VANCOUVER – a fishy day!

Monday – today we have decided to visit the world famous Vancouver Aquarium – home to the even more famous white Beluga whales!  The entrance area of the Vancouver Aquarium features this bronze sculpture of a killer whale, in native Haida Indian style.  What a great sculpture eh?  But more about the aquarium later.

After the usual morning rituals we head downstairs for breakfast. We are not sure if it is included in the hotel rate and after entering the restaurant and being told it is not – we peruse the menu.

Noting that a plain old bacon and egg muffin will cost around $12 we decide that it is a little out of our price range so of course it’s off to Maccas. How I love those Golden Arches!

Has anyone ever done a ‘Round the World with Maccas?’ if not I will put forward my name now – though only for the breakfasts and even though I do not eat eggs (YUK) I love their bacon muffins.  But once again I digress.

Today is Labor Day in Canada so there are not many people around.  We head off to the car and drive to the nearest Golden Arches and on the way Kylie shows me the Vancouver Library.

This is one of Kylie’s favourite buildings and is modelled on the Colosseum in Rome.  When she lived in Vancouver it was a place she would visit all the time as she loves to read.

A very unusual building but unfortunately I am not as excited about it as Kylie so it’s on to Maccas and after a filling brekkie it’s then on to Stanley Park and the Aquarium but we do need our daily coffee fix – a quick visit to Starbucks.

Kylie tells me that Maccas used to hand out free coffee to the many homeless persons in Vancouver – which although did not alleviate the problem it used to at least keep them a bit warm in Winter.

Stanley Park as I have mentioned before is a wonderful place but at the entrance we come to a sudden stop.  Lights are flashing and there are barricades blocking the roadway.  Kylie asks what the problem is and is told that the park is closed because of a marathon and it will not be re-opened for sometime.

Not one to take a backward step she says something along the lines of ‘you are kidding, when is it going to re-open?’ We discover however that the workmen here are apparently the same in Oz – no sense of humour – and he mutters a rather terse answer about standing around for his health and 10am. 

Obviously he is not one of Kylie’s well-mannered Canadians which does not impress her so we turn around and head for another Vancouver landmark – Granville Island.  Fortunately today it is not as packed as it was when we tried to lunch here yesterday and we are able to find a parking spot almost immediately.

Today’s weather is fine so far (touch wood) so we make the most of it and have a good walk around.  Back at the entrance sign there is a lovely little park and a pond – very relaxing before we head on in to the bustle of the Island shops.  There are many varieties of wares for sale – food and flower markets, clothes, bric-a-brac and of course souvenirs.

I try and find something to take back home but everything is so pricey – so no sale today.  We do however find a fresh bread shop that has samples of the different types of breads and of course we hop inside for a quick nibble.

It’s a shame that there is no where for us to prepare a nice brunch near the river but then again it’s not as if we are starving to death.

 We walk on down to the harbour to have a look and at the end of the pier is the Burrard St Bridge.  This is also the place for the water taxis to ferry passengers between different spots on the river and it is very relaxing to sit, hear the water lap the pylons, watch the birds and and just make the most of the sunshine and look out at life.

After about half an hour we decide to try our luck back at Stanley Park.  I am really praying that the rude workmen have gone and that we can have an uneventful entrance to the aquarium.  My prayers are answered and we find a car park but there is a lengthy walk to the aquarium entrance.  Vancouver Aquarium is not as big as San Diego but it is just as interesting.

Of course there are all the usual things to see – corals, jellyfish, sea otters, dolphins but the most interesting out of everything are the Beluga whales.

There are two Beluga babies about 3 months old and they are just too cute.  We watch them frolicking from our seats above the water and it is here that we grab a bite to eat while we enjoy their antics.   It’s rather ironic that they have ocean creatures on show but they also have them on the cafe menu.  But let’s not think about that – I am sure they use only sustainable seafood supplies.

The attendants give a talk about the Belugas and advise that if we want to go downstairs and see them swimming around in the tank we have to line up as they only let a certain amount through at a time so as not to frighten the little ones which is understandable, so of course we line up and take our turn.

