On Carl's request we are delaying going home right away in order to explore downtown a bit. It is around 4:30 and here we are on Wáter Street, standing in front of that absurd steam clock. The place is mobbed by tourists and Francois has just commented on the absolute absurdity of the place, and all the tourists greedily snapping photos of the monstrosity as though they were picking up from the ground manna from heaven.
"Are we still in the Downtown Eastside?", says Carl, already looking bored.
"In a word, yes", I reply, "Though no two neighbourhoods could be more worlds apart. Gastown is for the tourists and of course is nice, expensive and extremely tacky. But it's still the same neighbourhood. Thing is, no one wants to cope with that kind of cognitive dissonance."
"It's bad for the skin", says Francois.
"What do you say that we regroup in my condo, have a coffee, then go out for dinner."
"That works", says Carl....
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