Sarah is writing today's blog and Alan will complain about the cold (constantly) in red. As if I would complain.
We had a lovely night sleep in our king size bed with very soft pillows. Alan got up early this morning to check the soccer scores from England (on holidays and I still can't get away from it) but he was quiet about it so I slept in until 8.30.
This hotel doesn't offer breakfast so we chose to skip that meal this morning. After a shower we dressed warmly to go and do the Vancouver Trolley Tour. A quick check of the forecast before leaving the room said it was going to get to a maximum of 9 degrees today and be wet. Lovely! Even with jeans, a t-shirt, jumper and leather jacket, Alan still couldn't resist telling me most of the day it was cold. Yes Alan, it's Canada! I think I'll have to start wearing 4 jumpers from now on. As Sarah's dad pointed out, I don't have enough insulation on me.
The trolley tour is a hop on, hop off bus and does two separate loops but we chose to stay on for an entire trip on each loop. We enjoy these tours as it only takes a couple of hours, you get to see (and get information about) various locations and then choose what you want to go back and look further at. Luckily these weren't open top buses like you get in some cities.
The first loop took us through Stanley Park which is extremely large, very green and has great scenery. We had only just entered the park when I saw something in the distance. I asked Alan "what do you think that is?" It was an animal of some sort but certainly not a squirrel the way it was moving. Alan said "It's too small to be a raccoon", then it turned around and it was a RACCOON. Unfortunately he was too far away to get a photo. He was very cute though. Later in the day we came across a sign in the park warning you not to get close to the raccoons because of rabies.
After leaving the park, we continued on the trolley around the streets, eventually arriving at Canada Place. The building juts out over the water and its
white sails makes it look like a ship in port and is the major cruise ship terminal for Alaska-bound cruises. After a quick walk around, we got on the trolley for the second loop which took us through such areas as Yaletown, Chinatown and Gastown before returning to Canada Place. There were a number of other Australians on the tour, including an obnoxious South Australian couple where the woman kept asking where Michael Buble was. She was only in Vancouver to see him. We tried to distance ourselves from her. It's disappointing when you see other Australians overseas being drunken dickheads.
After getting off the tour, we decided to take a walk to where the Olympic flame rests (of course no longer burning) and then walk back to our hotel. The rain had held off for most of the morning but now, as we were walking, it decided to come down on us. By this time it was around 1pm so we stopped into McDonald's for a bite of lunch until the rain stopped. It was a typical McDonald's meal except the shakes were exceptional. We really only stopped there for lunch because at this point it was so ridiculously cold that we just had to get inside.
Back at the hotel we organised our plan of attack for the afternoon. As it was still very dark and overcast, we decided to put off going up Grouse Mountain to hopefully tomorrow (there is no visibility today) and got in the car and headed back to Stanley Park. First stop was to the Vancouver Aquarium. It is on a very small piece of land but houses a lot of different animals including 4 beluga whales, dolphins, seal lions and seals. The belugas are amazing and Alan is convinced they are animatronic. They're not real. They're made of soft squishy marshmallow.
We were lucky we got there when we did as the queue was way out the door when we were leaving.
Our next stop was at the totem poles followed by a stop at Prospect Point to get a look at the Lionsgate Bridge. There are a lot of signs here to be wary of raccoons but unfortunately didn't get to see another one.
Then we left the park and went to English Bay’s Morton Park to see “A-maze-ing Laughter” by Chinese artist Yue Minjun. This is a larger-than-life, cast-bronze statues depict Minjun’s own face in a state of hysterical laughter. Strangely entertaining to see. It's on loan from China for 18 months.
Then we stopped at the Inukshuk. The plaque at the base reads "Ancient symbols of Inuit culture traditionally used as landmarks and
navigation aids, this grey granite statue representing a human form
with outstretched arms is a well-known symbol in Canada of northern
hospitality and friendship".
By this time Alan was frozen and in need of a nap so we returned to the room. Here we discovered that some of the cloud had lifted and that we did indeed have a mountain view from our room.
Alan had a very long nap and I finally had to wake him at 7.30 for dinner. I had, three nights ago, spilled something on my jumper and had remarked to Alan numerous times that I was sure I had packed another one but it wasn't in my bag. He, of course, never listens so I had to wear the stained jumper inside out for a few days. I remarked again tonight that I wish I had my other jumper and he says "oh there is one in my suitcase". Great Alan, just great. Now you tell me!!! You never asked me for the one from my suitcase. You just kept blubbering on about the stain on your other one. Be more specific woman!
We chose to eat in the hotel restaurant as it was reasonably priced, we didn't have to go outside in the cold plus we had a $5 off voucher. We both had crab cakes and shared a ceasar salad. Nice meal. The restaurant has a full glass frontage and we are located right in the middle of the busy section of Robson Street in downtown and we got to watch the traffic go by. One thing we are confused about. It is about 7 degrees outside and the busiest shop is the gelato place across the street. At one stage there was a queue of about 10 people outside waiting to get in. Now I think about it ... gelato might be nice
Get me one while you're there please.
Tomorrow we are hopeful of better weather before we take off for Whistler. We are still hopeful of getting up Grouse Mountain, might stop at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, swing by Cypress to see where the Winter Olympic events were held before taking the 1.5 hour drive to Whilster. Unfortunately the forecast there is for rain for the next few days but we remain ever hopeful for a few breaks in the weather.
Trivia for the day: There are no comfortable seats in Vancouver. The trolley tour seat was dreadful, the chairs in the restaurant tonight were bad and the one I'm sitting on right now to write this blog is the most uncomfortable seat of all. Wooden frame with cloth around it is not comfortable. By the end of the trolley tour my bum was so numb that I was happy to get off.
