>SNIP
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>>OTOH I'd simply love to visit Vancouver some day. It looks like a wonderful city, with a pleasant climate.
>
>Vancouver (and Victoria too, I'd say) is indeed a beautiful city with lots to offer.
>But my first trip there was by rail across Canada, and the Rockies just knocked my socks off - rugged and positively BEAUTIFUL with wildlife everywhere - making Vancouver ho-hum by comparison.

Oh, I've always wanted to do the trans-Rockies trip, on one of those big trains with the obs. waggon, dining car, sleeper compartment, spacious dining room, the whole 9 yds. One day I'll be able to afford it :-) (remember I've got to pay to get over there first too!)