Walking the Streets

Vancouver is a very easy city to negotiate, particularly when on foot. It is laid out in regular blocks on a regular grid and best of all it is relatively flat, so up until now I have been walking everywhere. That means I get to see things, but I am usually pretty tired by the end of the day. I do have a book of transport tickets, so I must start using them.
Yesterday dawned pretty fine, that is with no signs of black clouds and drizzly rain. As it turned out it got to a balmy 12C - I felt quite at home actually, and was stripping layers off in the shops. So I hit the track and headed downtown to check some sights.
Started the morning at the Vancouver library, a pretty stunning building with a facade resembling the Colosseum  in Rome, with light filled glassed areas and filling a full city block.Believe it or not, when I asked there is not one piece of printed material available at the library with information about the construction etc, I was directed to the Wikipedia  page!!!!


As the weather was still holding I headed off to the observation tower to check out the city views, and from the top the views were pretty good, although not entirely clear.




From there down into Gastown a well know tourist area of the city, with it's old cobblestone streets and gaslamps and the beautiful old steam driven clock, the most photographed item in Vancouver I am told. I was lucky enough to be there when the whistle blew it's tune and the steam belched out everywhere. Apparently this has just been repaired - so doubly lucky.


It was then a case of just keep walking, this time along the waterfront to Canada Place, where the large cruise liners dock in summer and much of the Olympic opening events of 2010 took place. The large cauldron for the Olympic flame is there and the "Leggo" Orca and great views over to the North shore and the mountains.


Then continued walking to check out the famous Robson  St shopping strip and of course the 2nd biggest Victoria's Secret shop - you just gotta' when you are here. It is amazing, just like all the adds you see, with all this amazing underwear everywhere. Lucky me, it was the last day of their sale and already marked down goodies were another 50% reduced. I came out with a bag of 3 things, only one of which is a present for my niece - the rest for me, and all for a price less than the cheapest item . What fun!
     
                                       
By the time I staggered back to the apartment - with exhaustion, not the weight of purchases, I don't have room for any more rocks in my case! it was all I could do to walk the dog, but in an apartment, these things have to be done.

Decided that as it is misty, moisty again today, a day to catch up is a good idea, and I need to wait for the credit card to tick over to the next cycle - been giving it a bit of a hard time lately.

Dogs in Downtown Yaletown

Lisa mentioned on our meeting and intro dog walk that you see more dogs than kids in Yaletown and after a week I believe her. Since I have been walking Brubin around the neighbourhood this past week I have seen very few children but lots and lots of dogs.
The interesting thing is that very few dog walkers make any sort of eye contact - everyone just walks along with their head down - no smile, no hi, no nothing, not at all like our social event of walking a dog. I see lots of the same people and dogs as they need regular breaks from apartments - thank goodness for a back yard and an open door, and I quite enjoy walking around the neighbourhood checking it all out, but I guess when you are out 3 or 4 times a day on the same block you loose a little enthusiasm. On the early morning walk I often see people in their pyjamas with a hat and coat and the last walk of the evening produces some interesting looks also - me included. I must admit I really don't feel like doing the block at 10.pm, having to coat and boot up and carry the umbrella, but off we go every night.These are my 2 charges, Aran the cat and Brubin the long haired Schnauzer.

But I really do miss this boy, my lovely Mac, who loves nothing better than an off lead walk or a romp on the beach.

Vancouver Apartments

I don't know if it is the case for all of Vancouver, but in Yaletown a very clever strategy was employed when building the apartment blocks. All the land was originally an old part of town and apparently was purchased by a a Chinese gentleman, who then set about developing. I am sure there is a long story there,  but they have been very clever with the high rise development and virtually every high rise apartment gets some sort of views. The apartments may be small but the views spectacular.
This is my tower block with it's accompanying condos.

