Place to shop: Gastown, Vancouver, Canada

About this place:

Gastown is the original and historical centre of Vancouver. When it was first founded, Vancouver was called Granville. This neighbourhood has a large number of tourist traps, but increasingly many very interesting designer stores are opening up alongside funky furniture stores and architects' offices.

Many notable Vancouver attractions such as the Steam Clock and statue of Gassy Jack are located in Gastown. Also, this neighbourhood is definitely worth a visit for many of its restaurants and bars provide great environment to spend a lively evening. If you come across panhandlers or homeless people, don't be alarmed. This is one of the many problems Vancouver is currently dealing with due to sharp increase in property prices and housing costs.

If you venture further to the southeast, to the corner of Main and Hastings streets you will find yourself in the centre of Downtown Eastside neighbourhood that is home to some of the most impoverished people in Canada. Despite the problems that its residents deal with on daily basis, this neighbourhood is one of the strongest communities in Vancouver.