We decided to go on a Cruise this year for vacation. We thought and thought about where we should go. I wanted to go to Alaska last year or do the Oregon coast and we decided on the Oregon Coast. So, this year we opted for an Alaskan Cruise. Everybody told us how beautiful it is. So we flew into Seattle a few days early and thought we would go by ferry to Victoria B.C. and then over to Vancouver and then end up back in Seattle to board our Ship. What we didn't know was that the ferry in Seattle is for passenger's only - no cars. The ferry for cars was a 90 min drive to the north, so we merrily go on our way, but the traffic is horrendous and I must tell you we had no idea about ferry's or time tables or anything. We got to the next Ferry and they told us the next one was in the morning at 8:00 am. What??? We had reservations in Victoria that night! What were we going to do? We had already paid for the hotel - and it wasn't cheap. The guy told us that there was a ferry below Vancouver that leaves every hour and the last one was at 9. It was about 7:30, we figured we would barely make it if there wasn't a long line at the border. So we took the chance. The line was 20 minutes and we were sweatin' it. We didn't know where we were going so we decided to run in the visitor center and ask directions. It was closed. erggg!!! We jump back in the car and decide to just book it and hope the signs were clear. Thank goodness they were really clear. The ferry left from this long peninsula and as we drove out to it, there was a sign saying the 9:00 was full. My heart sank. We didn't make, but we forged ahead just to make sure. We got to the ticket booth and the girl sold us a ticket anyway and said we could take a chance that we might get on, so we thought what the heck. It was refundable if we didn't make it. Well, after about 30 minutes, we realized we weren't going to make. Now what do we do? My smart and clever Husband, called our hotel and told them that we missed the ferry and didn't make it there, could they change our reservation to the next night? and they did! I was so happy, because we didn't lose that money, but the next problem was we had a non-refundable reservation in Vancouver for the next night too. So he called them and asked if we could change it for that night and they said yes. So all was well and all the angst I had for the last 4 hours just disappeared. Anyway, we spent the next day in Vancouver.
We went to a place called Stanley Park, which was a fun way of spending the day. We went there 21 years ago and I vaguely remembered watching people playing Cricket and seeing Totem Poles.
Here we are much younger and thinner. They really have improved the area around the Totem poles and have a lot more.
Just a some pictures of Vancouver's skyline, a float plane which Derek was totally fascinated with. He watched them take off and land for a while. We ate at a cute little restaurant that overlooked the bridge and enjoyed some really good smoked salmon and fish and chips.
Also part of Stanley Park was this lighthouse. It is the the Brockton Point Lighthouse. I don't think it is used anymore. But of course I add it to my collection of Lighthouse photos.
After we finished at Stanley Park we headed into the downtown area, I wanted to see this Steam Run Clock that was supposed to be a big attraction. I was thinking it was this huge thing to see and finally after going up and down the road, we discovered this...
It was a itty bitty clock on the side of the road. I really was expecting something like Big Ben. Oh well. It was interesting to watch for a while. We strolled the streets for awhile and then headed to the Ferry for the second time and hoped all would work out well and it did. We finally made it and then found out we had to wait and hour and a half before we could leave, luckily they have a great little store (more like a mall) with all kinds of vendors inside to kill the time and everybody just locks up their cars and shop, play in the playground or just hangout. The time went quickly.
We got to Victoria that evening and found our Hotel got settled in and went for a stroll along the waterfront. They have a wonderful waterfront area with vendors and street performers and we enjoyed the evening just walking around and seeing everything.
So that was our first couple of days of our vacation.
Just a some pictures of Vancouver's skyline, a float plane which Derek was totally fascinated with. He watched them take off and land for a while. We ate at a cute little restaurant that overlooked the bridge and enjoyed some really good smoked salmon and fish and chips.
Also part of Stanley Park was this lighthouse. It is the the Brockton Point Lighthouse. I don't think it is used anymore. But of course I add it to my collection of Lighthouse photos.
After we finished at Stanley Park we headed into the downtown area, I wanted to see this Steam Run Clock that was supposed to be a big attraction. I was thinking it was this huge thing to see and finally after going up and down the road, we discovered this...
It was a itty bitty clock on the side of the road. I really was expecting something like Big Ben. Oh well. It was interesting to watch for a while. We strolled the streets for awhile and then headed to the Ferry for the second time and hoped all would work out well and it did. We finally made it and then found out we had to wait and hour and a half before we could leave, luckily they have a great little store (more like a mall) with all kinds of vendors inside to kill the time and everybody just locks up their cars and shop, play in the playground or just hangout. The time went quickly.
We got to Victoria that evening and found our Hotel got settled in and went for a stroll along the waterfront. They have a wonderful waterfront area with vendors and street performers and we enjoyed the evening just walking around and seeing everything.
So that was our first couple of days of our vacation.
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