With each apartment block the lower area and along the street level, condominiums of several stories are built to accompany each tower. This means that there are a number of low level buildings and between each tower, so that the towers are separated and  none overshadow a neighbour, thus allowing all in the tower blocks to have a view. The condos on street level are much more expensive, and have no view, but they have a lot more room. This apartment may be the penthouse level, but there are 5 apartments on this level and it certainly is "petite",  but I could sit and look out the window s all day. Problem you really have to keep the blinds closed to keep the heat in and the cold out. Sort of defeats the purpose for me.
The great thing about it is the proximity to everything, I can virtually walk everywhere, and it is flat all the way, and if I can't walk there, the public transport is fantastic.
If it ever stops raining I shall have a ball,  but I am anyway.


This is the neighbouring apartment block with mine behind, the two take a whole street block between them.

Vancouver

I have been here almost a week and no time for posts, somehow the time just flies by.
We finally arrived late Sunday afternoon, tired and grumpy after a very long 2 days. Made it to the hotel and after a hissy fit , we decided we couldn't cope with dinner, I hit the bath for a good soak and relax and then hit the bed for a good long sleep. I think Lynn also tried the spa bath, but I was out to it all.
As we had virtually missed 2 days in Vancouver, I was to meet my "home owners" and check everything out, so Lynn headed to the Aquarium for the afternoon and we met again for dinner.
The apartment was only 2 blocks from the hotel, so I just pushed the case around the block and headed up to the 24th floor to meet Lisa and the animals, Brubin the long haired  miniature Schnauzer and Aran the rather eccentric cat. The apartment is "petite" but the views are just magnificent, if the rain clears enough to see them that is. That's it at the very top, the middle balcony and the 2 windows either side.
T
Lynn and I had out last dinner together that evening as my home owners were to leave very early in the morning so I stayed there that evening.
I am hoping Lynn made it safely home to Elora, as we had received news that the weather on that side of the country was turning very nasty yet again. I am guessing she slept for a couple of days to get over it all.

The Saga of VIA - Canadian Rail

The day started off ever so well, a lovely fall of snow overnight left everything looking crisp and white and fresh. The niggling doubts started after breakfast when I spoke to the Bell Captain about the train and checking the departure time - he just laughed a little and immediately extended our checkout time to 1.00pm, saying he would call after 12. to give us an update. Hmmmmm.
Spent the morning packing - yet again and wandering around through the nice fresh snow and down to the Lake where a group of 8 Bull Elks had come in, quite an unusual sight as the males don't usually travel together.



                                                                                   

Then the wheels fell off the train, so to speak, The bell captain rang and said the train was running very late, and by that I mean it had been 24 hours late leaving Toronto, and had been loosing time ever since. We were told that VIA would pay for our accommodation that night, but not where we were and only at one hotel in town. He said this with a sort of dread in his voice and offered us transport into town. Our journey back to real life started. We arrived at the hotel - pretty basic and just over the road from the station to be told that we had to obtain a voucher from Via, so over we all trudged, picked up the voucher and back to the hotel to check in. Then Lynn and I went to explore the town and spend money.
Later in the afternoon we went back to the station to check progress, only to be told with some delight by the clerk that we had cancelled our booking and had "leaked out of the system". We insisted we hadn't done any such thing and got a little "techy", he insisted he could fix it??? Interestingly enough when I said I had ordered special food he could find that in the system under my name, obviously that part of me hadn't "leaked out."
Back at the hotel came another little surprise when we received a message saying that as we had cancelled our booking we now would have to pay for our room. NOT HAPPY JAN! So I called the Canadian providers of our tour and got them working and within a couple of hours the rail clerk got back to us a little subdued, saying the service manager had us on his Blackberry, so we had a compartment.
We had a lovely dinner and then the next day it all started again. Off to the station, where a very efficient lady ticketed us and got it all sorted, no probs,. but all day the misinformation continued, first we were leaving at 5, then 8.30 etc, etc. The rail manager gave us all vouchers for a lovely restaurant for dinner, then many disgruntled people sat around the station until finally the train arrived at 1.00am, by that time a mere 36 hours late. needless to say it was straight into bed.

