Geo: 51.1752, -115.573The alarm did its job this morning and rattled us out of bed. Another early start in paradise and with usual efficiency the luggage was taken care of, checkout was invisible and the bus was waiting with the driver smiling and ready to deliver us to the red carpet entry of The Rocky Mountaineer for Day 2 on the train. We were farewelled by two Mounties (on horse back) who greet and farewell each train in Kamloops.The morning began with scones, a juice and a hot cuppa followed of course by the silver service dining of breakfast. We shared this with Ray and Miriam ( Ray was a recently retired doctor who provided a family practice in the same community for 65 years) and shared the excitement of our first bear sighting of the ... read more

Geo: 49.2605, -123.114So now that I have your attention - we finished a grouse day (at Grouse Mountain and The Capilano Suspension Bridge) with the best drinks of the trip....a Brazilian - a white rum with kiwi fruit, lime and soda.This was a very late start for us with a 10 am pickup in the foyer by the appropriately named "Gray Line." It seems as if there was an overflow on the official Rocky Mountaineer Bus and fourteen of the passengers were moved to a local bus tour company. This turned out to be a bonus because we had such a small number and we had a very knowledgeable First Nations guide (Jeff) who did provide an indigenous perspective to the day. There were lots of stories and lots of lessons about Mother Earth and caring ... read more

Geo: 49.2838, -123.121Blue skies at last and it certainly brightens up all things Vancouver. We didn't start the day that way, in fact it was a predicted high of 15 so we did begin our adventures under overcast skies rugged up against the cold.The first visit was to the dizzying heights of the Vancouver Lookout for a bird's eye 360 degree view of metro downtown Vancouver, the suburbs of the Southtown ever present mountains of the north and the bustling harbour including the railway yards (they were pretty cool actually!) The glass elevator on the outside of the building whisked us to top at the rate of a second per floor ...we were there in 42 seconds and had even snapped some pics on the way.The observation deck circles around the building. There are signs to ... read more

Geo: 49.2605, -123.114Farewell the The Empress and the deserted marina of Saturday morning and hello to the mainland and Vancouver under grey skies. It was a repeat combination of bus, ferry, bus to get us across the Strait of Georgia, weaving by the Gulf Islands from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. After checkout at 11 am, a smooth ride on the ferry and incessant traffic snarls on The Mainalnd the arrival time at The Fairmont in Vancouver was right on 4 pm...conveniently the guaranteed checkin time.The room was once again "Fairmont spacious" with the best beds and pillows, comfy sitting room and desk, walkin robe etc. but the view. .... hmmm ..just a little different from Victoria. Our window looks over (or should I say across and around) a collection of high rise buildings...no harbour view here ... read more

Geo: 48.4218, -123.368We had been getting around from place to place on the red bus but today we were committed to getting a closer look at the harbour surrounds on foot. Lucky the map didn't have distances on it or we may have been daunted. Endomodo and UP keep us honest and credited us with 25 000 steps and 14 kilometres of tourist heaven. Ironically we started the day by organising some transport for upcoming events - a shuttle bus to "the" gardens and a dusk carriage ride for Friday. With those details in place it was off to Parliament.The facade of the building is magnificent and of course we have enjoyed the night time view from The Empress because the building has been outlined in some 4 500 lights - which make a distinctive daily ... read more