HE mamphenybr entree vai

i ' ‘

by an Noble

News Reporter dan@asnewscom

A nondescript three:

a storey building sits

awkwardly among the office buildings, park ing lots and restaurants of West Esplanade,

A wood fens, phic stalrs, plente benely, roses and barhe-

cue lend a dlttle character to an

area otherwise devoid of that

Bm quality,

Instde, the rectangular

BM block looks like a university

student's dream deri, Upon entering the front door, pasta Coke machine, a

g photo collage of mainly young

people having a good tine greets you,

Downstairs, In a room lined with pennants extolling tourist destinations such. as Mount. Rainier, sits a pool table and stereo,

On, the second floor, bed-

m yous, bathrooms, a kitchen

(where Raisin Bran is a popu-

lar item) and table lend a

homey, if spartan, feeling, Up: the stairs, a mural of a

oe

spire ate parte omega —aartheear-oriprnmery retameninpr Sharebee tone wet ory tweteerer ‘predictor

killer whale breaching dn front Of the Vancouver watertiont overs the wall,

The artist wasn't paid, but stayed stayed (ree fora week,

That bed-lomart exchange typifies the easy-going style of the Globetrotier’s tin. The

“T have laughed more in the last six months than in the last 10 years of my life.” — Manager Terry Vermeulen

fan is actually a hostel that welcomes visitors to our shores frany countries such as Australia, New Zeatand, England, France and) Japan, saiv Manager ‘Terry Vermeulen,

Vermeulen is a bit ofa trav. eller himself. He was born in New Zealand, moved to the Netherlands and then ta North Vancouver 20 years ago.

Vermeulen, a carpenter, manages the building and hos-

oy . alle

t my ‘

t

tel operation for the ‘Taiwanese awner And it sounds Ike he's iy charge ofa dorm at times,

He ‘said dooking after the hostel can be a 24 hourea-day job,

Peaple have been known to come home drunk (i the mid: dle of the night. He said ‘Thursday night is cheap: beer night in Lower Lonsdale so ler 2 aon it’s “hell night” at the hostel.

“But most of the time it’s pretty good,” said Vermeulen,

He said he has met quite a cast, of characters since he's been cunning the hostel.

“fhave faughed more in the last six months than in the fast 10) years of my life," he sid,

Nichola Riggs and her boytriend are typical globe- trotting guests — they aren't Canadian,

Aged 20, she is from Pukukohe on New Zealand's north Island and arrived in Vancouver after working four jobs at home, waitressing, in London and meeting a man, “Always a guy involved,” she said,

Like many staying at the hostel, Riggs’ boyfriend

works, While he works, Riggs relaxes,

“This iy my Ite holiday,® she sald,

She plang to stay in North Vancouver until September, During the week, she dogs’ do much, But on weekends, the pair travel to places stich as Whistler and the Cariboo,

Riggs said that after being in London, she's not. crazy about the bars in the Lower Lonsdale area,

So normally, Riggs and her triends pass the evening drink- ing beer and. sitting on the poreh,

Still, she said Vancouver is a

; \ : . renee cdihihta itt antinaaierodthentiniedenae dndteeabadia tatacteeenantaediateraetmadticannihemte desnath anak dnarae eiaederen eae eahah Areata cee een TR Er

Friday, July 25, 1997 ~ North Shore News ~ 13

good place fora holiday, Lots of places to hike and clase ta the United States,

“Sometimes 1 get bored but then 1 go tor a watk, go shopping and sometines [ hetp out here,” Rings sald, “It keeps me occupied,

ennifer Brener, 25, is tn Vancouver for a long weekend,

She lauded Vancouver's cli+ mate and the views, On one day, Brener’s plans Ineluded a hike on the Grouse Grind and a walk around downtown that night,

She hoped to be ona ferry to Victoria the next day,

The Portland resident said

Ss Globetrotting in N. Van’s Lower Lonsdale

there’s a fot to do th Vancouver,

Since December, Vermeulen has been remodel. ling the hostel’s rooms, He's down to his last couple of rooms, and still has ta: bring some of them up to fire code.

In the early {980s, the building was rin as a hostel, he said,

‘Then it beeame a dorm for a language college across the street. ‘Then, six years ago, it was turned back into a hostel,

Judging from the architec ture, Vermeulen believes the building was built in the 1940s or ‘50s.

VISIONWORKS JULY BONUS SALE

Goud. FREE MATCHING CLIP-ONS!

with purchase of selected frames - ~ from Aspex.Eyewear.®.

wa Vorre

ALL FRAMES* “0 SOFT CONTACT LENSES] Bout? FREE SPARE PAIR!

Over 16 styles - to choose fro

(A $75 value!)

if

loge

Purchase a pair of quality Soft Clear Daily Wear Contacts (Sale $99.00) & receive a 2nd pair FREE!* * Some restrictions may apply

(A Better Selection of Brand Names (Wf On-site Repair Service

Frames & Lenses‘to choose fram _- :

KS cal Guaranteed Quality Workmanship Al Licensed Opticians : - {Including Express 1 Hour Services} ‘ . Meg! ‘*Voted top optical store by readers of the North Shore News |

VANCOUVER.CENTRE MALL pesrin , 687-8822 , By Botlom s Books & Serpnas 5 s 7 ; » \ °METROTOWN CENTRE MALL = 447.9878 ROSSROADS SHOPPING CENTRE. 872/8089 B

ye Cheek Cambie & W Broadway: om . News 3 875-9932 Kost

ISI WW

| HOUR EYECARE SUPERSTORE

at ABW’ & Tne’ Book Woretiouse: NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

wo “TERRY Vermeulen and Kiwi Nichola Riggs air their laundry at the Gtobetrotter's fe inc: youth hostel on Esplanade in North Vancouver.

:

A THUNDERBIRD |

BATHS » KITCHENS * CERAMIC TILE » PLUMBING ® ELECTRICAL # LIGHTING

ste no administration fees

Your One Stop Remodelling Shop!

1626 LLoyd Avenue, North Vancouver 987-4250

BUY NOW AND DON’T PAY FOR ONE YEAR ON 1000S OF ITEMS FOR YOUR BATH & KITCHEN!

*Don't pay until August 1998 on any regular priced purciiase over $750.00 (net, OAC) made between July 10, 1997 to August 4, 1997 on the Thunderbird Project Card. Not vatid with amy other offers. Flease see store for complete details.