Monday 23 June 2008

First full day in Vancouver

Because of the unexpected trip to Whistler tomorrow we had to pack as much sightseeing in as we could.
But first we had to work out where we would need to go to pick up the car when we came back to Vancouver, where the Fairmont Waterfront hotel was, and what we could do with our spare cases to reduce what we were carrying around. After breakfast we went down to the front desk and Sean was very helpful and told us we could store the cases in their store room.
The place we pick the car up is only one block along and 4 blocks up and the Fairmont was only 10 minutes walk away.
It was still before 8am so we sat down in front of the Station and worked out what we would do. The best option according to Sean was a 1 day multizone travel ticket, and it proved to be just that.
First visit was to the Lookout in the Harbour Centre. Spectacular views of the whole of Vancouver and the surrounds. Our Guide Miak, told us a great deal of the history of the city as we looked out.
After descending we made our way over to the Seabus terminal and travelled over to Lnsdale Quay in North Vancouver where we caught the bus to Grouse Mountain.
Now Grouse Mountain has a cable car at the bottom but we went anyway. Rita is very nervous of these devices. We waited to watch one go off and Rita pondered and then announced she would go up. We paid and entered the gondola. Maximum capacity was 100+1. The journey up was uneventful and Rita looked relaxed. There was still a large amount of snow at the top. One of the attractions was the Screaming Eagle chair lift. which disappeared down the slope towards Vancouver. Each chair was a four-man bench with the drop down barrier full open the the elements. I looked at it, Rita look at it. The young girl operating it asked if we wanted to ride. Rita said she would think about it. We walked around the area and saw one of the two Grizzly Bears living there. They we both orphans and are now too used to humans to be released.
Rita suddenly announced she was going to go on the chairlift! Where was my wife and who was this impostor? Even more remarkable was that while travelling down we stopped and Rita didn't start to panic. It was however very fresh sitting there. The rest of the journey down and back up was uneventful.
After a bowl of chips we went back down the Cable car and on to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Crossing the bridge was a little like being drunk.
The next stop was Stanley Park where we avoided too much exertion by taking the free suttlebus that travels right round the island. We then caught the bus back to our hotel. After a meal we collapsed, after making sure we had set our alarms for 6am for our trip to Whistler.
After

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