2 May, Vancouver here we come (Friday)

Quiet overnight at the hotel, which was surprising seeing as how close to the airport we are. Had to laugh last night after we had settled into the hotel room. Jo was talking on the phone to her sister in Melbourne. She had the phone on speaker. I then hear her sister asking Jo why? Why what?, asks Jo. Why are you both in the nude?, asks her sister. WTF??? Because Jo was on speaker, she had said that we were both in the ROOM. Her sister had heard... we are both in the NUDE! Hilarious... Early start to be checked out and in the lobby for a 6.45 shuttle to the airport. Checkin was very simple and I was glad to see the last of my suitcases until we get to Vancouver. We head to the Air Nz lounge to while away the time until our flight. Time to board and I settle in to 2G which will be my nest for the next 14 hours.

We are seated in the middle, next to each other, but have a divider between us so that can only see the top of each other's heads whilst sitting upright. Prior to take off, whilst the great unwashed were getting on, Jo poked her head over the divider and asked if I had looked at the menu. I was actually looking through it at the time. She was having trouble working out what to have as it was all in French, until I suggested she flip the page over for the English version! What a laughl Brought back memories of a previous flight together where she wanted to know what movie I was watching. It happened to be 'Happy Feet' the animated one about the dancing penguins. She was watching that movie too, but couldnt understand it as it was in Chinese! I helped her select the English version, amid gales of laughter! But, back to the menu with so many decisions to make. The crab and pickled cucumber salad sounds very refreshing for starters, followed by chicken parmagiana with mashed pumpkin and broccolini, but should I hold off on the cheese platter and desserts for a while. Oh well, will just have to have a glass of wine with a bowl of assorted salted nuts while I figure it out! And we are up,up and away.

There are so many movies and shows to watch that I ended up opting to watch a Perry Mason tv series. This Perry Mason is no Raymond Burr and isnt in a wheelchair. It is set in the 1930s and has a reasonable plot so I'm happy enough sitting through the whole 9 programmes of series 1. Jo enjoyed the movie The Conclave and Ive already earmarked that to watch on my return flight. She manages to get a few hours sleep but my 2 attempts were aborted as my body clock knew that it was only about 5pm and then 8pm back home! Chances are I will opt for an early night at the hotel. The food keeps on coming but I was very good at saying no thanks for most of it. And for those who may be keeping tabs on my drinking, I only had 2 glasses of wine with the main meal. I did keep well hydrated with water. And then before we knew it, we were in Canada. Vancouver airport is huge so we had quite a walk from the plane to Border Security check in. No customs forms to complete any more, but instead is an online security screening form which was completed at a kiosk bank of machines. I had to advise that I had food with me, when asked what type I ended up having to tell 3 separate officers that I had brought a kilo of Vegemite into the country. They each just shrugged their shoulders and waved me through to the next check point and so on. Our luggage came through quickly and then we were out in the grneral area , seeing the APT agent and getting sorted for our transport to our hotel, Sutton Place. It is a lovely hotel, and we were over the moon at check in that they had a room ready for us. It was barely 8am and check in is advertised from 4pm. Woo hoo. I told the reception lass that she was now my new best friend! ....Okay, I can hear some of you sighing out loud, but after an almost 14 hour flight, not a lot of sleep the night before and struggling to corral a wayward suitcase, being able to check in straight away to our hotel room meant that she well and truly earned the position of new best friend! So up to our room we head and it is really nice. Room 1512, so we are high enough that we shouldnt hear any street noise and with a decent view of some of the city buildings.

Time to unpack a bit as we are here for 3 nights. Time for a cuppa. Already remembering that they have that half and half rubbish that is supposed to replace milk, and then a lovely long hot show and change of clothes. We've gotten to 10 am. Jo is asleep on her bed, I'm doing the blog and will fill the next couple of hours reading, while I wait to hear that Vicki and Joe are here, having driven the 5 hours from Hedley to see me, and most importantly take the black suitcase off my hands. Vicki and Joe are now in the lobby. hugs all around and I'm very pleased to hand over the black suitcase which will remain locked until I get to Hedley and can then dish out the contents. Jo prefers to stay at the hotel as she hooes to get a bit more sleep, but I'm happy to venture out for lunch at a lovely Persian restaurant with V & J.

Back at the hotel and I bid farewell to V & J and head upstairs to the room where I need a lay down as I'm exhausted. But no rest for the wicked as we then agree to go for a wander in the fresh air. it us about21 degrees and little cloud in the sky.

We head to Canada Place and admire the view of the North shore and snow tipped mountains.

It isnt easy finding somewhere for a coffee and as I dont like Starbucks, we eventually find Tim Hortins to try our luck. the coffee machine isnt working! So no latte or cappucinno fir either if us. Jo opts for a bottle of water and I resign myself to a regular coffee with milk. I think they merely waved the coffee over the top of the cup. It is all coming back to me now, that Canadians and Americans do not have the same coffee culture as us, so U may have had my last decent coffee until I get to Hedley and put Joe in charge of the coffee machine. Back in the hotel and time for another rest on the bed. We are hoping for nice weather again tomorrow as we want to do the hop on hop off bus which has a stop out the front of our hotel. Have caught up on the blog which is no mean great a the internet keeps crashing but caught up it now is. 7pm and time to get into my pjs and read for a while with the hope that I get a sound night's sleep and the body readjusts to Canada time by morning.