The journey itself was rather pleasant as tired as everyone was, although we missed the best views of the highest point in the Rockies,  but we did get to see vistas that the train travellers don't usually see.
Via handed out letters of apology offering 100% of any rail journey within the next 12 months, minus accommodation - I would just hate to think how much they loose every year if this is the way they operate.

Jasper

The last of the "luxury" stops on the trip, and it certainly turned out that way.
We had arrived at the Jasper Park Lodge in the dark, a pretty tired, so it had been hard to get an idea of the place really until the next day. It is very different to the hotels we had been staying in. It really is or was a hunting lodge. The guest accommodations are cabins scattered in groups of about 4 to each block, and cover enormous grounds along the lake and spreading back about 6 rows. The lodge is a few kms out of town,and so really quite isolated. All the main action is in one central building, the lodge itself where all the admin etc, the obligatory shops, restaurants and an enormous lounge area where everyone congregates and sits around in groups, eating,drinking, talking, playing games etc, which gives it a very homey type atmosphere.


Lynn was feeling quite unwell on the day, so I explored the grounds and surrounds, it was lovely just to wander and to spend time in the lounge just catching up.
That evening it started to get colder and we were booked on a canyon walk to the bottom of the Maligne Canyon. Lynn decided it wasn't for her, so off I went with a small group. It had started snowing by this stage, but still wasn't too cold. So we booted and crampon'd up and headed up to the canyon. The walk took us up for o view down into the canyon before we descended to the canyon floor. There were lots of lovely ice formations from the water seeping out and down the walks. It was a 2 hour walk and the snow continued all through, but was fun.

Food

A very important subject on this trip. My "eating" choices are pretty limited, so it wasn't just a case of picking up a quick sandwich or piza along the way, so we have been eating mainly at our hotels, and that "ain't cheap". Lynn managed to sneak off for some cheaper options, but I am afraid I cost her a fortune.
On the whole the food was great, if expensive. There were a few disasters and then there was the $26 hamburger at the Jasper Lodge. Lynn wasn't feeling well and when I went on the Maligne canyon walk that night she decided on room service. The cost for delivery to the room was to be $5, so she decided to walk over and pick up. A very basic hamburger and fries - $26, she was not impressed.
I will write a post on our train saga, but the food was good, one of the best things about it. More on all that later.

Lake Louise to Jasper

Probably one of the most spectacular drives in the Rockies. The Icefields Parkway travels past several lakes and some massive glaciers, including the Columbia Icefield which covers an area of about 325 sq kms. We were able to see pasrts of it as it hadn't snowed for a while and the ice was visible

The mountains were majestic and towered over everything, the road very icy and slippery, although everyone travels along st a rate of knots, and as it was a 3 hour journey it was just on dark as we arrived into Jasper to the Fairmont Jasper Lodge.

The waterfalls and ice formations were amazing and we spent the whole journey mesmerised. 

New Year at Lake Louise

After a short bus ride we arrived at the beautiful Lake Louise, and like Banff, packed with people. Being New Year's Eve I guess that is not surprising. Again we stayed at the Fairmount and  again it was all that the adds make it appear, just magnificent. Room was a little on the small size and the bathroom just minute, but the beds are great and we were comfortable.




Than it was off for a sleigh ride along the side of the lake, a magnificent way to enjot the magnificent setting. Lake Louise was more like I had imagined the Rockies to be. Imposing mountains and lots more snow on the ground, the picture postcard scene, with people skating on the lake around the magnificent ice castle and the crispy white snow.




We had a lovely dinner that evening, but didn't quite make it through to the party and the New Year. All this traveling and the fresh air makes you pretty tired - that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it. But it was a lovely day and a greaaat way to end 2013.

Dogs

What I find quite amazing........ The Fairmont Banff Springs, world famous, world class top rate hotel is dog friendly. There are dogs and owners walking through all the public areas all the time and one meets them in the lift on the way to the guest rooms. I don't quite know where they fit, be cause our room wasn't on the large side, in fact it was pretty small and some of these dogs are rather large.Maybe  you book a special room with dog accommodation.
Wish I had bought Mac.

