Sunday 1st January 2023
Happy New Year!
One Blog & a whole adventure overseas starts! That's if I survive the 15 hour flight!!!!! The Flight Centre Bondi Junction travel agent stuffed up severely!
How many hours sleep did I get? About 4 hours probably closer to 3 hours.
Last night I didn't think the midnight fireworks were that great actually only lasting 10 minutes it was a little short and the kids 9 pm fireworks were a lot more interesting. I wish I had just gone to those instead.
I arrived home probably close to 2 am because I missed my train stop at St Leonards not being able to see where I was as the train was packed with passengers and hopped off instead at Chatswood. There were absolutely no buses heading back towards the city only towards Chatswood so I had to walk home from Chatswood. I purchased a 1L bottle of water at the 711 but had to carry it home with me. I estimate it took me at least 30 minutes to walk home from Chatswood.
When I arrived home I had to continue to pack as I did not quite finish. I still had a bit to do.
I woke up around 5.00 am and had a shower dressed and finished final packing. I had prebooked my transfers to the airport, my return flights, my accommodation and even registered to do the Polar Bear Swim ( hint # 1 of the destination of my next adventures) all in advance so I did not have to worry about these ( so I thought). Passport eta debit cards loyalty cards maintenance fees paid compass card ( hint # 2 of the destination of my next adventures) laptop keys international adapters ( hint # 3 of the destination of my adventures) even snacks & my trusty handbag thermos etc all packed in advance .
I had also taken my ski bag and main suitcase downstairs and kept them in the hallway near the apartment block entrance overnight as they are too heavy for me to carry down fully packed. I just took my packing cells down separately and packed my suitcase downstairs then padlocked both bags so no one could take anything from them.
2airport provides very good service so I recommend it. They arrive on time at 7.30 am and ring you the day before to advise you of exact pickup time. Their chat online is really good too if you like using technology. There was a family of 4 sharing the shuttle going to the Qantas domestic terminal with 4 large suitcases. I arrived early at the airport about 3.5 hours early - I always needed the entire 3 hours as something always goes wrong when I fly anywhere hence the title of this blog " I Hate Flying" I needed assistance as to where the Air Canada check in counters were as they were hidden behind another long queue for another airline located at counter J.
"I checked in online because I kept getting emails to say I haven't checked in yet and needed to within the 5 hours. When I did so and it asked me how many bags I had to check in I entered 2 then it came up with $100 payment required for second bag so I paid it online. It automatically allocated me a middle seat and if I wanted to change it I would have to pay extra. I did not change the seat allocation as there were none available showing on the seating allocation online and this was confirmed at check in at the airport by air Canada staff as the flight was full with no spare seats hence the attempt by the check in staff member to see if there were any last minute cancellations at the gate which ended up as none. There was nothing coming up online about special meal request so I just completed my check in online successfully. when I arrived at the airport 3.5 hours early I went to the self service booths and with staff assistance printed out the bag drop tags but no boarding pass at this stage. I got to the check in desk and checked seating meals and asked about the bag situation. My meal request had not gone through at all and I was advised nothing can be done as they need 48 advance notice. The flight was fully booked so I could not even upgrade to business class or premium economy not be even. another economy seat. The check in staff member saw your note you put in about the right leg out asile seat request but was a little confused about the comment but no action. In addition I was told that when I received my boarding pass at the bag drop check in desk that they would be attached to my boarding pass. I dropped off my main suitcase but had to go to the oversized baggage to drop off off my ski bag and found both baggage receipts had not been attached to my boarding pass at the bag drop check in counter. So as soon as I dropped off my ski bag I went back to the bag drop check in counter to get them and was advised by that staff member that she was going to give them to me at the gate (maybe for identification reasons in case a seat became available).. Not quite the end of the story. I get to my seat on the plane and someone had already made themselves at home in my seat. They were suppose to be in the seat across the asile. I asked them if they wanted to swap if it was easier for them. No they didn't.
