Another gorgeous, sunny day with a cool breeze - really warm in the sun, cool in the shade.
Woke up this morning without an alarm clock - for a change.
After having a huge pancake breakfast, I went on a walk along the "seawall", as they call it. It is a great walking path that runs along the sea and all the way around Stanley Park.
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| Coal Harbor - Vancouver, Canada |
I walked it all the way around Stanley Park - 8kms! I started out at 10:30am and ended up back at teh hotel at 3pm. I didn't even stop for lunch as I'd had a very big breakfast. I didn't realise just how big the park is - and I just walked around the outside. On my days after the tour, I'm planning on actually going into the park and visiting the Aquarium and visiting the Lost Lagoon.
Had my first racoon encounter. I was just walking along the wall when I saw these two claws pop up over the wall, followed by a racoon head. I think we were both startled. The bummer was that I wasn't quick enough to take a picture. It was so cute! I took a step back and it jumped up onto the wall, ran across the path and disappeared into the park.
Had my first racoon encounter. I was just walking along the wall when I saw these two claws pop up over the wall, followed by a racoon head. I think we were both startled. The bummer was that I wasn't quick enough to take a picture. It was so cute! I took a step back and it jumped up onto the wall, ran across the path and disappeared into the park.
After returning to my hotel room I downloaded my photos and videos and had a bit of a break before venturing out to get something to eat.
At about 5pm, I went out and got something to eat at a place called Urban Fare. It's a mini supermarket, mini fruit and veggie grocer and a mini restaurant. Ordered a flame grilled chicken burger with fries and for a drink I, of course, chose..... Canadian Dry Ginger Ale.
Took the food back to my hotel room as I only had 45 minutes before I met up with my fellow travellers for the Trafalgar Tours Welcome Reception.
At five minutes to 6, another couple walked into the room, said a qick hello to us and went to sit down at one of the tables. I excused myself from Anita and Ed, went up to the other couple and introduced myself. Their names were Dulcie and Steve from Norfolk, UK.
Next person to arrive and sit at our table was a lady called Marilyn, who is from Columbus, Ohio. She is also travelling alone and she immediatly said to me that we should sit together on the bus. I of course had to agree, although I was looking forward to sitting on my own. I didn't want to seem like a snob.
Next were a couple from Suffolk, UK - Maureen and Tony. The final couple to sit out our table were another UK couple named Sheila and Arthur. I didn't speak to them much.
When we were all seated, our tour director introduced herself and, you could tell by her accent that she was not a native Canadian - she was originally from the UK. She explained the Trafalgar processes to us in a fun way.
When she asked who didn't have their luggage label yet, I put up my hand and, when I told her my first name, she said, "Oh, your the one with the really long name that ends in flowers". She then said that she just loved my name and then made me say the whole thing in front of everyone. "Oh, that sound wonderful. The way it just rolled off your tongue." Then, "Am I right that Flores means flowers?" which I advised that it does. When asked what I preferred to be called I said I preferred just plain Myriam Gonzalez.
After the get together, Marilyn and I went out for a walk along the sea wall for about 10 minutes before going back to the hotel. Found out that she's in room 1110 and I'm in 1111 - we're neighbours.
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| Totem Poles at Stanley Park |