We can however stay for only a few minutes at each viewing area so that we can take photos but please do not use flash – again understandable. These creatures are so loving with their little ones and it is a joy just to watch them but we must move on and let other people enjoy them as much as we have.

I just love aquariums and I could stay for hours. It would be one of the best jobs in the world I reckon – fancy being paid to work with these beings – ah if we could relive our lives – but once again I am digressing.

We walk on to visit with the sea lions where they are being given a routine check up by the attendants.  They are so well trained – the sea lions that is – that when they hear the attendants coming they line up for food.  What a hoot!

Even when the attendants are finishing and start to leave the enclosure the seals leave the water and follow them up to the gate.  How can anyone refuse those great big eyes and of course everyone around goes ‘aaaahhhhhhh’.  Talk about a pushover audience! We have spent most of the day here so after deciding it’s time to leave, the souvenir shop is – of course – at the exit. So the customary fridge magnets, t-shirts etc and we are on our way back to the car.

Now there is something you don’t see in Sydney – raccoons raiding the garbage bins!  This is a normal scene for K&T but I think it is fabulous.  Obviously I don’t have to clean up after them but they are so cute and fluffy until Kyle tells me they can rip you apart if they are angry enough.

They have them back in Oregon and are always coming to visit on their front porch.  Sometimes there are up to 5 of the little blighters visiting and stealing the food put out for the stray cats. Because of this somehow they can’t get as excited about them as me.  Of course the usual Kodak moments and much to my disgust at having to leave my new found furry friends – please just another photo – K&T decide it’s time to leave and I have no choice and am dragged away back to the car.

Our next drive is to the top of the park to Prospect Point to get some views of the Lion Gate Bridge and North Vancouver.

When we arrive we discover reconstruction work being done on the viewing platform – grumble grumble, but I can still get a half decent photo of the bridge and views.

As we are enjoying the peace and quite we are visited by a bus load of Japanese tourists who quickly alight from the bus and start snapping away.

During this time some more of my furry friends decide to pay a call and the tourists start chasing them all over the place wanting photos.

There is also a Japanese musician playing and the music is very soothing although I am not sure what the meaning of this was.

During this time we see the Coral Princess sail under the bridge and depart – probably to Alaska – and we realise that this will be us soon – how exciting.  The clouds start to come over so it’s back to the car just in case the rain is not far behind.

Arriving back at the hotel we have a rest and prepare for tonight’s dinner which will be in keeping with the theme of the day – Sushi.  Kylie has told us that she ate at Robson Sushi Japanese Restaurant quite a bit when living here and the food is wonderful – also cheap – all you can eat for $10.99.  I am not that impressed with raw fish – but I am sure there are other things on the menu so off we go. Kylie has been looking forward to Sushi for 2 years now as it is not something that is readily available in downtown St Helens and after all who is going to tell her no?  Not this little black duck!.

It’s seems quite a distance to Robson Street so we decide to get a cab.  There are lots of interesting shops along the way that maybe we will peruse on our way back.  Arriving at Robson’s Kylie says the menu hasn’t changed much and it is still all you can eat but they have limited the amount of Salmon Sashimi – that is fine with Tyler and me as will not eat our share and Kylie can have it.  Her eyes begin to glaze over!

Amongst my order I have some Tempura veggies which are scrumptious.  Kylie is making the most of her dinner and does not stop for conversation.  Feeling quite full we start our walk back to the hotel – only to discover that now it is all very much uphill.  This was not noticed on our way down in the cab!  Oh well we can walk off the extra kilojoules.  On the way back I buy a nice gold maple leaf for my charm bracelet and Kylie gets a small backpack plus we get some more goodies for those at home.

One point of interest is the countdown clock to the Winter Olympics which are being held here in 2010 and of course the clock is about 2 or 3 blocks out of our way but that doesn’t matter.  There are also lovely fountains so it’s another chance to experiment with the camera!

Arriving back at the hotel – we are beat!  It has been a big day but we take time to pack up a few things as tomorrow as we will be moving to the Fairmont Waterfront for the night before our cruise.

Highlight of the day – the Belugas!