I am dreading the flight back on Air Canada . It will mean I will have a middle seat again, I will have to pay for my second bag again and my meal request will have been left off again.
Monday 2nd January 2023
The jetlag sets in . The only thing I could manage today was a hot self serve meal of butter chicken and rice from the IGA on Burrard Street & another basic grocery shop to include a few more items such as fruit oats yoghart eggs bread soya sauce olive oil Aveeno moisturiser from there.
Tuesday 3rd January 2023
Feeling a little better I finally did my laundry wash & dry downstairs on level 5 in the guest amenities room which has an out of order ice machine a computer a toilet a sink 2 dryers and 2 washing machines detergent and fabric softener sheets dispenser and made myself a meal or 2. after doing my laundry.
Wednesday 4th January 2023
Today I actually feel much better and over my jetlag. I actually woke up before 9 am, had a shower and had a full breakfast. It is a beautiful day today but forecasted to rain tomorrow. Today I plan to head off to Granville Island to get some proper groceries from the Granville Island Public Markets.
But first it was off to the YMCA to join up but it was not that easy as I did not have all the details of my debit card eventhough I had been going to this YMCA for years pre COVID ( all records were wiped from the system pre CoViD due to a new system implementation apparently - so I was advised hence they could not find me on their system) . So it was off to the bank and I will have to come back again afterwards with the account details. I have another appointment with the bank on Friday at 3 pm to sort out my account which I am unsure is a savings or chequing account. So confusing The banking system here is so archaic.
Next stop was to get a local sim card. I knew exactly which one I wanted to as I have used this prepaid sim card before and it's quite good. so off to London Drugs to get a prepaid Chatr sim card for my phone. The tech person was so helpful. For CAN$50 plus taxes you get 10 Gb data and I think there was a special offer ending today for a free sim and extra data.
Finally a walk to Waterfront Station and a number 50 bus to False Creek ie Granville Island.
I had a look to see if the family of seals and sea lions were still in the harbour where the boats are moored. No sign of them today.
Those that have read my blog and seen my Facebook page in the past will know that I am a bit of a foodie and home cook and I love baking ,healthy food and things that I can't find back in Australia
I walk to the public markets and my first stop is to purchase a hot spinach and feta stuffed bagel. They are not the same as they used to be pre COVID as they stick them in the microwave to warm up from cold instead of having them fresh and hot on display. At CAN$5.75 inflation is well and truly evident. Rating 7/10 (photo below)
Next onto some unusual cheeses. Now readers all know that I am lactose intolerant but love cheese and can tolerate small quantities at a time of hard mature cheese, goats cheese and yoghart but no milk or soft stinky mouldy or creamy cheeses. Today I was looking for my favourite type of hard sweet maple cheese. I thought I had found some as the IGA did not have any but it was just Guinness cheese. Looks very similar but a little darker in the marbling. There was this tri coloured bell pepper cheese and champagne cheddar so I settled on the smallest wedges of both. No tastings but I did like the rather expensive champagne cheddar not so much the tri coloured bell pepper cheese. I rate the champagne cheese 8/10 and the tri coloured bell pepper cheese 5/10 ( photo below)
Next pearls - what yes fruit flavoured pearls you know those man made gelatinous cavier balls that burst in your mouth and add some molecular gastronomy to your drinks or desserts - I don't drink so purchased a small jar of lychee flavoured ones. We have them in Australia but there is a much wider range of alcoholic and non alcoholic flavours here. I tried many flavours before deciding on the opaque white ones as the others looked so artificial they glowed in front of me even though I was advised they were made from concentrated fruit juices and seaweed. Rating 8/10 a tiny jar costs CAN$6.72.
