Vancouver & La Ciudad

[Kevin L.]

For some added perspective in my coming trip, what do you experienced rail-ers recommend seeing in Vancouver and El Paso/Ciudad Juárez?

Now that it is definitive that my friends and I are going, I want to make sure that we don't miss anything at our destination. (I know it's all about the journey, but the destinations are worthwhile too, right?)

Oh, and on a tangent, if you were a foreign visitor to the US, is the only national pass that you can buy still just the USA pass, or are there new "secret" passes for foreigners now?

 

[profwebs]

For some added perspective in my coming trip, what do you experienced rail-ers recommend seeing in Vancouver and El Paso/Ciudad Juárez?
Now that it is definitive that my friends and I are going, I want to make sure that we don't miss anything at our destination. (I know it's all about the journey, but the destinations are worthwhile too, right?)

Oh, and on a tangent, if you were a foreign visitor to the US, is the only national pass that you can buy still just the USA pass, or are there new "secret" passes for foreigners now?

Unless you really, really, really want to see the "real" Mexico, stay away from Juarez. I went and I'll never go back. El Paso has some nice history, and a nice lookout from the mountains there, but I don't remember a whole lot of sightseeing to be had.

 

[yarrow]

vancouver, bc is a great town. starting with its great old train station. a few blocks from the station is vancouver's "chinatown" (after sf it's the largest in north america and much less touristy than san francisco). stanley park is wonderful though less so in winter. take the seabus across burrard inlet to north vancouver (it's included on a transit daypass along with buses and the skytrain). the vancouver art museum is good and the aquarium in stanley park is great. these will fill up a couple days. get a guidebook or check the internet for much more to see and do

 

[p&sr]

For some added perspective in my coming trip, what do you experienced rail-ers recommend seeing in Vancouver and El Paso/Ciudad Juárez?

For Vancouver, BC (Canada) you will want to ride the SkyTrain. The same ticket gets you a ferryboat ride across the harbour to a colorful area on the North Shore. Walking around downtown is interesting... Chinatown, some historic areas, beautiful new high-rises overlooking the Harbour. Waterfront walks in town or through Stanley Park. There is a public observation deck atop one of the tallest buildings. A little further afield there is a park in Capilano Canyon with an exciting suspension bridge across a deep forested gorge, and a cable-car ride to the top of Grouse Mountain (great views!).

For Vancouver, Washington you can probably see everything you need from the Train passing through.

For Ciudad Juarez, the best views are probably on THIS side of the border. If you cross, be aware of the large-scale drug violence leading to militia-type shootouts in broad daylight. And other "local color" you can probably live without.

 

[profwebs]

For Ciudad Juarez, the best views are probably on THIS side of the border. If you cross, be aware of the large-scale drug violence leading to militia-type shootouts in broad daylight. And other "local color" you can probably live without.

Yeah, it's nuts there.. I didn't see any shootouts, but I did see guards carrying m-16's guarding the banks. And if you look American, you can expect all of the friendly locals to want to help you. You'll buy lot's of chicklets and if you are lucky, your "tour guide" showing you the way to a certain bar will be known to the Policia, which will get you spread out on the car and searched. B)

Lucky for us, the Policia that searched us were cool and didn't keep our money. ( I had about $300 on me)

Here is a link talking about the lookout I mentioned: El Paso Scenic Lookout

 

[abqdave]

I second not going to Juarez right now. It is estimated there have been over 1,000 murders this year because of the drug wars...it is just too dangerous.

 

[MrEd]

EL PASO, Texas -- Juarez's police chief resigns after his assistant is slain and hundreds are killed in what is being called a turf war. Saturday Chief Guillermo Preito announced his resignation from the Juarez Police Department. His announcement comes as six high-ranking official have been killed in the last week. Many speculate the death of the chief's assistant, 54-year-old Juan Antonio Roman may be why.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/16227755/detail...lp&psp=news

Not the best time to visit, a place the police won't go.

 

[NS VIA FAN]

I second not going to Juarez right now. It is estimated there have been over 1,000 murders this year because of the drug wars...it is just too dangerous.

No need to worry about that in Vancouver.....a clean & safe city!

>>>>>>>>>>>>

And you have to ride SkyTrain!.....Here’s a link (click on virtual tour)

http://www.translink.bc.ca/Transportation_Services/SkyTrain/

http://www.translink.bc.ca/Transportation_...Bus/default.asp

The system is automated. There are no drivers. The newer cars have a large front window with a “railfan seat” and if you board at the beginning of a run (Waterfront Station for example) grab this seat and make a complete loop. Almost the entire system is on an elevated guideway with some great views to the mountains across Burrard Inlet. Only the downtown section is in an underground tunnel and on a historical note this is the former CPR tunnel from their Waterfront Station to the old coach yard and roundhouse (now gone)

(second photo here show the SkyTrain Bridge and the excellant view you'll get crossing the Fraser River. Also view of a train on the elevated guideway):

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,1788010

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,1788023

Waterfront station was once the terminus for CPR’s Canadian (It now uses the former CN “Pacific Central Station”)

WestCoast Express commuter trains use Waterfront Station and it’s also terminus for the SeaBus over to North Vancouver. WestCoast Express promotes a nice Circle Tour. Here’s a link:

http://www.westcoastexpress.com/tour.asp?P...ubID=CIRCLETOUR

Watch the slide show at the top of the Home Page for the nicely restored Waterfront Station

http://www.westcoastexpress.com/portal.asp?PageID=HOME