VANCOUVER – a change is as good as —
Tuesday – a lovely sunny day greets us and this morning we have to change hotels but before doing so we – meaning Kylie and me – walk to Maccas for the usual breakfast and decide that we will try and book the car in to Cruisepark long term parking today instead of tomorrow.
This is a parking area near Canada Bay for people who are embarking on cruises – hence the name Cruisepark.
Tyler has developed a cold (ah-choo) and we hope that he will not be forced to stay behind and watch us depart on the cruise as everyone has the ‘sars’ panic. He has decided to stay in the room and we have to bring back some brekkie for him.
After checking out of the Chateau Granville, thank you for a pleasant stay – we now move to the other side of the city to the Fairmont Waterfront. This was a deal that Kylie obtained for us – Holland America will pay for the night’s stay – so that was good.
We approach the ritzy looking hotel in our not so ritzy looking little car and park out the front of the lobby. Kylie & I go inside to check in and the girl asks us if we want to upgrade to a water view – for which we will have to pay extra. As HA have paid for the room we agree it is worth the little bit of extra money especially as she tells us that we will see our ship dock in the morning (see photo Canada Bay Dock) so that will be good. (Tourist idiot sign flashing!) We unload – and the parking attendants take the car.
Our room is 2203 on the 22nd floor and is very nice although what is it with hotels and beds? Once again this room has two doubles so after another phone call – we are assured that a roll-a-way will be supplied.
One would think that everyone has a double bed at home – well not us! Kylie & Tyler have a King size and I have a queen at home so a double bed is really just not on – especially as my feet will stick out the bottom of it!
We re-sort our luggage, taking out only what we will need on the cruise, call the Consierge for our car and after re-loading our non-cruise stuff back into the car it’s off to find Cruisepark only to arrive and discover that there is no-one there. Apparently they are only open on the days when the ships either come in or go out.
So back we go to the hotel with all our stuff where the parking attendants have a look of ‘not them again!’ but they were very gentle with us. Lovely polite people.
After mumbling to ourselves about how stupid an exercise that was – we head out of the hotel for Gastown to do a bit of sightseeing.
At the front of the hotel are these Bald Eagle statues which are part of the Eagles in the City project. Every Winter from November to February literally thousands of Bald Eagles arrive on the West Coast of British Columbia to feast on salmon on the banks of the rivers and tributaries.
The Bald Eagle makes a statement of strength, striking appearance, grace and personifies freedom. With this in mind the Bald Eagle will now take up residence on the streets of Vancouver, Vancouver Island and beyond to complete the trilogy of public arts projects by the BC Lions Society. The first being the Orca coming out of the Pacific Ocean, then the Spirit Bear coming out of the forests of Northern BC (we missed both of these) and now the Bald Eagle soaring through the skies of the West Coast from April 2009 to April 2010 in support of the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Services.
All monies raised from the sale of these Eagles goes directly to help children with disabilities throughout British Columbia. A very worthy cause. After the usual Kodak moments which included the typical brain dead tourists standing in front of the statues while you are trying to take a photo – we move on to Gastown.
This is an area which is a short walk from Canada Place and full of tourist shops. This is also the area where the prices are very reasonable so once again we do some shopping for ourselves and those at home – I think we must have gone into about 20 shops all up and they all seemed to be owned by Japanese!
I get a really good deal on a reversible Canada jacket that will keep me nice and warm when we head North. My white Monterey jacket is looking a bit on the grubby side and that certainly will not do for a first class cruise.
We stop and see the Steam Clock which obviously runs on steam. On the quarter hour the steam plays the Westminster chimes and the tourists all stand around about 6 inches from the clock.
Surely they should know that if you stand back then you get a better view and everyone gets a chance to see it? Obviously not! I wait until they all leave so that I can get a clear view. In 10 minutes the clock will be surrounded once again by pushy tourists.
Back to shopping! Vancouver has some really cool tourist items. Kylie is on the search for a Canuck’s ice hockey jersey but along the way we find some really cool hats.
Tyler takes a liking to the moose and in typical Tyler humour puts it on and we snap away. Note the glasses over the moose eyes! We find a Scottish shop – now there’s a novel idea!
Kylie is astounded to find Ribena blackcurrant syrup which is selling for $13.00 a bottle (you’ve got to be kidding) but she decides it is money well spent. Although in saying that I get some ginger beer. Kylie never did find her jacket.
As it is getting on in the afternoon and we have not had lunch we head back to the hotel as we noticed that there is an arcade underneath. There is also a Holland America stand off the foyer of the hotel so we pay a visit and ask of the lady what should we expect tomorrow re booking in etc. She tells us that our bags must be ready to collect at 8am, Kylie’s response to that is a look of ‘holy s**t another early morning’.
Miss HA provides some answers to our questions about the cruise and whilst doing so gives us the feeling that she is really not interested in our questions. Some people need to discover exactly what a customer is before embarking on a pathway of customer service. We decide to head for lunch and leave Miss Disinterested to her lonely vigil.
Off to our room to deposit our new found wares and back downstairs for lunch. By this time I am dying for coffee and Kylie spies a Tim Horton’s sign. You would think she has won the lottery! For those of you who are unaware – Tim Horton’s is somewhat like a Starbuck’s only Tim just does filter coffee – not lattes or fancy flavours – just good old 100% filtered best taste around coffee.
Saying this it is not like Starbuck’s so I don’t know why I made the comparison. Kylie & I decide on Subway and Tim Horton’s and Tyler – Taco Bell and Dr Pepper. Kylie has also stocked up on some Tim’s to take back home with her – a large tin and I do mean large – should last her about 12 months.
After eating we decide it is time for our usual nap / relax so it’s back upstairs where looking out our window the weather has turned bad again. We are not venturing out again so it’s time for showers and jimmy jams all around.
The roll away bed has arrived and we park it near the window. Some quick night time photos and then it’s back to writing in my journal whilst watching NCIS. We also sort out what new bought items we will take with us and what we will leave in the car. The rain starts again as we drift off to sleep and we all hope that it will be a fine day tomorrow although I am not holding my breath.
Highlight of the day: Gastown Steam Clock