There is a candy stall so I asked if they had any salt water taffy. We don't have these back in Australia and I quite like these now and then. They had some but they were mixed and hidden in a corner. They looked really old and when I actually tried one once I arrived home, the flavours were awful - Was that root beer I tasted? You don:t get a choice of the flavours you want. I only purchased 100g - the stall person tried to sell me over 200g but I said no I only want 100g. The best place to purchase salt water taffy is Lonsdale Quay where there are countless flavours and it is a pick your own. Rating 8/10 ♥️ some flavours more then others favourites popcorn watermelon chocolate vanilla with flavours I hate root beer cinnamon mint
Onto some fruit and veg - corn butternut squash dill and beans are a must as I have fallen in love with a North American First Nations soup recipe I saw on The Good channel back in Australia. I also spotted a huge punnet of cape gooseberries - my favourite fruit - another fruit I can't find back home.
Finally protein. I don't eat beef or pork but keen on duck and lamb. The duck was not fresh but frozen so I did not purchase any. I was looking for some illusive Salt Spring Island Suffolk lamb but no one had any. There was lamb but when I asked where it was from was advised Australia. I asked for local lamb but the first butcher had run out and did not take their sign out of their counter so I went to the other butcher at the market and they had some local Pitt Meadow lamb which they cut 2 "chops" for me on the spot. It cost me over CAN$33 and was very heavy. I plan to slow cook them in a stew as advised as they are not pan fry lamb chops. No seafood today as there was not much available especially jumbo oysters which I missed having at Christmas. Loaded with my bag of groceries it was home on the # 50 bus after giving some change to one of the buskers performing on Granville Island outside of the markets.
I woke up early today had a shower and headed off to the YMCA to see if I could get into the Acquafit class this morning at 9.30 am that I was wait listed yesterday for. I will only know 5 minutes before the class starts. Yep I was allowed to join and it is a full class. Most of them look as if they are regulars. I wonder where Mr Chatterbox is? No sign of him today. a lady named Susan introduced herself to me.
The class was fun and I used the heavier foam weights. after class I headed to the hot tub. some exercises are more difficult for me to do like the laying on my back and lifting and keeping my leg up. I think this is much easier out of water - it's an exercise I have done a few times during my dance classes but it is so different in water. The balancing is much more difficult.
After a shower in the disabled as shower cubicle - the pressure from the shower is a lot better to wash off the chlorine therefore I like to use this rather then the other shower cubicles. The water is a lot hotter too ( so much hotter then the water from the shower in my apartment at The Century Plaza Hotel which hardly comes out warm).
A change of clothes and it is a walk back to where I am staying. Another catch up day today. It rained in the afternoon and I did not go out today instead I made a stew ( refer my Facebook page) of my favourite fresh corn beans butternut pumpkin and dill with the edition of sweet potato vegetable stock cubes champagne cheese shallot and the diced local lamb I purchased yesterday at the Granville Island Public Markets . I am so hungry.
Friday 6th January 2023
Today I had an appointment at the bank at 3 pm to fix up my account. The banking staff member was a bit late but that's ok I set up my internet banking whilst I waited. Now I know why it was not working. The postcode that was entered into their system was be incorrect but be my address was correct. I only noticed it looking at the pre authorization form they printed out.
I also found some nifty places to visit along Robson Street. I was worried that I would not be able to get my Japanese jasmine green tea bags I usually drink but it turns out they are available at a Japanese store on Robson Street.
There is also a candy store on Robson Street that had so many flavours of salt water taffy . I will have to return when the ladder is not in the way.
All along Robson Street there are more vacant buildings shops and legal weed suppliers then there are cafes restaurants banks supermarkets and other shops. The Landmark Hotel and the very first apartment hotel I stayed at - The Robsonstrusse are both long gone. The Landmark is now replaced by 2 talk towers under construction and The Robsonstrusse is an now a temporary community garden ( photos below). The Greenbrier Hotel is still there and so is The Tropicana Hotel and Riviera . There is a vacant plot across the street from The Greenbrier Hotel and it has always remained vacant. A bench has been added to the vacant plot. Is it a park ? It is too vacant to be a park. Is it a sacred burial site? It seems really bizarre that it has remained vacant . I remain mystified. ( Photo below)
Finally I found a bakery called Breka which is so popular the queue is out the door. apparently it is open 24/7 so I can always pop out and get a midnight snack! I asked a local what their favourite was and she said almond croissant - My favourite as my readers know is an almond croissant from La Renaissance in The Rocks but not anymore. I purchase one from this bakery as well as a spinach and artichoke twist which they heat be up and serve with half a pickle. I ate this walking back to where I was staying. It was ok. I rate it a 7/10 but can't wait to try the almond croissant .