Banff

Wow, after an amazing bus trip from Calgarry, with a very chatty  bus driver and free wifi on the bus - couldn't believe that - we arrived at our hotel, the renown Fairmont Banff Springs (below) and it is just like sll the pictures portray.  We are on the 7th floor with a view of Sulphur Mountain, not THE Mountain, but a great view all the same.

 
Yesterday afternoon was spent exploring some of the hotel and a walk through the downtown area. Very touristy and at this time of year absolutely packed. All around town one can hear Aussie voices, so many of them work here that I felt quite at home.
                                                                                          

Dinner was followed by several hours in the Spa, where there is a large pool of the famous mineral springs in addition to an outdoor hot tub, steam room, sauna and a number of plunge pools - it was very easy to float around and just relax forever
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Today it was off to one of the ski fields for a look around. I was quite surprised that all the skiing requires a bus ride from town, which with all the pick ups takes quite some time. But off we went to Sunshine  Valley, which also was absolutely packed - quite manic actually. It was snowing a little but the season has been pretty lousy so far. I am beginning to b elieve that all this cold and snow in Canada is just a big myth, everty time I come the weather turns mild.. Dinner downtown then another hour or so in the spa. Surprise, surprise Lynn got dressed again and headed off to the hotel shops - she loves that.
Anyway tomorrow it's off to Lake Louise for our New Year adventure

Sunshine Valley

Canada 2013/14

Calgary.

Easy trip over on Air New Zealand, and surprisingly I caught some sleep, probably because the audio system on my personal screen was rubbish and drove me mad trying to listen, but it meant I slept. Total mix up with the food, as I had all my own packed only to be told the day before that I couldn't take it through Auckland, so they ordered me a version of theirs - not impressed but they did try and the air crew were very helpful. Luckily I saw some NZ smoked salmon in Auckland and ate that for dinner and breakfast - me eating fish what a joke, how things have changed.
Easy transfer in Vancouver and even managed to get and earlier flight, so flew over the Rockies in daylight, but lots of cloud so  not much view, although the approach in to Calgary was amazing, but didn't have my camera in hand and they wouldn't let me get it. It is just so flat and white and the straight roads just lead off into the curve of the earth sand the horizon - amazing, Then there were all the circles of the suburbs, a great sight.
It was a balmy 9C when I arrived around 5.30, as the warm winds from the Chinook had kept the  temperatures  high for the last few days - high for here that is, it's all relative. But last night around midnight, the cold, cold wind blew through town dropping the temperature to about -21C, very glad I was asleep. So b y the time we ventured out this morning it was back up to -16C, but it was bearable.
Lynn & I did some wandering,  but they are still in total holiday mode, so most places are closed, but I did find some staples for the next week - like sauerkraut and kombucha!!!!!
Now back and re-packing for the start of the big adventure tomorrow when we are off to Banff..
More to come.

Africa 1973

40 years ago today, I left London after 2 1/2 years to head home to Australia and being contrary as always, with everyone heading the Kathmandu, Afghanistan route, I decided to head off through Africa instead, a journey of 4 1/2 months.
There were 18 of us on the SIAFU trip, manly Aussies, but a couple of Kiwis and Americans, a few Brits and a Frenchman. We traveled through T8unisia, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo, Zaire, Rwanda and Tanzania to Kenya, where the trip officially finished. Several of us continued on through Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe, and onto South Africa and from there I came home.
There were lots of adventures, desert breakdowns and oil rig saviors - funny how they always knew where we were, mud and holes in the road so deep that 2 trucks could be stuck down the hole at any one time and lots of money changing hands attempting rescue to set the trucks on the way. As we left Algeria we were awoken early to the sounds and sights of waves of Russian MIGS on the way to the Yom Kippur war, we camped in the midst of wandering animals in game parks, spent time in a pygmy village, and met some amazing people and saw some amazing sights, certainly a trip remember