on the beach at English Bay and feel in LOVE with the Grab=nville Island Market...it is the most amazing indoor, permanent produce (incl fruit, veges, cheeses, meats, delis and cafes) and crafts market...the rest of Granville Island (not actually and island) is the home to art studios of all kinds...
All i can say is that i need a market like this where i live...it is truly amazing..