http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Travelling-Canucks/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Travelling Canucks en-us Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:49:46 +0000 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:49:46 +0000 Days on the DeltaWhether you are visiting Vancouver over the summer months attending Vancouver's Winter Olympics in February to March 2010 or living in Vancouver like the Travelling Canucks do take time out to enjoy some of what the Delta has to offer we certainly do Richmond on the banks of the Fraser River is built on two main islands in the delta at the mouth of one of the world's great http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-430635.html Old Meets NewThe tale of two Chinatowns is one of old meets new. Vancouver's Chinatown being old and Richmond's Asian Golden Village being new. While we would not recommend visiting Vancouver's Chinatown for either Chinese dining other than Wild Rice a fabulous restaurant on Chinatown's outskirts an evening destination or a contemporary shopping spree if you appreciate architecture tra http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-440596.html Neighbourhood Hopping on the WestsideHopping south across the Burrard Street Granville Street and Cambie Street bridges Vancouver's westside offers tourist attractions embedded in its residential neighbourhoods that feature singlefamily dwellings treelined streets shopping districts and private schools clubs and golf courses. Queen Elizabeth Park VanDusen Gardens Nitobe Gardens Universi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-425137.html Vancouver's History Comes Alive The Hudson's Bay Company set up Fort Langley in 1827 as part of its network of furtrading posts across Canada. Today visitors to Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada can walk in the footsteps of British Columbia's pioneers. The Travelling Canucks recommend a visit since we enjoy the interactive exhibits and talks with knowledgeable costumed interpreters. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-444491.html Beautiful English BayGranted the Travelling Canucks are not beach babes but we love sitting like blobs on a log at the beach walking or cycling along the seawall or just driving by the beach to enjoy the scenery You might find us at the beach watching the sunset beachcombing for shells or shutterbugging you just won't find us in bathing suits With approximately 18 km11 miles of beaches su http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-441909.html Sensational Stanley ParkStanley Park a National Historic Site named after Lord Stanley Governor General of Canada in 1888 when the park was officially opened is the crown jewel of the city's 200 parks. Eight million visitors per year to North America's third largest urban core park 400 hectares 1000 acres makes Stanley Park one of Vancouver's top attractions. The cool lush evergreen secon http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-426806.html Reflections on Vancouver's Downtown Vancouver's downtown is a community of business and neighborhood districts where people work live shop and enjoy the urban west coast lifestyle. Vancouver's downtown districts include the business district where the Senior Canucks work and residential districts including the West End Coal Harbour and Yaletown. Shopping districts include the West End's Davi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-426785.html THE DRIVEFor Vancouverites born and raised on the Westside we enjoy visiting the freewheeling artsyfolksyfunky and offbeat eastside neighborhood every summer on Vancouver's Commercial Drive aka The Drive. Admittedly we look and feel a little out of place but nevertheless it's fun venturing on the wild side once in a while since it's where divas dykes and addicts roam the streets. For http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-426772.html Granville Island Over 10 million visitors per year couldn't be wrong.... for tourists and Vancouverites alike it's a great place to visit rain or shine and soak up the Westcoast lifestyle Granville Island features the best public market a live entertainment district artist galleries and working studios and a maritime market. Formerly an industrial area potters weavers printers and jewel http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-425125.html Why Visit GastownGastown is a mix of hip contemporary fashion and interior furnishing boutiques art galleries coffee shops restaurants and nightclubs located in one of Canada's national historic sites. While Gastown is one of Vancouver's tourist attractions residents in social and newly upscale housing workers in professional offices and internet businesses and students attending actin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-425123.html Why Staycation After taking all our 2009 vacation allotment earlier in the year to tour Egypt for four weeks our family aka The Travelling Canucks decided to be tourists in our own hometown over this summer's weekends. On weekdays we slaved at our desks looking out of our downtown office windows and counted the hours until our next weekend adventure Staycationing was definitely a trend this http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-434041.html Cairo RevisitedJanuary 5 2009We returned to Cairo after touring Upper Egypt for 10 days. We flew into Cairo after spending the night in Abu Simbel and stopping over in Aswan en route to Cairo. After flying Egypt Air across Egypt we were impressed with the aircraft flight crews and airports. In fact all our domestic Egypt Air flights departed and arrived on time We checked into the Four Se http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-241180.html Want to know what the Travelling Canucks are talking about now that they are back home in Vancouver Canada after a 4 week trip over Christmas Break Well even if you don't we Senior Canucks are approaching our 50's so before our memories fade we are sharing some of the highlights and lowlights of our trip to Egypt. Hopefully Junior Canuck's memories of Egypt will be everlasting Since we capt http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-241186.html Travelling Canucks Go Tomb Raiding and Temple Gazing AgainIn the Valley of the Kings one never knows what tombs might be closed for repairs. So we went prepared with a list of our picks but went with an open mind Being flexible is key to enjoying the travelling experience especially in Egypt. We took a private guided tour with an Egyptologist Mohamed abdel Hamid of Eye of Horus Tours that s http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Luxor/blog-241176.html Last Day on Sonesta Nile River Cruise December 29 2008After breakfast on board we had an early start leaving our ship at 730am with our bags in tow. We boarded a bus crossed the Nile and toured the West Bank with our group. In ancient Egypt the tombs were all built on the west side because the day ldquodiedrdquo in the west swallowed by the goddess Nutt. People lived on the East Bank w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Valley-of-the-Kings/blog-241173.html Camel How To'sTo understand how to get up on a camel it is helpful to understand how a camel gets up The camel first gets into a kneeling position then the camel pushes up its strong back legs before finally straightening its front legs.First of all you have to be able to swing your legs over the camel's saddle with wooden posts protruding from the back and front of the saddle. Not an easy ta http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-364444.html New Year's Eve What a night Snake charmer dancers and musicians Canucks using the term broadly. Watch and listen to the video clips and weep Mama Canuck was the first to be introduced to the not so charming snake charmer With a snake around her neck Mama Canuck could only remember the terror Papa Canuck felt when in Marrakesh After the snake charmer's offer to put the snake down Mama Canu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Luxor/blog-241174.html Cruising on the NileDecember 27 2008After enjoying a delicious breakfast on board we sailed on the Nile by felucca an Egyptianstyle sail boat around Kitchener's Island a small granite island that was landscaped with exotic plant species by Lord Kitchener. There was a strong wind that carried us swiftly across the Nile under blue skies and sunny weather with a young Nubian boy on a water boar http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Kom-Ombo/blog-241171.html Last Day in AlexandriaFriday December 19th Still battling jetlag we took a taxi to Montazah Palace the former summer residence of the deposed Egyptian royal family which was restored by President Sadat to a presidential residence. Royal palaces and assets as well as property held in private hands were expropriated for the people during the Egyptian Revolution in 1952. We have spoken to many http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Mediterranean/Alexandria/blog-358274.html December 26 2008We checked out of the Four Seasons First Residence early to catch our 7am flight to Aswan where we boarded Sonestarsquos St. George ship for our three night cruise. Since Friday is the ldquoIslamicrdquo holiday and we left at 500am traffic to the airport was light. When we arrived at Terminal 1 of 3 at Cairo International Airport one of the Middle Eastrsquos largest ai http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-241167.html