Vancouver Eh

Arrive

Tuesday 9th October


Accomm L'Hermitage 

http://www.lhermitagevancouver.com/

Damn nice hotel room.

We ducked over the road to the Nelson, for an early dinner then slept REALLY well.  Till 10am.

Wednesday 10th September

We had the most amazing breakfast at the hotel with organic everything, local delicacies and much niceness.

We then retrieved our car from the valet guys and headed off on the "Sea to the Sky" Drive. We travelled out of Vancouver over the Lions Gate Bridge, which we will be cruising under on Friday, along Marine Drive and followed the coast up Howe Sound to the town of Squamish then up '99' to Whistler. And it was stunning.

 Marine Drive was a lovely residential drive with stunning views. Narrow, twisty and full of stunning houses.

 An intersection with a view.

 There were signs every where warning of bears.  But the damn bears were up in the mountains eating berries as it was "So Dry down here".

Andy was very excited to see a squirrel.  I wonder if he is related to Sarah????

"Doowwwwn  Toowwwn Vancouver Eh"

Olympic Ski Jump

Thursday 11th September

A drive around Stanley Park then a gondola up Grouse Mountain.

 Valet parking is awesome.  You pull up the car and they run out to help you then drive off with the car.

Stanley Park.  1001 acres of prime land adjoining Vancouver.  It is stunning.  The forest is genuine old growth forest.

Lions Gate Bridge is a stunning suspension bridge with two lions guarding the entrance. Not really.  It does have big lion statues  but it really refers to The Lions. The pair of mountain peaks that are north of the bridge. The total length is 1823 metres. It has 70,000 vehicles a day over it (but no trucks or cars with studded tyres).

And it's so pretty.

English Bay.

Beach No 2.  Stunning beach.  Haha

Stanley Park was original the land of the indigenous peoples. Totem poles were an important part of their lives.

Andy was very excited to see Canadian Geese.

The Park was not a planned park, it just happened. Therefor the forest is actually old growth forest. Sensational.

We then headed up to Grouse Mountain.  That’s the huge mountain / ski resort directly across form Canada Bay. The drive up through the suburbs was lovely.  We then rode the Gondola up to the top.  Cost was $40 each.  The view from the ride up amazing. Spectacular.

We went to the Lumberjack show (included in the price). I was prepared for the very touristy, hookey kind of show, but it was very funny. And displayed great talent. Just before it started off some goat of a tourist was walking around on their set fiddling with things. The compare tried to chase him away but he was a bit stroppy. He left, then started walking around picking up bits of wood – I guess for souvenirs.  Next thing, he put on their climbing equipment and started up the pole.  By this stage everyone realized he was part of the show.  He ended up at the top of the pole 20 metres (60 feet) without his climbing gear, spikes etc.  it was really funny but your hear was in your mouth none the less.

They then showed axe throwing, cross cut saws, plank standing, log rolling etc.

It was great!

Also included were a few movies, bird show, and the bears. They are rehab bears and were in a great enclosure (and I’m a harsh judge with animal enclosures) and were the most amazingly healthy bears ever.

Kid sitting in garden bed building traditional sculptures.

We then went back down, returned our lovely car to Avis and caught a taxi down to the harbor.

5 years ago when we cruised Alaska, we (Sarah and I)  found a bar called “Lift – Bar and Grill”. It was magical so I wanted Andy to see it.  

And it was just as I remembered.  AMAZING!!!!!!!  The food was sensational and the view – I just don’t have enough superlatives!!!!!!!

Mariners, rowers, sailboats, motor boats, seals, otters, float planes, cruise ships.

But first.   5 years ago just outside LIFT, we saw police out working the horses.  Today, about 20 metres from the exact spot, we saw police again. One was riding the same horse!!!!!!

Vancouver is magical!


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