How was the weekend?

It was long, but felt so short. 😀

On Saturday INTERNeX went on a little hike in Lynn Canyon, over the Suspension Bridge, through the lush forest, along the river and multiple waterfalls. It was a hot day, but the trees gave us a nice cool shade, so it wasn’t half bad. Another thing that cooled us down was the natural pool with its refreshing water, some just dipped their feet in, others were full on cliff jumping! Tim and Daniel had so much fun jumping that they stayed longer while the rest of us went on with the hike. On our way we saw more people cliff jumping from a different spot, it looked quite dangerous, so we were holding our breath for the jump. Fortunately nothing happened! The guys seemed to have experience. I could never imagine jumping into the water from such a height. Maybe because I’m afraid of heights? What about you? Are you into the thrill and adventure? Would you do cliff jumping? After the adrenaline kick from watching them jump, we had a hard time getting up the last couple of stairs before ending our hike, maybe because I told everyone there were no more stairs coming, but then oooppssiieee, surprise, more stairs! In the end they forgave me (I think) and we went back downtown. I don’t know about you, but I always feel weird being back in the city after a day in nature. It’s so calm and peaceful, versus so fast and exciting.

Exciting was also the Pride Parade on Sunday. We met on Davie street and walked all the way down to English Bay where we found a great spot to watch the parade. Again, it was a hot day but we had some trees covering us with shade and the firefighters in the parade were sprinkling everyone with water which was super refreshing. The display went on for 2-3 hours and it was so fun cheering everyone on, seeing all the different groups showing colour and celebrating diversity! There was lots of music and performances, good vibes and great people. We started collecting stickers, buttons, and other things they gave away. After a while people went and grabbed some food, while others went to the after-party at Sunset Beach. There were food trucks, two stages with live music and other booths around the area, the perfect set up for an awesome day.

I would tell you more, but this week is really busy at INTERNeX, so I’ll stop writing for today. I have to introduce you to a lot of newcomers on Thursday, so keep posted! 😉

We can also chat more tomorrow at Pub Night, 7pm at the GPO Kitchen and Bar, so you can tell me about YOUR weekend! 🙂

See you there!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend?

This weekend is going to be a good one, the sun is shining, the INTERNeX events thriving. On Saturday we will go on a little hike to Lynn Canyon. People often say “that’s what I imagined Canada to be like” when they go to the area. The hike we’re doing includes walks over an impressive suspension bridge, along the river with small waterfalls, through lush forests and a natural pool to swim in, so make sure to bring your swim suit. 😉 It’s a free safe-guided adventure and a great place to learn about the North Vancouver eco-system. The hike is good for all levels, so even if you usually rather spend your Saturday’s on the couch, you can join us for this one. 😉 Make sure to bring plenty of water and some lunch/snacks with you. In my opinion a MUST-DO while you’re in Vancouver, and nothing better than hiking with a group! Meeting is 11am at Waterfront station!

On Sunday we’re going to celebrate the Pride Society, LGBTQAI2S+ communities, queer serving organizations, we’re celebrating diversity, vibrancy and people in Vancouver at the Vancouver Pride Parade! It’s a big celebration where all come together and party! 😉 If you ask me it’s THE event in Vancouver. It’s going to be hot hot hot in many ways, so make sure to put on sunscreen and drink enough water! Safeway Canada and Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be the fundraising flag-bearers for this year’s Toonie Brigade. The Toonie Brigade carries a giant rainbow flag where folks can throw in their toonies, which go towards making Pride what it is today, so make sure to bring a couple Toonies with you. 😉 Dress Code: colourful and fun! We’ll meet at 11am at the Esso gas station on Davie Street!

