Transferred out of San Francisco on Tues am (US time) and finally arrived here in Canada – rather warm compared to what we expected – about 26 degrees – 33 expected on Thursday so we’ll be bringing out those summer clothes we have been saving for Asia! San Francisco was having unusually warm weather also so all much warmer than expected. Well, I could always buy some more! Only problem is my luggage is heavy already – had to transfer some weight into my hand luggage coming from San Francisco to Canada – it’s a different airline group to the One World group we are allowed more luggage on for the remainder of the trip. Ho hum, just means any of you expecting pressies might not get anything if I can’t carry them!
A free day tomorrow in Vancouver so will head out and do the touristy stuff – thought we were off on the train tomorrow but a minor glitch between one travel agent and another – one had us here for one night, the other 2 nights! It’s actually 2 nights and much better – this Fairmont Hotel is far too nice to only have one night in!
Next day
Slow start but heade out of the hotel for breakfast to a local haunt I read about – ended up a nice cheap place which was fine. Then on down to the usual tourist haunt of the central city lookout tower – nice shiny outside the building lift for you Marg! Spotted the cruise ships there which had come in overnight.
Following that, heade to the ‘Seabus’ terminal (ferry terminal) and went over to North Vancouver, caught a local bus up to the Capilano Suspension Bridge – did the treetops walk and stooged around for a bit then jumped on the local bus again up to Grouse Mountain, Vancouver’s highest peak. Took a gondola ride to the top. Had a look at the wild bird display – I saw the barn owl bit then went ‘bear hunting’ while Kemm stayed and watched the perigrine falcon, vulture and bald headed eagle demonstrations.
The bears were apparently sleeping and had been for ages, the ranger reckoned it was time they were up! A few of us spotted one of them get up and go over the hill so we shot round the other side and lo and behold managed to be right up close to him as he walked the fence line. Would lvoed to have patted him but no! There’s been 2 bear attacks on locals since we’ve been here so they are not nice creatures!
Headed back down the mountain and eventually got back to Vancouver and decided to wait the hour and a bit until ‘our’ ship pulled away from the dock. It was great! Haven’t seen a ship leave port before – watched the lifeboat drill before they left and took heaps of photos knowing we were heading out on the same ship next week.
Meantime, we are out of Vancouver at 7am tomorrow morning and onto the Rocky Mountaineer Train fo what I am sure will be a great trip over to Jasper, then a tour bus for 5 days down to Calgary and back to Vancouver for the Alaskan Cruise. More later – not sure when I can next upload photos etc with this train journey.
