Vancouver

We have been 2 days in Canada but feel like we have been away for a month. We arrived here on Sunday 10th May , 6 hours before we left Auckland! Our big thrill was that we were upgraded for the first time ever. And very nice it was too!! However we are not converted, we only like it if we are not paying.
Vancouver has not been easy. I arrived after several days of illness but on the mend, and David developed a raging temperature soon after arriving. The weather was terrible, rain, hail, wind ( a bit like Auckland when we left), so after a long walk around town the day we arrived we succumbed and got on one of the hop on hop off trolley buses and made our way around. David really struggled and we were a bit worried that he might be detained and put in quarantine with swine flu, however we saw a lot of the city through the driving rain. Most impressed with Stanley Park with the fresh flowers and green of spring, just miss the fresh spring in Auckland but have booked bikes to see more at the end of the week. We really loved the Granville island market (very warm and dry – plus lots of impressive local produce.)
Spent the evening in a local bar watching the Canucks – the Vancouver ice hockey team being beaten by the Chicago team. It was a close game so all very tense with impressive outbursts of joy at a local goal, but quiet at the end as the local supporters all slunk home.
Up early the next day to pick up our hire car and set off for Victoria on Vancouver Island. We are impressed here by the car lights always on during the day – should do it in NZ . We made our way, expertly navigated by Joanna, to the ferry about an hour south of the city then off on a spectacular ferry passage meandering through a myriad of islands to reach the big one. On a whim we decided to turn off and take the coast route in to town and what a brilliant choice that was. It was amazing, part pretty coast and part incredibly flash housing estates. We saw deer roaming free on the side of the road and in peoples’ gardens, apparently quite normal. We were like typical gob smacked tourists. David just loves the open front gardens.
Now settled in Victoria on the 16th floor of our boutique hotel (as requested – the boutique bit that is) have walked have few more hundred kilometres and looking forward to exploring the island tomorrow.
Now back in Vancouver. Didn't see as much of the island as intended. The weather was awful yesterday and the coastal route a bit diappointing. Had clam chowder for lunch at a charming little village with buildings on stilts and floating marina style, but otherwise all a bit average,as the kids would say. Much better day today in the mountains around Port Alberni with sunshine, lakes, pristine streams, just like the Canada we have always imagined. Saw eagles,deer,snakes and Joanna spent all day trying to spot a bear, which the locals assure us are very common up there. Up early for our bike ride tomorrow then onto the cruise.