If you are not into the INTERNeX events this weekend there’s other things to do as well. Have you checked out the Londsdale Quay in North Vancouver yet? It’s a really nice area right by the water with a great view of the Vancouver skyline. There’s lots of artisan shops to browse through and nice restaurants to check out. For all the Germans out there, or those who like German food, there’s a restaurant in North Vancouver called ‘Jägerhof’ which offers some typical German meals like Schnitzel, or Rouladen, plus a broad selection of German beers (can though), while playing traditional music, sometimes even live! It’s a fun experience. But don’t worry there’s lots of different options, you’ll find something you like. 🙂

There’s also the last chance to see the fireworks of The Honda Celebration of Lights this Saturday at 10pm. Spain will be the last out of the three contestants. I recommend watching from Sunset Beach, unless you want to spend your whole day at English Bay, since it gets really busy there and it’s almost too crowded to enjoy the fireworks from there. Sunset Beach is a great option. You can still find a spot where you have perfect sight of the fireworks and more space around you. Of course you can go early anyways and enjoy the day at the beach, watch the sunset and then the fireworks. Have you seen the other ones before? Which one did you like better so far?

I hope to see plenty of you at our events, but if I don’t see you, have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

What to do on the weekend?

This weekend INTERNeX is going on a bike ride along the sea wall around Stanley Park. Definitely a must do while you are here. The route offers beautiful views, close to the ocean and the parks forest, while technically being in the city. It’s a unique park with lots of different areas to explore. We could of course walk around as well, but that would take a long time and it’s not quite as fun as biking. Don’t worry you don’t need to have your own bike, we can just rent them right at Stanley Park. 🙂

Another great activity for weekends is hiking. Vancouver is perfect for a day in the nature since it’s so close and has so much to offer. There’s numerous trails around that you can choose from. I recommend getting the AllTrails app. It shows you maps, routes, difficulties of the trails, time, etc. There’s also comments and tips from others that have been hiking those trails which can be really useful. Make sure to check out our ‘Hiking Survival Guide’ as well before you head out to your adventure.

If you like Music Festivals at the beach this one’s for you. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival takes place at Jericho Beach this weekend. It’s a unique, community-based celebration of contemporary and traditional folk and roots music. There’ll be artists from Korea, Chile, Mexico, Taiwan, India, Finland, the USA, and Canada. A day pass is $68.60.

In case you want a cultural program, but are short on money, you can get a free guided tour through one of the most beautiful and historic concert halls in North America. Vancouver Civic Theatres offers a 90 minute walking tour, led by the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame at the Orpheum theatre, which was built in 1927 and is now a National Heritage site. Fun Fact: Frank Sinatra got kicked out of the theatre once, for breaking one of the dressing room lights while practicing his golf swing.

Looking for something to do in the evening? Good news, the Richmond Night Market is still going on till October! It is the largest Night Market in North America and attracts over 1 million visitors each year. There’s lots of booths and unique food, sometimes live music on the stage and other fun activities. General Admission is only $6, so I’d say if you have the chance you should definitely go and check it out. These are their hours of operation: Friday: 7PM-12AM; Saturday: 6PM-12AM; Sunday: 7PM-11PM

So, what are you going to this weekend? Are you team active or team culture? Or maybe both?

I look forward to hearing about your weekends next Wednesday at pub night. Hopefully I’ll see lots of you on our bike ride. 🙂

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

Hiking Survival Guide

Canada, especially the West Coast, is known for its beautiful mountains, vast nature and numerous options of outdoor activities. It would be a shame not to make use of it while you are here. A popular pastime is hiking, since there are thousands of great hiking trails around, that offer stunning views. But there are some precautions you should keep in mind when going on a hiking trip, since it can get quite dangerous if you are ill prepared. Don’t panic, I’ve got you covered. I will share some tips with you that are worth considering when going out into the Canadian wilderness.

I) Inform people where you are going
Always let someone, who is not going with you know, where you are and when to expect you back. Better, try not to go on a hike all by yourself. A lot of people underestimate the power of nature. Sometimes the trails are not properly marked, there can be unexpected changes in your route, difficult parts of climbing, or potential falling, etc., and sometimes it can take hours for another hiker to come by. It is good if someone knows where you are, in case you get hurt.

