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Arrival at Vancouver, BC
This morning we disembarked from our arduous flight from Sydney via Honolulu to Vancouver. I am not sure about my Mistress but I can tell you I am lagged something chronic. We navigated this busy international airport and collected the rest of the luggage (boring fellows - no personality whatsoever - you wouldn't want to know them!) and then caught a cab to our first resting destination, Century Plaza in the City.
Slumped and empty I gaze at the television and as one hundred and fifty six channels flicker past I think, is this it? We have travelled hundreds of miles and I am on a divan watching the rolling of archaic soap stains on our consciousness. Exhausted and traumatised I fold into a fitted sleep.
The sound of the city reminds me that we are in a major city. The smell confirms it! Apparently there has been a garbage strike over the past three weeks and you don't need to be Einstein to work that out. Looks like there are plans afoot for the next part of our "holiday of a lifetime" and now my zippers are bristled in anticipation, is this really it, I wonder? The mist of the day is clearing over the mountains that surround this city and we are off to discover the sights of Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Slung over her shoulders my vantage is more the rear view of the excursion. The city looks dirty and noisy but then I think that I mentioned that already. People speak in funny accents and I am assured that I am now in a foreign country. There are similar aspects to Sydney and glaring differences too. Sydney is pristine and very neat whereas Vancouver looks more scruffy and adhoc. Here is "the" street where the "in" crowd buy all of their labelled gear, sunglasses, shoes, clothes and oh no, not a new backpack - she couldn't! Don't even go there Goddess! Thank goodness she flicked past the rack - whew - safe.
This morning we disembarked from our arduous flight from Sydney via Honolulu to Vancouver. I am not sure about my Mistress but I can tell you I am lagged something chronic. We navigated this busy international airport and collected the rest of the luggage (boring fellows - no personality whatsoever - you wouldn't want to know them!) and then caught a cab to our first resting destination, Century Plaza in the City.
Slumped and empty I gaze at the television and as one hundred and fifty six channels flicker past I think, is this it? We have travelled hundreds of miles and I am on a divan watching the rolling of archaic soap stains on our consciousness. Exhausted and traumatised I fold into a fitted sleep.
The sound of the city reminds me that we are in a major city. The smell confirms it! Apparently there has been a garbage strike over the past three weeks and you don't need to be Einstein to work that out. Looks like there are plans afoot for the next part of our "holiday of a lifetime" and now my zippers are bristled in anticipation, is this really it, I wonder? The mist of the day is clearing over the mountains that surround this city and we are off to discover the sights of Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Slung over her shoulders my vantage is more the rear view of the excursion. The city looks dirty and noisy but then I think that I mentioned that already. People speak in funny accents and I am assured that I am now in a foreign country. There are similar aspects to Sydney and glaring differences too. Sydney is pristine and very neat whereas Vancouver looks more scruffy and adhoc. Here is "the" street where the "in" crowd buy all of their labelled gear, sunglasses, shoes, clothes and oh no, not a new backpack - she couldn't! Don't even go there Goddess! Thank goodness she flicked past the rack - whew - safe.
The shops and eateries are pretty non-descript - they are nothing special, although we browsed Sears for some souvenirs and I carried them ceremoniously back to our motel accommodation. It will be an early night tonight as we are up early to board our ship for the cruise to Alaska.
The taxi ride to the harbour was uneventful. Perched on my Mistress' lap I am ready to board the ship and begin the Popsicle adventure. After being ushered through to the waiting room at the US immigration vestibule we sit and wait for what seems like hours. Even though Customs and Immigration are aware that there is a massive embarkation, apparently only four officers were on duty. The processing and checking of identification is thorough and yet very boring.
The taxi ride to the harbour was uneventful. Perched on my Mistress' lap I am ready to board the ship and begin the Popsicle adventure. After being ushered through to the waiting room at the US immigration vestibule we sit and wait for what seems like hours. Even though Customs and Immigration are aware that there is a massive embarkation, apparently only four officers were on duty. The processing and checking of identification is thorough and yet very boring.
After the wait we are ushered through ribbon corrals and taken into documentation a chamber to fill out more paperwork. Finally, a friendly face, a cruise Jester from Holland America to direct us toward one more official desk to get photographs, passes and magic keys before boarding the ship guided by the smell of the sea. Strutting on to the red carpet of the gangplank we stand proudly on the deck of the Zuiderdam. Finally we are on holidays.
