Tuesday in Vancouver

Weather predicted: mostly cloudy with high of 67º. Actual weather: mostly sunny with high of 76º. We had breakfast in the Fairmont Waterfront Gold Club. Nice layout with great bacon. After breakfast we walked around the Vancouver Cruise Port and observed the docked Ruby Princess. It sails at 5 pm tonight on a round trip to Hawaii. Our ship, the Viking Orion is due in port at 7 am tomorrow morning where it will be joined by the Grand Princess and the Holland America Lines Zaandam.

Right in the Cruise Terminal is the very popular Fly Over Canada attraction, so we signed up for the first (virtual) flight at 10:00 am. It was great fun! All the pictures just below are from that virtual flight where you fell the pitch and roll of the plane and feel the spray of the waterfalls and snow. Imagine we’re in a jet taking pictures as we fly over the land.

Then we walked about four blocks down the road to the Gastown area of Vancouver and observed the famous steam clock (the world’s first). The clock was steaming as usual, but it was also 15 minutes slow. There are a few pics from the Gastown area and a fire truck for my friend Bob.

Next we boarded the hop-on hop-off bus for a ride around Vancouver. We did the whole circuit and got off only once, at Granville Market where we had a delicious lunch at the Vancouver Fish Company. Our waiter was Marty who lives half the year in Scottsdale where he works as a waiter at Veneto Trattoria (at Scottsdale Road and MacDonald). Small world. We split a pitcher of Red Truck Amber Ale. (We saw their truck on the way in.) I had six oysters followed by a lobster and shrimp roll with fries. Elaine had halibut fish and chips. Good food.

Then it was back on the HOHO bus to take use back to Canada Place and our hotel for relaxation and eventually cocktails and snacks. After the big lunch that sufficed for tonight’s dinner.