"Ernest Schaal" <eschaal@max.hi-ho.ne.jp> wrote in message 
news:BDD64917.2D7BC%eschaal@max.hi-ho.ne.jp...
> in article 41B0171E.1020905@hotmail.com, Declan Murphy at
> declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote on 12/3/04 4:34 PM:
>
>> Ernest Schaal wrote:
>>> in article 41B011A1.1090704@hotmail.com, Declan Murphy at
>>> declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote on 12/3/04 4:11 PM:
>>>
>>>> Ernest Schaal wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Some prefer inaka and some prefer civilization. I prefer civilization.
>>>>
>>>> I thought you lived in Gifu?
>>>
>>> Gifu CITY! (Okay, it is more inaka than I would prefer, but it sure is
>>> pretty.)
>>
>> Sure, but "Gifu CITY!" is still more inaka than Vancouver island.
>
> Actually, Gifu city is about the same size as Vancouver, both in the 
> 400,000
> range, although it doesn't have as many English-language amenities (for
> obvious reasons). As far as restaurants go, it has a good selection of
> washoku and youshoku (including French, Chinese, Indian, Italian, etc.)
> within walking distance of where I live.
>

Vancouver is part of a vast conglomerate urban sprawl called the Lower 
Mainland. About 1.5 million altogether