Home and I try the almond croissant with a nice hot mug of green tea. yum. It's a little drier then I am used to but it is not just an almond croissant, it is filled with an almond paste and chocolate spread and topped with powdered sugar drizzled with chocolate and covered in slivered almonds. It was definitely too much for me to finish so the rest of it will be for breakfast tomorrow! I rate it a 8/10 ( photos below)
Saturday 7th January 2023
It's been a week since I arrived in Vancouver. a very long week. My allergies are worse then in Australia despite living almost the same lifestyle I do back home from routine exercise diet etc. I have not done anything different. It must be environmental and not dietary. The weather has not been too wet although rain does seem to affect my allergies and today it rained quite a lot.
Today is a grey day but I plan to venture out since shops are open until 9 pm in some shopping centres.
I need to do stuff but just can't be bothered.
The toilet in my apartment where I am staying is playing up again. It just does not flush and last time it did this when I arrived I just left it overnight and it flushed the next day. This time I did the same and it still isn't flushing and I don't want it to overflow this morning. I ha be e requested maintenance to look at it whilst I am out. The shower also went cold this morning whilst I was having one. It t takes forever for it to even warm up so I just have a bath and run the hot water full bore until it is even warm enough to have a bath. If I need to have a bath I have to get up at the crack of dawn just to have one!
I definitely won't be staying at The Century Plaza again. My bed sheets haven't been changed for 7 days now be and the oven switches off . I haven't used the microwave yet as it is overhanging onto the stove. I am be still using the drip coffee maker to boil water as it is quicker and it works although it is tiny compared to the one in my apartment in Whistler. They didn't vacuum the floor .If the sheets don't get changed I am going to have to sleep on the opposite side of the bed - it's a king bed thank goodness!
Today I took the skytrain to Metrotown to do a whole lot of shopping. There was this tourist card you can get at guest services ( located in a corner now near Walmart instead of in the centre of the mall in the open) The card is totally useless and not to accepted at any of the shops I purchased from not even the one listed. Shoppers Drug Mart was suppose to offer 10 percent discount on most items but when I presented the card they only offer the discount on the first Tuesday of each month so I missed out on this. It does not specify this at all on the website. The card was in a nice Metrotown reusable shopping bag which I used and there was what looked like a matching notebook a pair of shoes laces? and I could not figure out what the stick was in an orange pouch branded with Metrotown on it - it took me a while to work out it was a metal reusable straw with straw cleaner - I don't use straws another freebie to my storage unit. ( Photo below)
So it was T & T Supermarket to get some hot food any hot food with a 30 minute wait to get to a ckeckout - any checkout! I got some prawn dumplings and some turnip cakes ( would prefer taro but there wasn't any).I found a spot to sit and quickly scoff them all down before heading to Walmart , Shoppers Drug me art where we my optimum card d it d not work ( I thought it worked when I arrived at The independent on Davie) and finally The Great Canadian Superstore to get some miscellaneous grocery items.
I can't believe I had been out shopping for 6 - 7 hours! Home on the skytrain I get off at Granville Station to stop off at an ATM ( Although Scotiabank has changed it to an ABM ) to withdrawn some cash for laundry money again - yep it's time to do laundry once a week like I do at home except it's a lot cheaper to do laundry here!
The Christmas lights around Robson Square are still up and it is the first time I have be red n out at night to see any lights so took a photo of them. So pretty.
I watch the food channel and a little past midnight I am still awake catching up on my blog which nobody reads because they just go to my YouTube channel
Sunday 8th January 2023
It's so early, I have a shower and head off to my Acquafit class that starts at 9.15 am this morning at the YMCA. I head straight to the warm hot tub pre class. It's so early.
