Flying 1st Leg

At the terminal for a flight to Hong Kong, boarding as the sun comes up. Apparently we were lucky to get out of Sydney. Many flights cancelled because of wind.
The flights were bumpy because thereLäs mer
Flying 2nd leg

Hong Kong is amazingly mountainous, much more than I imagined and really smoggy today as we fly in.
We have a champagne as we take off because it's wine time back home. The next sector is very bumpy,Läs mer
West End Guest House, Vancouver

We are staying in this historic B&B near Stanley Park. We've got the garden suite and enjoyed a hot coffee in the back garden and some fresh air... after more than 24 hours since leaving Australia.
Canadian Winetime.

A Canadian Bad Girls Rose.....from a specialty local wine supplier.
Stanley Park Totem Poles

The Totem Poles in Stanley Park tell the stories of the local aboriginal community - the salmon, the raptors and the bears. The carved wooden poles are very detailed and traditionally coloured.
TheLäs mer
The Teahouse, Stanley Park

A fantastic lunch in a fabulous location. For me, Crabcakes Benedict (just delicious). No food shots! Elegant surroundings but we chose to eat outside breathing in the fresh pine-scented air.
Granville Island

Granville Island, formerly an industrial and engineering area has been transformed into a boutique shopping and eating area with lovely artisan markets daily. a coffee stop for the afternoon with aLäs mer
West End Guest House - Inside

Entirely redecorated in a mix of antique and art deco style, the house was originally built in 1906 and remained with the Edwards Family until 1966. Since then, the house has seen several businessesLäs mer
West End Guesthouse - Room 8

Our Garden apartment is at the rear of the house and has a private entrance and garden.
Sea To Sky Highway via Squamish/Whistler

A misty, drizzly day so typical of British Columbia....we drove the Sea Too Sky Highway along the inlet to Squamish and on to Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The spectacular scenery wasLäs mer
Whistler Mountain

Taking the gondola up Whistler Mountain, we are in one of only 2 glass-bottomed cabins. Rising to 2,184m, the ride takes us almost 20 minutes. The clouds are so thick, it's almost a white-out theLäs mer
Peak to Peak Gondola

Next stage in our journey is to cross to nearby Blackcomb Mountain (2,440m) where the ski runs are extremely difficult. This lift was constructed in 2007-8 and holds a number of world records for aLäs mer
Blackcomb Mountain

By the time we reach the top, we are above the tree line. Lunch is a warming soup in the cafeteria watching the rain tumble down.
Blackcomb Mountain

On the trip back into Vancouver, we were able to see much more of this picturesque area as the cloud had started to lift and the rain eased.
The day culminated with a spectacular salmon dinner withLäs mer
Capilano River Regional Park

There's a free shuttle to the park from Vancouver city. The park is privately owned and has the largest private collection of First People's Totem Poles and costumes which highlight the area'sLäs mer
Capilano Suspension Bridge

There has been a suspension bridge here since 1889. The current bridge was built in 1956.
Design: Simple Suspension for pedestrians only
Total length: 140 metres (460 ft)
Height: 70 metres (230 ft)Läs mer
Cool Temperate Rainforest Walk

Temperate rainforests are at latitudes between the two Tropics and Polar Circles. What they have in common is a lot of rain, which causes the lush rainforest canopies to flourish.
Close to 25% of theLäs mer
Raptor Ridge

On display today - a Harris Hawk and a Barred Owl. The hawk is approximately 8 years old. Raptors can be seen in the rainforest diving for the fish in the river.
Gastown

The area where the city originated along the waterfront. This historical district is a picture with old gas street lighting, hanging baskets, the steam clock and Gassy Jack's statue. It's filled withLäs mer
On the streets of Vancouver

The streets of Vancouver are wide and the traffic well behaved. There's lots of development in the city but we are struck by the extensive parks throughout the city area.
Stanley Park by Horse Drawn Carriage

We jump on a carriage drawn by 2 draught horses for a ride around Stanley Park. This area is designated for all peoples for all time. Stanley was the British Governor-General of the time and also theLäs mer
Stanley Park by Horse Drawn Carriage

By horse-drawn carriage along the harbour side.
Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is located within Stanley Park. it is a premier attraction showcasing the sea creatures of BC and the climatic zones of the world.
Vancouver Aquarium

The Amazon environment.
Vancouver Aquarium
