We stayed as a family of 4 (kids aged 9/11) from London. Alexander’s place is a lovely place to stay in - just as lovely as the pictures. Amazing views from the windows, super stylish and lots of comforts - well equipped kitchen and other basics provided. Comfee beds and linen. We had a plumbing issue and Alexander was fab with getting it sorted for us swiftly.
The area itself however has coloured my views of Vancouver. When I think of it in the future I will think of crystal meth tent cities that go on for miles, sadly, because we saw so much of it so close to home.
No shame or regard for kids when shooting up or smoking heroin and crystal meth - zombie looking unkempt addicts everywhere we looked, stumbling into us and laying across pavements. A full cardiac arrest from overdose on the street being resuscitated by emergency services.
We’re from Hackney, and both ED doctors so not naïve to these sorts of things, but the sheer scale of it was mind blowing and as I have said already - coloured our whole Vancouver experience. It also meant that we were sure we were home before dark because of the neighbourhood. I'm just so pleased that crystal meth hasn't found its way to British shores. Amazed to see this scale of deprivation and crisis in a wealthy developed country.
It prompted some interesting (and educational) conversations with our kids, though.
I’d recommend Alexander and his beautiful apartment wholeheartedly but perhaps with a disclaimer for those from less urban areas or travelling with children.