After class it's back into the hot tub then a hot shower - I might as well have a daily shower at the YMCA as the water is much hotter then the water from the shower and bath at The Century Plaza and it's instant and I don't have to wait forever just for it to warm up. I came back from the YMCA today only to find that the tap water in the bathroom sink is cold even when I have it full bore on the hottest setting and run it for 10 minutes it is cold.
I have some turkey and vegetable soup I made with cheese on sourdough bread.
I do my laundry wash and dry again downstairs and ring my friend Dominique from Arizona I met on our Melbourne trip to the Peninsula Hot Springs. I asked if she received my Christmas card no she didn't so I guess JJ time didn't either. I said that she will probably get it at Easter!
I didn't do much else today except catch up on my blog as I am always behind and still am.
Monday 9th January 2023
My morning starts off with my daily Acquafit class which started at 9.45 am at the YMCA today. The iPad is not working so they could not mark off names from it until after the class which I hope they did as you don't want a strike against your name for a no show as 3 strikes and you are banned from booking any further classes. I cancelled my cardio dance class in advance online for last Thursday as I was unsure if I was able to join as a waitlisted for my first Acquafit class so I hope that registered.
On my way out I told front desk how I had asked housekeeping to vacuum my floor yesterday and they had not. I also asked for them to change the sheets on my bed as it has been 9 days and they still had not changed the sheets! Thankfully when I returned late tonight the floor had been vacuumed and the sheets changed. Disgraceful especially since I had also asked for the sheets to be changed previously to the housekeeper. By the way the water from the tap in the sink is now warm but still not hot again. I was getting concerned that there was only cold water coming out of it for a few days. The shower turned cold again this morning though!
Today after my Acquafit class and lunch of boiled chat potato's salmon baked in paper boiled spinach and poached quail eggs fruit green juice and green tea I ventured out in the rain to recharge my compass card to get on the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay then on the new R2 green bendy rapid bus to park Royal to do some serious shopping on my shopping list. The shops there are only open until 7 pm unlike Metrotown who open daily until 9 pm except for Sunday when they close a little earlier.
So today I went to Loblaws Citymart for groceries at Park Royal South, London Drugs also at Park Royal South for moisturiser, Sport check at Park Royal North across the main road Marine Drive hoping to get cat Trax, sneakers,a helmet and goggles only to leave with a pair of Brooks pink sneakers and anon goggles as they did not have any helmets in my size or cat Trax. a quick stop at Purdys where I grabbed 3 x red envelopes filled with chocolate at Park Royal North coins to send to JJ Time ( the Metrotown store had sold out of these the other day) I love these and purchase them quite often on my visits to Vancouver It was closing time and my final stop was Chipotle back at Park Royal South which I was dying for since I arrived ( no where near as good as GyG in Sydney but it will do) . The burrito was huge and about the same price as a burrito in Sydney but much larger - no shrinkflation here! Here is where my nightmare starts and it's another trip to Scotiabank to get it sorted tomorrow. The chip on my Scotiabank card would not insert or tap. I did not have another card to pay with but luckily I had just enough cash which was my laundry money with me to pay for my burrito. Poor debit card it's finally worn out from all the inserting and tapping I have been doing! should have been issued a new card at my last appointment at Scotiabank but it was suggested I wait until my internet banking was all good and up and running. Hopefully the new card will be issued on the spot.
It was a wait in the rain for the next bus back to downtown Vancouver and a walk back to where I am staying. My chipotle is cold but still good as I watch the Food channel and eat I think about tomorrow's plans which starts off with another prebooked online via the mind body app Acquafit class hopefully.
So tired.
News headlines today include:
Prince Harry'book SPARE launches and it's a top seller but at around $47 , it's not cheap. The only author to sell more copies of their book is JK Rowling with Harry Potter.
Floods in Australia in the Kimberly s have wiped out communities.
The Golden Globes are finally on.
