Sightseeing

Day 64 Saturday 4th June 2011 

Time to get off our backsides and see some of what Vancouver had to offer. The day was cloudless with a deep blue sky and sunshine – perfect day to be a tourist. We walked down to the Skytrain station and took the line to its final destination – Waterfront in Downtown Vancouver which was, as it said, at the water front (unlike the Skytrain which spent most of the trip underground). 

Downtown

 

View from the Waterfront

Downtown Vancouver

A large cruise ship sat idling at its berth passengers having been spilled out onto the Vancouver streets an while before because the area was eerily quiet. 

Cruise Ship at her Berth

The nearby tourist office tempted us with tickets for the Capilano suspension bridge which had been built across a gorge in 1889 by a Scotsman. A free shuttle bus took us up to the attraction and it was a spectacular crossing with a treetop walk in amongst the Douglas Firs and (luckily for us) the newly opened cliff walk along the gorge complete with glass bottomed areas designed to churn your stomach. So an excellent “touristy” type day.

Me and Gina in among the Totem Poles

All the Bears are Friendly

The Capilano Suspension Bridge

Part of the Brand New Cliffwalk

Me and Gina

 We hastened back to the hotel to avoid the large crowds that would be gathering in the city to watch the evening’s second Canucks game. The winning of the first game and the excellent summery weather enough to tempt a few thousand more fans into the areas of city with large screens set up to show all the action. A wise move as it turns out because at the end of the game the score was  2-2 and they entered the sudden death overtime  with Vancouver scoring the winner just a few seconds in – the area around us erupted with cars honking horns so the party in the city centre must have been cooking on gas.

A Walk In The Park

Day 63 Friday 3^rd June 2011 

We came out of hibernation and went for a walk in the park at the rear of the hotel and discovered a haven for Canadian wildlife which included carp, turtles, black squirrels, Canada geese (obviously) and the usual assortment of other birds and buzzy insects all attracted by the flora surrounding the tranquil lake. We ambled around the park on a sort of nature trail. Later in the day we spent some time in the sun on our hotel room balcony with some wine and cheese and biscuits – what a peaceful happy life I lead. 

Squirrel Nutkin

Rain, Rain Go Away - Come Again Another Day

Day 62 Thursday 2^nd June 2011

We didn’t travel far as it had decided to be a rainy day so we were forced to append the day in out hotel room doing censored things s not much to report other than to say that we ate at the Mad Greek restaurant just a few hundred yards away from our hotel in the Richmond area of Vancouver - an area that I would 100% recommend to anyone coming to stay in British Columbia. Forget the fancy Downtown hotels with their equally fancy prices as they are mostly filled with conference delegates or cruise ship passengers. Richmond is only a few miles outside of Downtown Vancouver but it is a vibrant place and is well served by free shuttle buses and the Canada Line Translink railway which will take you into Vancouver city centre and back for $5 (about £3)

Go Canucks Go !

Day 61 Wednesday 1^st June 2011 

Pretty much another censored day apart from a brief visit to the Richmond Center Shopping Mall to get a few luxuries and essentials like bottles of booze all topped off with a meal at the Foggy Dew Irish pub opposite the hotel where the menu had, amongst other things, “traditional Irish Nachos”. Can’t say that I have ever encountered this dish on any visit to the Emerald Isle and the Irish Soda Bread was nothing remotely approaching soda bread but otherwise the meal was wholesome and appetising. 

We also watched game one of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins. For the uninitiated, the Stanley Cup is the ultimate prize for professional ice hockey and it has been several years since Vancouver has held the honour of winning the cup. The final is played over a number of games (maximum 7) at each of the teams’ home stadia. The first two games (tonight and then Saturday) are being held at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver. It was a nail biter with Vancouver scoring the winning goal just 19 seconds before the end of the game – as you can imagine the locals were more than happy with this result.

Happy Days

Day 60  May 31^st 2011 

Exciting day for me as my wife, Gina, was flying into Vancouver to spend a week with me before I disappear into the depths of Siberia.  The free airport shuttle bus that arrived at the hotel couldn’t get me to Vancouver International quick enough but I still had a good hour to wait before Gina entered the arrivals hall. 

The rest of this day has been heavily censored.