Victoria and Vancouver

Victoria and Vancouver British Columbia

Victoria British Columbia was made into a British colony in the late 1850’s after gold was discovered on the Fraser River. Previous to that, the entire island was leased by the Hudson’s Bay Company to enhance fur trade.

Since the discovery of gold, Victoria boomed over night with a permanent population of 3,000 and a transient population of 25,000. In 1867, Victoria was invited to join the Canadian territories in which they graciously obliged. At this time, most of the English colonists tried to return home to England, but could not adjust to the stiffness, so they stayed and formed a relaxed British community in Victoria, which continues to exert its influence in the area today.

While visiting the home town of our friends Bill and Irene (Victoria Natives) we explored China Town, the second oldest in North America, Explored the worlds narrowest commercial street, and enjoyed views of the Inner harbor and impressive Parliament Building.

It was hard to wake up our last cruise morning in Vancouver, Canada after our last night of cruising celebrations with Stacy, Bobby, Jeff, and Kim. After some quick goodbyes and a fond farewell to the Tahitian Princess, it was back to the reality of only THREE MEALS A-DAY!!! Even just typing it gives me the chills.

On a Serious Note: Jeff and Kim, Congratulations! Have a safe trip home and keep in touch. Use your knives and sling shot wisely.

Stacy and Bobby –I don’t even know where to begin; everything from finger puppets, blow holes, backgammon, shady bars, and shuffle board tournaments (REMATCH!!!). We will have to take another vacation together real soon! See you when we get home.

Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is a great city that has been voted the "Best City in the Americas" for 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, based on the categories of ambience, friendliness, culture and sites, restaurants, lodging, and shopping. Vancouver is a dynamic, multicultural city set in a spectacular natural environment. Vancouver is also the host of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

After the cruise, a farewell breakfast with Stacy and Bobby, and a long nap, Josh and I relaxed and walked along the waterfront watching the sea plans takeoff and land and waved as the Tahitian Princess made its way out of the harbor for another two week cruise.

The next day we took a Big Red Bus tour throughout the city, walked through China town (the second oldest in North America), saw a steam clock that tooted music every 15 minutes in Gastown, saw an Inukshuk, and walked through Granville Island an artsy marina town located underneath a bridge.

Today after a haircut, we will be crossing the boarder and heading back to Seattle, WA where we will spend a few days.

CHEERS!!!

Needless to say we arrived in Seattle and guess what; we are smack in the middle of a parade. No, joke in the middle! Our bus transportation from Vancouver had to circle the parade route a couple of times before we finally got the police permission to go through the parade to get to the bus/train station. So what could we do but wave to all the people as we drove in the parade! After being dropped off, we grabbed our luggage and decided to walk towards the hotel, again weaving in and out of parade watchers. If anyone knows the streets of Seattle as well as we do, you would know that it is not exactly what we New Yorkers would call flat lands, you’ve got mountains to climb! Needless to say after doing the luggage mambo number 5, we hailed a cab that would eventually only bring us as close to our hotel without going through the parade. Well since we were experts with being in the parade, we decided what have we’ve got to loose. Needless to say between the mermaid, blow up orca and the band playing 76 trombones, we managed to find the hotel.

We apologize, for the lack of pictures due to a snafu, but hopefully that will be resolved today.