Tuesday 10th January 2023
What a beautiful day today today! My morning starts out with an Acquafit class at the YMCA at 9.30 am this morning. Another lady introduced herself to me and we get talking about an actor she knows in Australia and her friends in Australia. She also introduced me toa few of the other ladies she knows in the class. Everyone is so lovely and know each other as they come regularly to the Acquafit Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Thursdays have coffee afterwards which she invited me to. One day she introduced me to had already introduced herself to me previously. Her name was Susan. I am pretty bad with people's names but I did remember hers.
I like to spend time in the hot tub before and after class as it is so warm and relaxing. The jets in the hot tub are really low - don't know if it's a post COVID thing or not as the jets are usually really powerful from what I remember - maybe I'm just used to the hot tubs in my apartment block in Whistler and also back home at Lane Cove where the jets are on full blast.
On some mornings it's freezing getting into the pool. This morning it was not too much of a struggle.
Tuesdays is a different instructor and this morning I made sure my name was marked off the iPad before class.
This class is so different to the other classes with the other instructor. It is more challenging and uses not just weights but the pool noodles. I laughed so much in this class I started to cough frobably from inhaling the chlorine. Where on earth does this instructor get her exercises from using the noodles? One of the other younger students makes the comment when we tried to do them " I don't know but I wish she would put them back!" This was more difficult then ballet Barre classes. The instructor says to me that it's all about core strength. I think I just had to trust the noodle. I haven't tried standing on the noodle before or straddling it and lay back on it but once you are on it you really can balance on it and it's quite stable - must try and practise these with my own noodle back home. I helped the lady who introduced herself to me this morning get her noodle behind her back as she was having a lot of trouble once I mastered the noodle technique. a fun but challenging class today and you can tell the regulars that go to this class. Apparently there is a gentle tone class on Fridays upstairs in the studio for balance. some ladies who attended it for the first time were commenting on in the hot tub on how some of the exercises in the class were a bit weird . I think they wanted me to try it. I may just before I fly back to Sydney as I don't want to have to bring back wet swimming gear on the plane back to Sydney with me!
Home for breakfast - green tea , boiled quail eggs, a grilled olive oil tomato spinach cheese sourdough sandwich leftover grilled salmon, grapes cape gooseberries yoghart
After class by and breakfast I took a walk down Davie St but didn't quite make it to English Bay as I had to drop into the bank to get my card reissued and postcode changed in the system as it is incorrect. I had to drop off my 6 bottles for recycling which interesting enough has now adapter the Australian system of $0.10 per bottle returned any size rather then the previous system of $0.05 for small $0.10 for large etc. They are still a little strict on types of bottles and cans returned as supermarkets have always only accepted bottles and cans of brands they only sell. Fair enough in Australia you can't return foreign cans and bottles for refunds. I also went for a grocery shop at the new Safeway as well as get some cash out ( for the first time at a supermarket checkout) - what's with the lack of bottled sparking mineral water - is there a shortage we or do Canadians only drink still flat water or huge bottles of club soda ( soda water) flavoured highly sweetened mineral water tonic water Canada Dry and pop (soft drink) ? Just awful! Onto Shoppers Drugmart ( where I donated $0.35 of my $0.60 bottle refund to a charity outside of Shoppers Drugmart) to the post office where there was a huge lineup to post my letter to Centrelink and my Luna New Year chocolates to JJ Time as a donation. Final stop more moisturiser and mouthwash as I am running out of both. I can't seem to find the equivalent of my regular Australian products I use but just purchase the closest products. There was a special on Colgate's kids unicorn alcohol free mouthwash either that or I could have gone for the more expensive mint Buble gum or strawberry flavoured as later be stive brands of alcohol free kids mouthwash. At around CAN$4 I went for the unicorn flavoured mouthwash which we don't have in Australia and looks as if it maybe a discontinued product - so what does unicorn flavour taste like? who knows but I will soon find out when I use it! Time to head home as it is getting dark but not before one last stop for dinner - it's Tuesday night and I just had to do it as I had been keeping a rather healthy diet all this time I have been in Vancouver - I kept walking past the KFC on Davie and there is a constant queue inside so I just walked in on my way be ack to where I am staying and asked if there was a special. yep the 2 piece and chips for CAN$4.19 . It was quite a wait to get my order which was # 305 . I walk home with my shopping and KFC.
