Summary
Headed to our next hotel where the train trip organizers are putting us up for two nights. Took the shuttle to the spectacular, very bouncy, Capilano Suspension Bridge (450 feet long, 230 feet above the river). Back in town we embarked on an audio tour of the Gastown area which we cut short after spending too much time in some very sketchy areas.
Details
When we wake we realize we’re still not adjusted to the local time, but we’re doing better. The A/C in the room didn’t help with the sleeping. Usually it’s because it’s not cool enough. This one is plenty cool and blows directly on both of us a we sleep, cycling off and off through the night. Well, we’re off to a new hotel here in Vancouver today, so that’s behind us.
Awake, we make coffee, breakfast and pack. We check out and take an Uber over to our next hotel, the Pan Pacific. If you’re taking a cruise you’re probably staying here. It’s nice and big and connected to the cruise ship boarding facilities.
Alas our room’s not ready yet, which we expected. We let them store our luggage and while standing around see word of a free shuttle from here to the Capilano Suspension Bridge provincial park. That’s great! That’s where we wanted to go but thought we’d have to schlep over there via city transit!.
On the free shuttle bus drive over I’m busily taking notes on my phone of our daily doings. I look up and am surprised to see we’re passing through a lush, dense redwood forest. Checking the map I find we’re still in Vancouver, at the center of Stanley Park. Who knew? It’s beautiful! We’ve mostly been on the outer perimeter and so missed that there’s so much more.
At the Capilano Park, not too many minutes outside of Vancouver, we get our tickets validated and soon are crossing the suspension bridge. I knew it was a suspension bridge. It’s in the park’s name. And I’ve been on suspension bridges, like San Francisco’s Golden Gate or Bay Bridge. They’re fine. Nothing to them.
This one? It’s long, high, and fairly steep. As each person takes a step the whole bridge undulates like an under-filled waterbed. Given how many large humans are lumbering across it at any one time, it’s constantly pitching and heaving like you’re on a poorly built tugboat in a storm. Most people are clinging to the handrails for support. We try to walk without that aid and it’s fun and funny but not easy.
On the far side there’s a mile or more of walking trails, all on wooden boardwalks. There are stairs leading up to more smaller, shorter suspension bridges, going from tree to tree to tree. We see an owl and bird of prey on display. We see a banana slug being shown and we ask about them.
Eventually we’re walked out and again do the suspension bridge back. It’s a great workout. We’re old but in fairly good shape. This must really kick the butts of older and less fit souls.
Back near our hotel we head out on a self-guided audio tour. The guide lives in my iPhone and knows where we are and where we should be. He tells us where to go and explains what we’re looking at. We’re doing the Gastown, named after barman Gassy Jack something-or-other. So nicknamed for his gregarious nature rather than his flatulence.
As the tour continued further and further along it became apparent we are being taken into, and through, some of the most slummy parts of town. If you’re unhoused, if you abuse drugs or substances, this is where you live. We beg off on the last part of the tour and catch a bus back to our hotel. Along the way we see hundreds of more of the unhoused and destitute, in line a the soup kitchen or just hanging out. It’s sad but we were warned this is a part of Vancouver to probably be avoided.
Back at our hotel we find our room’s ready and happily explode our stuff therein. We have the room, and the change of hotel, courtesy of our Rocky Mountaineer rail excursion. We’re on the top floor, which is the “club floor”. We’re told there’s a club room where we have breakfast each morning, happy hour in the late afternoon (free food but honor bar paid for drinks), and similar arrangement at lunch for “tea”. Nice. We go do the tea, making it into lunch, and enjoy a beer (or two).
Our next scheduled activity is a movie of sorts. Actually two of them, back to back. It’s a 10 minute show but the whole thing takes 30 minutes, like a Disney ride. This, too, is a ride. The screen is huge, and spheric, like an IMax theater. Our seats, into which we’re securely seat belted in, are on a long platform with many other seats. As the movie goes on we’re raised, lowered, tilted forward and back, left and right. We’re flying over all of Canada, getting misted as we go through clouds or too close to the surf. We’ve done it before and we enjoyed it for these two shows as much as we did previously. The business is called FlyOver and it’s quite, understandably, popular.
At happy hour time we go back to our club for some very good food and beverage followed by dinner at Joey Bentall’s. Good food and wine. After dinner we walk, acknowledging that we (I) ate too much. In our room we sink into the bed for a good night’s sleep. The place seems perfect for that.
Photos
