Day 3: Hail to thee, Portlandia (7/24)
VANCOUVER -- Chad opted for the free hotel breakfast instead of just free pancakes, so we hopped in the car and headed north -- right into a good old-fashioned Northwest drizzle, which lasted the rest of the way into Vancouver.
The Fred Meyer/Kroger connection benefitted us again as I stopped for gas in Bellingham and used my discount card at the pump.
At the border, we were picked (at random?) for further questions by Canadian authorities. I really think that CBSA officials just can't believe that Americans would want to watch their football games.
It was still raining when we arrived at Rogers Arena, the home of the Vancouver Canucks. Initially, we were there for just a visit to the gift shop, but with the deteriorating weather, we opted to take the arena tour as well. Our tour guide Oscar was a naturalized Canadian citizen from Mexico, who happened to time his official entry into Canada during the 2010 gold-medal hockey game between the US and Canada. "If you don't want border agents to waste your time, go through during a huge national sporting event," he winkingly suggested.
The weather postponed our scheduled afternoon baseball game, but we still went by the slowly-emptying ballpark to at least pick up our tickets and get Chad his Canadians shirt. We then moved on to a Chad-suggested lunch at the Red Wagon Café, where I had a Korean sandwich that I can't remember the name of and isn't listed on the online menu. It was still good, if not completely memorable.
To kill some time, we drove out to the Hard Rock Casino in nearby Coquitlam so Chad could pick up a shirt there -- he does know that department stores sell clothing, but what can you do? -- and then we crept back into the city during evening rush hour to our hotel, complete with valet parking. Don't tell Avis.
After printing off our football tickets, we headed to BC Place, most recently the site of the Women's World Cup final but tonight the site of BC playing Toronto in a little summertime football played indoors. Fortunately, the first game of the CFL doubleheader finished in overtime, allowing us to get to our seats before kickoff. I was most impressed with the options for dining; I elected to go with a vegetarian curry. Wow.
Unfortunately, the Lions blew a 21-7 halftime lead, allowing Toronto to storm back for a 30-27 victory.
Going back to our hotel a different way meant that we got ended up in Chinatown instead of at our hotel.
The Fred Meyer/Kroger connection benefitted us again as I stopped for gas in Bellingham and used my discount card at the pump.
At the border, we were picked (at random?) for further questions by Canadian authorities. I really think that CBSA officials just can't believe that Americans would want to watch their football games.
It was still raining when we arrived at Rogers Arena, the home of the Vancouver Canucks. Initially, we were there for just a visit to the gift shop, but with the deteriorating weather, we opted to take the arena tour as well. Our tour guide Oscar was a naturalized Canadian citizen from Mexico, who happened to time his official entry into Canada during the 2010 gold-medal hockey game between the US and Canada. "If you don't want border agents to waste your time, go through during a huge national sporting event," he winkingly suggested.
The weather postponed our scheduled afternoon baseball game, but we still went by the slowly-emptying ballpark to at least pick up our tickets and get Chad his Canadians shirt. We then moved on to a Chad-suggested lunch at the Red Wagon Café, where I had a Korean sandwich that I can't remember the name of and isn't listed on the online menu. It was still good, if not completely memorable.
To kill some time, we drove out to the Hard Rock Casino in nearby Coquitlam so Chad could pick up a shirt there -- he does know that department stores sell clothing, but what can you do? -- and then we crept back into the city during evening rush hour to our hotel, complete with valet parking. Don't tell Avis.
After printing off our football tickets, we headed to BC Place, most recently the site of the Women's World Cup final but tonight the site of BC playing Toronto in a little summertime football played indoors. Fortunately, the first game of the CFL doubleheader finished in overtime, allowing us to get to our seats before kickoff. I was most impressed with the options for dining; I elected to go with a vegetarian curry. Wow.
Unfortunately, the Lions blew a 21-7 halftime lead, allowing Toronto to storm back for a 30-27 victory.
Going back to our hotel a different way meant that we got ended up in Chinatown instead of at our hotel.