Home I unpack my groceries and have my unhealthy dinner of KFC. The smallest drum stick I have ever seen! Dry it could do with gravy which everyone was ordering and could be seen being laddled through the service window. I should have purchased this as an extra. They did include 2 sachets of tomato sauce with my order automatically. Thank goodness.
I did have other things to go with my dinner fruit oats etc.
It was getting late and I was getting tired. I did not quite get all my blogging and YouTube done. I went to sleep instead of doing anything else.
Wednesday 11th January 2023
I had prebooked to do another Acquafit class this morning at 9.45 am this morning but my skin is extra itchy and dry today so I have cancelled at 7.30 am this morning online on the Mind Body app. I think I am overdoing the exercise. Going to Acquafit 5 days a week in a row is too much. Today it is cloudy but rain is not forecasted so I hope to go for a walk. I may go to the YMCA later tonight to use the gym.
It is catch-up day today and I have a few things to do.
I make and have a full breakfast but find the tv in the lounge room does not work so I had to eat my breakfast in bed.
It's 11.30 am and I have been having a nap. It's so nice to have a sleep in today and have the privacy please sign outside the door so housekeeping does not interrupt you. Yesterday I made my own bed before I left and put my stuffed possum between the sheets in my bed with it"s head sticking out resting on the pillows. Housekeeping remade my bed and chucked him out on top of my pillows.
Today I actually sorted my laundry, then washed my new stick blender and made a bottle of kale and mixed fruit juice. I added a banana which I should not have done as it made it too thick. Now I have some juice instead of having to purchase bottles of it .
After breakfast I went out and took a walk down Burrard St onto Davie Street then down to English Bay walking until the sun set and it became dark. I turned around after taking heaps of photos past Second Beach and then continued back to English Bay and up Denman St and up Robson St back onto Burrard St back to The Century Plaza Hotel where I started my walk which means I walked the entire square block.
On my walk I wanted to encounter those flocks of pesky Canadian Geese that are ripping up the grassy knolls around the English Bay Stanley Park route. I only managed to encounter 2 geese at English Bay, one loner goose who had made itself at home in the green algae salt water tidal pool at Second Beach and a flock near the sculptures that flew away as soon as I arrived as it was dark.
As sunset turned to night the views of the Seawall were beautiful.
Apologies to all my readers I am having problems uploading photos again on my blog.
Along Denman St by I stopped off at a Tim Hortons to check my balance on my Tim card which I had a balance of CAN$11.99. I purchased a 10 pack of chocolate glazed Timbites donuts. Next I found a Peaked Australian Pies where I purchased to go a butter chicken mushy peas and gravy pie for around CAN$14.99 for my dinner. They gave it to me in just a cardboard box and offered me cutlery - hello could I have a bag for that? How was I going to carry that all the way back to where I was staying? They have a store in Whistler so I made sure it was still open there as I am going to Whistler next week. I am disappointed they don't sell lamb pies as this is a typical Australian pie. They had heaps of different meat pies and even a kangaroo pie. I asked where does the beef come from, they could not tell me so I avoided a beef pie. I was tempted to try a roo pie and asked where the roo came from but I still can't bring myself to eat our nation emblem even if they need to be culled.
Final stop was the iGA on Burrard St where I found a large bottle of sparkling spring water. Is there a shortage of plain sparkling spring water or do Canadians just not drink it? plenty of flavoured sparkling spring water and huge bottles of club soda but very difficult to find bottles of sparkling spring water. It's not expensive just difficult to find.
I am still having trouble finding any clothing repairs and alterations that do press studs. They don't even know what a press stud is. My Aldi ski pants was missing a press stud and I only discovered this when I got home so I need it fixed.
Home dinner sleep after w as thing the news and the food channel.
