h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The West End of Vancouver is indeed an enjoyable place to visit but your description of North Vancouver is less than accurate. As I look out my window across the water at the West End, Coal Harbour, and the numerous cruise ships docked before leaving for Alaska I see a cloud. Yes, a rain cloud and if you think it rains more in North Van you must mean the upper regions. North Vancouver stretches from the Lonsdale Quay on the waterfront to the top of Grouse Mountain and it's ski hills. It does rain more here, at least ten blocks up Lonsdale from me- you can see the dividing line when it rarely snows. Where I am we have the same moderate climate as across the water- which we can see clearly and visit often if we wish via the SeaBus (a large passenger and bicylce only ferry that runs every fifteen minutes). Oh and the crime? On a quiet night I can just hear car alarms across the water...(OK it's not that great here but I love it!)
Cheers! From Sunny Lonsdale and Third Street!

Absence of sirens?? Not the Vancouver I live in!! They wail just as much there as in any other comparably-sized North American city.