II) The right outfit
To minimize possible injuries it is recommended to wear some proper hiking clothes, especially shoes are important. If you are planning on going for a few hikes this season, it is worth buying some hiking boots, if you don’t have them already. They are a game changer. Compared to runners they are less likely to slip or sprain your ankle. I just bought some proper hiking boots myself and I love them. They make it way more comfortable for me to go up and down the mountains. I feel more safe for sure. Appropriate clothing would be non-cotton, functional wear, depending on the weather a rainproof jacket, a hat, or a toque, and a backpack.

III) Equipment
Some gadgets you should take with you are:
– A light: It can get dark really quickly, and I wouldn’t trust your phone flashlight on this one
– Water and food: It’s important to hydrate and have some high energy food bars, etc. with you since you are physically exercising
– Cell phone for communication and navigation: It’s recommended to also take other navigation devices like a compass and a map

IV) Survival Kit
There are some extras you should consider taking with you, especially when you go on longer, more advanced hikes:
– Signalling device, like a whistle
– Fire Starter
– Warm clothes (Layers are a good idea)
– Pocket knife
– First-aid kit (Always good to have for emergencies)

In the end it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

V) Another topic I’d like to talk to you about is Wildlife. Canada is not only widely known for its diverse nature but also for its furry habitants, like bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, and many more. Encounters with animals are low and attacks are very rare. They usually only happen as a result of people’s careless actions. It might happen though that you encounter some animals while you are a little outside of the city and it’s good to have an idea on how to behave in such situation. So here’s what’s most important.

Try to avoid a close encounter from the beginning by:
– Hiking as a group
– Watching for signs
– Never approaching wildlife! Maintain a distance that respects the needs of wildlife
– Not trying to take selfies with wildlife. Selfies are not safe and not encouraged
– Not feeding wildlife.

Here’s a source that gets more specific on how to behave in case of a rare encounter with different animals: https://bcparks.ca/conserve/bearsandcougars.pdf?v=1654715287939

I know this is a lot of information, but it might come in handy 🙂 I don’t know about you, but the German in me likes to be prepared for any possible scenario. 😀

I hope this post is helpful to you and prepares you for your next adventure.

Have great day!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂

How was the weekend?

Hot, Adventurous, Fun. Those words describe my weekend best.

As you know, the sun was shining the entire weekend. For some it might’ve been too hot, but I loved the sunny weather. One reason I liked it so much might be that I spent my days near the water, so I could cool down easily.

On Saturday some friends (including their big puppy) and I went to Cultus Lake in Chilliwack. We brought some snacks, a big blanket, lots of water, air hammocks and a floatie with us, everything you need for a perfect day at the lake. I recommend going early, since it gets really busy on hot summer days and it can be difficult to find a good spot. I really enjoyed just relaxing in the sun, float on the lake and refresh in the cold water. There was also the Cultus Lake Festival going on, with lots of little booths and food trucks. If you ever get the chance try some cinnamon rolls from SinAmen Bun & Co., they are delicious!

After my rest day I felt ready for our Bubble Ball match with INTERNeX! We met at Charleson Park and started our adventure. Raul, the coach, explained the basics to us, for example to never bump someone from the back, and how to get in and out of the bubble, before we started our first game: “Bubble Soccer”. My team won both rounds (wohoo), but we weren’t ready for the next game. It’s called “Protect the General”. Each team had to choose one general and the goal for the other team was to knock them down, or push them outside the lines of the field. We lost every single round and got bumped to the ground pretty hard. Nevertheless it was super fun! We had some free time to try out a few stunts in the Bubbles, like front flips, or back flips, before we finished with our last two games: “English Bulldog”, and “Musical Bubbles”. There was a lot of running and bumping involved, so it got pretty hot in the sun, even hotter in the bubbles!

To cool down, some of us went to Kitsilano Beach, where we met more people from INTERNeX. Apparently not everyone was tired from Bubble Ball yet, so they played a round of Volleyball. It was super busy at the beach, but we still found a nice spot to relax and enjoy the sunset with good music and a couple of beers. 😉 It was the perfect way to end the weekend, it just felt too short. But good news, this week will be a short one! Friday is Canada Day! Are you ready to celebrate?

I hope your weekend was great and you enjoyed the first days of summer in Vancouver.

See you at Pub night on Wednesday!

Cheers,

Laura 🙂