Helloooo Vancouver!

Mom and I arrived in Vancouver just after 1pm on Sunday afternoon. This marked the end of both gaining and losing time and the beginning of sorting out a feel for a time zone of any kind. During the trip, we had gained an hour each night, but had lost six hours in delays. While some travellers were a bit less than jazzed about arriving in Vancouver six hours later than expected, it actually worked in our favour and gave us a better chance to see the diversity of the Rockies and see Hell's Gate. Plus, we squeezed two more meals out of the kitchen :)

Jen was lovely and met us at the station. We had made a hurried call from the platform in Edmonton, so she arrived for our new arrival time and not six hours earlier! She is also an excellent person to have working with you if you are ever trying to snag a piece of luggage off a conveyor belt built much smaller than the crowd around it.

We took a quick trip to the hotel to check-in and get a bit freshened up. It was a strange deal we had taken a risk on by using http://www.hotwire.com/, but it worked out quite nicely. It was in a good location (close to Stanley Park), had a small kitchenette, a decent view of the mountains and bits of the ocean, and a balcony to sit out on with beverages. It also had more space than either of us knew what to do with after the train compartment!

Jen took us for a tour of the city, starting with the lovely Stanley Park, straight through the Gaybourhood, and into Granville Island. We had a nice walk-about the shops, sampled some Granville Island beer, and had one of the best dinners ever at the Sandbar.

We took mom back to the hotel and I gave Jen the book I made her from her last summers' Cross-Canada Adventure blog (www._________ & http://www.blurb.com/). I am happy that it was as big a hit as it was. Not everyone embarks on such an adventurous vision quest (as I think she came to understand it) and she certainly deserved a reminder of just how much can happen in a year. Don't we all?

Next, Jen and I headed out to the last night of the Vancouver Folk Festival down at Jericho Beach. We met up with her friend Stef and decided that the price to see one show was way to steep to warrant it. We walked around a bit, breathed some ocean air, stared at the mountains for a bit, and checked out the blissed out dancing hippie set (of which I am a big fan, not so sure about Jen), and headed back to face-plant at the hotel. I think this festival looks like a very good time if you were in it for the whole weekend (http://thefestival.bc.ca/). Have I mentioned how beautiful the seawall here is?