 | Vancouver Downtown Eastside Reviews | 1 - 10 of 55 |  |
 Lineup of Homeless People at
East Hastings by jamiesno
I ignored all advice and done a tour of East Hastings Street. At 10 am in the morning it was very busy with a lot of homeless people, you can see the line up in this picture of people returning cans and bottles for money.
It was a very uncomfortable feeling the entire time on East Hastings but the best was yet to come. To get to Gastown from Chinatown our conceirge helper at the hotel recommended a specific street to use as a crossing. I don't remember the name of it and I don't think it matters.
On that street we came upon about 15 people all balling and arguaing about something. Then all of a sudden a blond homeless drug bruised lady jumped from the crowd as her shirt was being ripped off. This is no joke, she then gave some the finger as she ran down an alley.
Needless to say I quickly crossed the street trying not to be noticed and scrambled over to Gastown. But for me 15 minutes was plenty of East Hastings Street and now I can join the ranks of people that can't recommend this area of Vancouver unless you are really into some preverse activities.
Have fun. Please rate my tips and leave your comments I enjoy them all. But be careful getting from Chinatown to Gastown. I still don't think you are to much at risk, just be careful and behave. At night I am sure it is that much worst, for me witnessing an incident probably made it a little worst. Leave a Comment
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 Pacific Central Station,
Vancouver by Ann75
If possible avoid this area at night, during the day it's alright. But consider that most likely you will be approached by some beggars that need some money for the SkyTrain (that's what they say!!) or for other reasons. Don't fall for this, as they just want money to buy alcohol or drugs.
Try to ignore people like this as much as you can and you won't have many problems. You'll find beggars throughout the city, but usually they're just sitting on the sidewalk hoping for some change. Leave a Comment
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 If you know what this
says...let me know by JyrkiLeave a Comment
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I've noticed all these warnings had to do with the general area of Main and Hastings but not actually dealing with people. If you actually want to be there and take part in the drug abuse here's my tip. The golden rule is never hand the cash untill you actually see the drug. Being steped on (the right of passage for being riped off when buying drugs) is difficult to avoid. The best way to get drugs is from a dealer with a cell phone who you can call up and have him/her meet you. So don't approach anyone downtown to buy drugs directly from them but maybe get a phone number or let them call and introduse you to the dealer. (Vancouver literally has 100's of "dial-a-dealers.") As for Main and Hastings I go there for entertainment ... just to watch the spectacle of the pathetically down and out who think they are smart enough to rip you off with a "deal." Buyer Beware!
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 Main & Hastings in the
downtown eastside by Carmanah
Well-meaning locals and hotel staff will tell visitors to Vancouver to "avoid this intersection at all costs". As a result, many curious travellers will rebel this advice and will go see this forbidden block for themselves. What's the fuss all about anyway?
Historically, Main & Hastings is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood. This used to be the heart of Vancouver's downtown before the world wars. Not anymore.
Coincidentally, the downtown eastside is located between two of Vancouver's most famous tourist sites: Chinatown and Gastown. Most tourists don't even realize such neighbourhood exists until they innocently go exploring beyind Gastown in search for Chinatown. Vancouver's Chinatown exists a block away south of this intersection on Main and Pender. A preferable walk between the two sites is to walk along Pender Street from Gastown to Chinatown.
Vancouver's Main & Hastings intersection isn't dangerous, and certainly isn't worth "avoiding at all costs". It's not violent or ridden with gangs. However, it's a sad sight in terms of social issues and how Vancouver deals with its needy: the drug addicts, the homeless, the beggars and prostitutes. While the rest of Vancouver's downtown becomes gentrified, the down and out end up being marginalized to areas like this.
Yet, the area is rich in history and the architecture in this area is unique. This is Vancouver's grittier side. It's dirty and sad, but not dangerous. Don't fear it, just act wisely. As Vancouver author Douglas Coupland said, "come with sturdy footwear and an open mind'. Leave a Comment
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 by d_knows
Many hav mentioned it here, itz the East side. A little around or close to China Town. When u on East Pender and u gone too far, u'll know u gone too far. East Hastings being the main street to get across downtown to get to the highway(Highway 1) Leave a Comment
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All the warnings I have read afterwards I went accidently to this place have been true.And I was there during daylight!Thank god I didn`t go there during the night.Blood on the street,awful smell and all those sick people.
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Avoid Hastings Street east of Cambie Street, the area immediately east of Gastown and north of Chinatown. Known as the 'Downtown Eastside,' this area is skid row. Unless you are particularly interested in one of North America's largest populations of heroin addicts, drug dealers, petty theives and unseamly characters, stay away. Can be disturbing and occationally dangerous after dark. Leave a Comment
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 downtown eastside alley by ct-bound
Main & Hastings is the absolute worst.
Worth noting, Chinatown which is very close is OK, the freaky-o's generally stay away. Leave a Comment
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I was in Vancouver on Business in Jan. 2007. A bunch of us went to a bar in "gastown" and left the bar when it closed, we were walking around waiting for a free cab (tons of people all looking for cabs) so we decided to walk a bit to find a quieter and easily cab accessable area.. we (all of us from 500km away from Vancouver) stumbled across what is known to us NOW as East Hastings, it looked extremely sketchy, so we figured we'd just walk fast and mind our own business. When after a while, 3 Native americans jumped out of some corner we didn't see them in and started yelling at us. We tried to calm them down and then one of them pulled a massive glass jug out of her jacket and smashed me in the face and then turned to my other friend and hit him in the back of the head. I broke my nose and required an ambulance and my friend just needed a staple in his head. It was a unprovoked attack and it was extremely hard to get out of the situation. As when I got hit, my other friend covered me (he's much bigger then I ) and ran with me away, when the natives saw this, they called "johny" and a man with a knife came out of nowhere and chased us and my friend. We eventually found a police car and flagged him down and were able to get out of there. This area is messed up.... I would extremely recommend not going anywhere near it.. take a cab to china town, or gas town... but avoid that general area..
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