Canada….here at last!

Well, here we are in our plush digs at The Opus in the heart of Vancouver. It’s where Erin used to work after her time in Whistler (and before Covid…..aaaagh!) and she is still remembered fondly by the staff. It’s a quirky, boutique hotel in Yaletown which is in downtown Vancouver….something like “The Rocks” in Sydney.

It is a small, bespoke establishment that caters to arty types and those involved in the movie scene….and the rooms that we were allocated certainly didn’t disappoint. Ours is a bright pink affair but Mike and Wendy’s is bright yellow and the bathroom has full length windows opening directly on to the street facing the apartments across the road! An interesting view when you are on “the throne”…but not so much I think for those across the way!! Quirky indeed!

It’s not so bright at night, and the staff were very warm and really welcoming!

It’s a long, long flight that 14 or so hours across the Pacific and we all agreed at the end that Premium Economy was worth the extra….especially during the quite substantial and dreaded turbulence as the plane crosses the equator. More than one of us was clutching a sick bag and hoping that the rocking, rolling and bucking would end before it had to be used…which, thankfully, it did…the turbulence that is.  I was convinced that breakfast would be off for me but the plane eventually settled back into its steady, droning hum…and so did my tum…..and the sick bag was safely stowed back in its rightful place….the seat pocket.

Mike and Wendy settling in. Foo in the front photobombed me!

We didn’t look quite like this at the other end!

Our luggage between the four of us makes, well, a bit of an impressive pile when its loaded on to the airport trolleys and we wondered if the taxis might take one look at us and drive on by. But no,  a very entertaining Sri Lankan gentleman loaded us, and that mountain of gear, into a special taxi built to take wheel chairs….and then regaled us with his “stand up” routine all the way into the city. What a great introduction to Canada!

We were very early to the Opus, so we stumbled around the city for a few hours, getting our bearings and phones set up while they prepared our rooms…and weren’t they welcome to some very weary travellers when they were finally ready. That afternoon “kip” was very welcome and as I was dozing off a tune kept running through my mind….” Hello jet lag my old friend….”

And then, the object of our visit arrived…..the prodigal daughter….the Vancouver local now …..and how marvellous it was, for us to be together in person again. And in between hugs, another song was going through my mind….”Smoke gets in your eyes….” Say no more!

A marvellous dinner at The Keg confirmed that Vancouver is a real “foody” town…..lobster tails, daiquiris  and Crème Brule’s….and made our first day complete. Still can’t figure how we get two Thursdays?

What a feast!