We had a lovely night sleep in our king size bed with very soft pillows. Alan got up early this morning to check the soccer scores from England (on holidays and I still can't get away from it) but he was quiet about it so I slept in until 8.30.
This hotel doesn't offer breakfast so we chose to skip that meal this morning. After a shower we dressed warmly to go and do the Vancouver Trolley Tour. A quick check of the forecast before leaving the room said it was going to get to a maximum of 9 degrees today and be wet. Lovely! Even with jeans, a t-shirt, jumper and leather jacket, Alan still couldn't resist telling me most of the day it was cold. Yes Alan, it's Canada! I think I'll have to start wearing 4 jumpers from now on. As Sarah's dad pointed out, I don't have enough insulation on me.
The trolley tour is a hop on, hop off bus and does two separate loops but we chose to stay on for an entire trip on each loop. We enjoy these tours as it only takes a couple of hours, you get to see (and get information about) various locations and then choose what you want to go back and look further at. Luckily these weren't open top buses like you get in some cities.
The first loop took us through Stanley Park which is extremely large, very green and has great scenery. We had only just entered the park when I saw something in the distance. I asked Alan "what do you think that is?" It was an animal of some sort but certainly not a squirrel the way it was moving. Alan said "It's too small to be a raccoon", then it turned around and it was a RACCOON. Unfortunately he was too far away to get a photo. He was very cute though. Later in the day we came across a sign in the park warning you not to get close to the raccoons because of rabies.
After leaving the park, we continued on the trolley around the streets, eventually arriving at Canada Place. The building juts out over the water and its
white sails makes it look like a ship in port and is the major cruise ship terminal for Alaska-bound cruises. After a quick walk around, we got on the trolley for the second loop which took us through such areas as Yaletown, Chinatown and Gastown before returning to Canada Place. There were a number of other Australians on the tour, including an obnoxious South Australian couple where the woman kept asking where Michael Buble was. She was only in Vancouver to see him. We tried to distance ourselves from her. It's disappointing when you see other Australians overseas being drunken dickheads.
After getting off the tour, we decided to take a walk to where the Olympic flame rests (of course no longer burning) and then walk back to our hotel. The rain had held off for most of the morning but now, as we were walking, it decided to come down on us. By this time it was around 1pm so we stopped into McDonald's for a bite of lunch until the rain stopped. It was a typical McDonald's meal except the shakes were exceptional. We really only stopped there for lunch because at this point it was so ridiculously cold that we just had to get inside.
Back at the hotel we organised our plan of attack for the afternoon. As it was still very dark and overcast, we decided to put off going up Grouse Mountain to hopefully tomorrow (there is no visibility today) and got in the car and headed back to Stanley Park. First stop was to the Vancouver Aquarium. It is on a very small piece of land but houses a lot of different animals including 4 beluga whales, dolphins, seal lions and seals. The belugas are amazing and Alan is convinced they are animatronic. They're not real. They're made of soft squishy marshmallow.
We were lucky we got there when we did as the queue was way out the door when we were leaving.
Our next stop was at the totem poles followed by a stop at Prospect Point to get a look at the Lionsgate Bridge. There are a lot of signs here to be wary of raccoons but unfortunately didn't get to see another one.
Then we left the park and went to English Bay’s Morton Park to see “A-maze-ing Laughter” by Chinese artist Yue Minjun. This is a larger-than-life, cast-bronze statues depict Minjun’s own face in a state of hysterical laughter. Strangely entertaining to see. It's on loan from China for 18 months.
Then we stopped at the Inukshuk. The plaque at the base reads "Ancient symbols of Inuit culture traditionally used as landmarks and
navigation aids, this grey granite statue representing a human form
with outstretched arms is a well-known symbol in Canada of northern
hospitality and friendship".
By this time Alan was frozen and in need of a nap so we returned to the room. Here we discovered that some of the cloud had lifted and that we did indeed have a mountain view from our room.
Alan had a very long nap and I finally had to wake him at 7.30 for dinner. I had, three nights ago, spilled something on my jumper and had remarked to Alan numerous times that I was sure I had packed another one but it wasn't in my bag. He, of course, never listens so I had to wear the stained jumper inside out for a few days. I remarked again tonight that I wish I had my other jumper and he says "oh there is one in my suitcase". Great Alan, just great. Now you tell me!!! You never asked me for the one from my suitcase. You just kept blubbering on about the stain on your other one. Be more specific woman!
We chose to eat in the hotel restaurant as it was reasonably priced, we didn't have to go outside in the cold plus we had a $5 off voucher. We both had crab cakes and shared a ceasar salad. Nice meal. The restaurant has a full glass frontage and we are located right in the middle of the busy section of Robson Street in downtown and we got to watch the traffic go by. One thing we are confused about. It is about 7 degrees outside and the busiest shop is the gelato place across the street. At one stage there was a queue of about 10 people outside waiting to get in. Now I think about it ... gelato might be nice
Get me one while you're there please.Tomorrow we are hopeful of better weather before we take off for Whistler. We are still hopeful of getting up Grouse Mountain, might stop at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, swing by Cypress to see where the Winter Olympic events were held before taking the 1.5 hour drive to Whilster. Unfortunately the forecast there is for rain for the next few days but we remain ever hopeful for a few breaks in the weather.
Trivia for the day: There are no comfortable seats in Vancouver. The trolley tour seat was dreadful, the chairs in the restaurant tonight were bad and the one I'm sitting on right now to write this blog is the most uncomfortable seat of all. Wooden frame with cloth around it is not comfortable. By the end of the trolley tour my bum was so numb that I was happy to get off.
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