Vancouver Voyage | DAY 19: Cycling along the Vancouver Waterfront + Bella Gelateria Preview

For one solid week, I pleaded local relatives for a bike that I could borrow during my stay. Buses were infrequent and bike paths were in abundance; these factors, when paired in conjunction with sunny, breezy conditions, made for ideal biking weather.

My appeals were denied by all but two members of kin: one offered an archaic two-wheeler with a broken inner tube, while the other advised against using the age-old bike and offered to accompany me on a Mobi ride around Stanley Park instead.

All odds seemed to be in my favour as the clouds parted to yield an absolutely breathtaking view of the skyline along the blue waters.

Shortly into our ride, we made a quick stop at Canada Place. With award-winning gelato was just minutes away, we sauntered over to the foot of Fairmont Pacific Rim, ogling at the lack of a lineup.

Bella Gelateria has maintained a firm position on my to-go list ever since our family dinner at Oru last summer. Back then, the lineup had been capped at the 45-minute mark; I had been strictly forbidden from joining the lineup since there was some underlying assumption that all other members of our party would then be forced to wait with me (it wasn't, really).

The interior was relatively quiet for an early Saturday afternoon: only a few other ice cream-goers stood ahead of us. We joined the lineup inside the sweet-smelling shop and patiently awaited the opportunity to try this hyped creation.

Sampling was permitted, but limited to a maximum of three flavours for the sake of being courteous to the guests in line behind. The payment process was a tad odd in that customers were required to choose the number of flavours and cup/cone preference before moving on to the actual selection. As a first-timer, I wasn't completely sure of my choice as yet, but that was irrelevant since payment was required upfront.

I sampled Organic Matcha, Roasted Pecan with Vancouver Island Sea Salt, and another flavour of whose name I cannot recall. Matcha became an instant favourite of mine for its intense grassy aroma and slightly bitter notes. Generally, I tend to stray from nut-based concoctions, but the Roasted Pecan truly swept me off my feet. The pecans had been ground to an unthinkable smoothness, exhibiting only fine remnants of copper-toned shells; the nuttiness was then further enhanced with a dose of sea salt, taking it to formidable new heights.

Strawberry Fields was another stunning choice: the essence of fresh strawberries reigned throughout the sticky, cold Italian dessert.

​​The servings were devoured on the "patio" just before the lineup began to reveal its true colours - er, length.

I must admit: I was very impressed at the flavour intensity of the gelato. While I had initially doubted the authenticity of Organic Matcha, the pale green option later proved itself to be more than worthy of a try.

A crew of pleasant and patient staff was also greatly appreciated.

Appetites temporarily satisfied, we pedalled onwards to even greater waterfront views.

Some several hours into the journey, we pulled over for hot dogs and a break under the shade.

Despite having strayed slightly from the main cycling route, our picturesque views remained.

Fast-forward two hours later, we concluded the entire trip, returned our bikes to the Mobi drop-off location, and strolled into Breka on Bute.

Having previously researched their selection online (and ordered a heavenly Tiramisu for another occasion), I was extremely curious as to how Breka managed operations around the clock.

< Pictured above and below: Acai Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie, Americano, and Banana Bread >

The cafe was packed when we first arrived, but we somehow managed to obtain a patio seat not too longer after placing our orders. Baked goods had been prepared in advance; drinks were crafted immediately upon request and delivered swiftly.

 Truthfully, I wasn't fond of either of my items. The Banana Bread was dry, stale, and severely lacking in bananas, while my large smoothie turned out to be nothing more than fifty pumps of sugar syrup over ice.

It was a shame considering that the comfortable dining environment. Of course, the experience would have been even more enjoyable if both washroom stalls had been functioning and the condiment bar was replenished on a regular basis. The high volume of customers had resulted in lavatory wait times averaging at ten minutes!

At least the cafe offered a password-secured Wi-Fi network.

On a more positive note, my biking adventure along the Vancouver waterfront was easily one of the most breathtaking excursions I had ever embarked on. Gorgeous weather had contributed to render the scenery magazine- and commercial-worthy - a total bonus!

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