Fancy flights ….or “flights of fancy?”

 Well, if you travel with low expectations, sometimes things work out really well. We're experienced enough to know that airlines (even the flash ones) can "bugger" things up without much effort but in this case our “flights of fancy” turned out to exceed our “low expectations” albeit with a couple of minor hiccups. We decided that our theme for Philippine Airlines is …. “It very rarely happens, but …. 🥴.”  A change of planes (a back up aircraft I think) at Sydney put us in quite strange seats and separated (but it was sorted as we boarded) and a couple of minor seat issues that occurred… but only to my seat!

In fairness these things happen on all airlines and the actual travel experience was well worth the choice. We both agreed that the service of the staff was wonderful, the food outstanding and the opportunity to lie flat and sleep much of the way a blessing. It was certainly worth the risk and in the end we arrived in Vancouver, after many, many hours of travel safe, sated and relatively refreshed.

All anticipation.
The flight was fine but the seat configuration was weird. Almost bunk like when we were in the lay flat mode?

Our only claim to have visited the Philippines….. a few hours in the lounge. It was actually quite salubrious.

It was an older Boeing 777 but it was quite spacious and comfortable.
The service and dining was excellent and we came to the conclusion that Business Class is wasted on some people ….dressed in “hoodies” and “active wear” 🥴

And the purpose of all these months of organisation and 23 hours of "planes, trains and automobiles", to be in Canada with Erin for a white Christmas came to pass …… at last. After clearing Customs and Immigration seamlessly we emerged into the gloomy, wintry Vancouver evening to be met by the "prodigal" daughter and whisked off to her little apartment to settled in to our digs for the next few days. 

It appears, from the animated conversation over dinner, and a beer or two (for me) that the expectations for the next few days are shopping, Christmas markets and then “rinse and repeat” …. until we head off to Whistler on Monday. 

Sounds like a plan.😂🎄

Heading out for our first day in Erin’s “ ‘hood”.
The weather is typical Vancouver at this time. Wet and cold.

The neighbourhood is festooned with Christmas lights and decorations, just what Wendy was hoping for.