Still in Vancouver

Day 17 - Saturday 2 October - Vancouver
Temperature 17 °C & Partly Cloudy

Unpacked our gear and sorted out the facilities, read the emails and caught up with some news from Oz. Wandered around the local streets – lots of small eateries and bars, drug stores and even a Safeway Supermarket within a block or two of the hotel. Bought some stamps (CAN$ 1.76 each pack of 6 only), cookies, apples, bananas and Coke. Joined the Safeway Club at the check-out, funniest guy, had a great laugh when we put our Australian address on the form.

Found a small diner and had an excellent meal there for just over CAN$ 20. Back to the hotel and checked out the laundry facility and learned a new term when asking for change at the front desk, the $1 coin is called a “Loonie” because it has the image of a common loon (looks like a duck to me) on the reverse.

Day 18 - Sunday 3 October - Vancouver
Temperature 16 °C & Partly Cloudy possible showers

First order of business is to do the laundry then back to the little diner for breakfast, eggs, bacon and toast and a cup of coffee all up CAN$ 15 for the two of us. Bit more crowded than it was yesterday evening. Jenny's high point was when a black squirrel ran past on the outside window sill.

Up the street to the Drug Store and consultation with the pharmacist to get something for runny nose and dry cough, very helpful and professional. Light drizzle falling so back to the hotel and do some serious spine-bashing. Played with the TV and snoozed through the afternoon, Jen still insists in keeping me hydrated. There are 50 something channels available but we've no idea what's showing where and when.

Dinner at the diner again, generous pasta dishes for $8 each, we are the only ones eating there at 6 pm, guess it might get busy later. The place is small and cosy and just a very short walk from the hotel, it will do us just fine.

Day 19 - Monday 4 October - Vancouver
Temperature 15 °C & Partly Cloudy possible showers

An early start to test what's open for breakfast around 7 am. We have booked a tour to Whistler on Thursday and it picks us up at 8 am so we'd like to have breakfast early. The Red Umbrella was open about 7 as were McDonald's and Tim Horton. We may try McDonald's as they have the best range of options and they're open 24/7.

Joined the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off Tour (HOHO) at the English Beach stop. Bus was quite late, dark and cramped – it was certainly beyond its Use Before Date. The commentary was a combination of pre-recorded snippets and the driver's personal observations. Left us a bit confused rather than informed. Got off at Granville Island Markets, quite interesting but not set up for wet weather and a bit disjointed. The food markets displayed a wide range of fresh food, baked items and take-away meals. Seating was at a premium but Jenny managed to snag a table and we enjoyed a hot lunch – Jenny Chinese, me Indian.

Back on the HOHO and headed home where we're sorting out some of the problems associated with mailing a parcel home. First, find a place that will sell you a cardboard box then find a Post Office that can process parcels. Most of the Post Offices listed are sub-agencies in convenience stores and I'm not convinced they are up to dealing with the challenges of Overseas Parcel Post.
Will post more from Vancouver later