Pacific NW Vacay Day One
So…Vancouver vacation! So exciting! The day before I got here was complete insanity. I had way more to do than anyone could reasonably expect to accomplish in a 24-hour period, but I just plugged away and got as much done as possible. Needless to say, though, I ended up working through the night and then just went to the airport at 4 am. I got there 3 hours early because that’s what the airline recommended, but then when I checked in the airline attendant told me, “Since you’re so early I’m going to put you on an earlier flight to Houston so that you’ll have more time to make your connection. Also, this flight lands in the same terminal as your connecting flight, so you won’t have to worry about taking the train.” Wow, Nice Attendant Guy! Way to get my morning off to a good start, right? I had, in fact, been concerned about the connecting flight because it was only 45 minutes after we were scheduled to land, which leaves no margin for error. But, you know, problem solved, unexpectedly.
The flight to Houston was short and uneventful, and I arrived in plenty of time to get to the gate of my Vancouver flight. I had enough time to kill there that I finished my LLA homework, which was due that day, *and* take a super-unflattering picture of myself looking totally rough after having been up for 28 hours straight, wearing the same outfit and having only napped for about 1.5 hours on a friend/client’s sofa on the way to the airport when I stopped by his place to feed his kitties. So this is my “I am so sleep deprived at the airport!” photo:
Also, I saw this ad and immediately laughed out loud, to the consternation and/or annoyance of some of the other people waiting at the gate:
OMG! It’s funny ‘cos it’s true! *I’m* big and nimble! And I love elephants! Oh, gigantic corporation. Who knew we’d ever have something in common?
The flight to Vancouver was probably the best flight I’ve ever taken. Ever. Ever. First of all, I selected the seat in the very back of the plane against the window on the right-hand side because:
a) I love window seats. Looking out the window at the world below and the clouds around us and the superthin atmosphere above never gets old for me;
b) I love being in the very back of the plane because I’m right by the flight attendants and the restrooms, should I need either of them, and also the wings of the plane don’t obstruct my view, and alsoalso I can lean my chair way back without having to worry about the people behind me because there aren’t any people behind me;
and c) There was no one else booked on my row or the row in front of me, which meant that I had space to lie down, I could put my feet on the armrests in front of me, and I could even rest my legs on the seat in front of me and sit almost folded in half, which is very comfortable and a nice little stretch for my back.
Not only did I get like the best seating arrangement ever (first class, eat your heart out!), but also I met this really funny and nice massage therapist from Houston who frequently works in Austin, and he offered to give me a free massage when I get back home. Nice man! So he kept me company for a good portion of the flight, which was delightful. And also, let me tell you how awesome it is to see the autumn colors of the Rocky Mountains from 30,000+ feet. Wow.
We arrived in Vancouver a little early, and p.s. Vancouver airport is the most beautiful airport I’ve ever seen. No, seriously. You know how most airports are just kind of utilitarian and butt ugly? Well, Vancouver put a lot of effort into making sure their airport is aesthetically pleasing and welcoming. They have fountains everywhere, including ones that are meant to look like rivers and creeks. They also have a lot of really interesting sculptures and statues all over the place. And a lot of First Nations décor. By the way, silly politically correct convention number eleventybillion: just as it’s considered inappropriate in the States to call Native Americans “Indians” (because, hi, they aren’t Indians, and never were), it’s considered inappropriate to call them “Native Americans” in Canada because Canadians prefer the term “First Nations”. What strikes me as odd about this is that the term “Native American” is accurate, for the most part, inasmuch as you can ignore the fact that the early explorers named this land the Americas. “First Nations” is also accurate because those nations were here first, BUT I don’t really see how the former is more offensive than the latter, since the words “first” and “nations” are also in the language of the invaders, so we’re still labeling them with our own constructs. When I asked my aunt why Canadians consider it to be offensive, she said, “Because it’s an American term.” Huh. Ok. Whatever. Humans are funny.
Anyway, blahblahblah. So. Where was I? Airport. I got through customs quickly and easily and then my Aunt Janet met me in the greeting area and we headed down to the part of town where my uncle works so we could kill time until he was ready to leave work. Just driving to North Van was stunning. I was in the city for less than five minutes and already busting out my camera.
Oh hai, Vancouver. I can haz city?
We walked around Robson St. for a while, which was charming and interesting, but oddly enough, a lot of people were giving me strange looks for wearing a sleeveless blouse, goucho pants, and flip flops. I mean, hi. It was NOT that cold. Maybe in the low 60s (That’s like 19-20 Celsius? Around there?), *and* the sun was out. What can I say? Big girls are warm blooded. We wear our insulation on the inside.
When my uncle got off work, we drove down to the dock to grab some dinner at Whole Foods and then wait for the ferry. And may I just say? I want to have to ride a ferry to go to and from home every day. As long as the ferry ride looks like this:
Wowza!
My beautiful aunt and uncle on their beautiful ferry ride to their beautiful house:
And my aunt indulging me while I be all touristy and obnoxious:
Hey, by the way, thanks, breeze, for puffing out my blouse and making me look pregnant in these photos! Just what every girl aspires towards!
When we finally got to Bowen Island, I think I died and went to heaven. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m dead right now and just wandering around heaven thinking that I’m still on vacay. Because, seriously, I know photos don’t ever do a place justice, especially when those photos are taken on a little amateur camera by a complete idiot who knows nothing about photography, but even still, look at these photos and tell me if you think a place like this can be real:
RIGHT?!?! I mean, wow!
So anyway, after I stopped having heart palpitations from sensory overload, we snuggled down in their living room for a pleasant little catching-up chat and then watched a movie. By the time it was over, I was completely exhausted and went to bed. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so soundly in my life. I didn’t wake up once all night.
The flight to Houston was short and uneventful, and I arrived in plenty of time to get to the gate of my Vancouver flight. I had enough time to kill there that I finished my LLA homework, which was due that day, *and* take a super-unflattering picture of myself looking totally rough after having been up for 28 hours straight, wearing the same outfit and having only napped for about 1.5 hours on a friend/client’s sofa on the way to the airport when I stopped by his place to feed his kitties. So this is my “I am so sleep deprived at the airport!” photo:
Also, I saw this ad and immediately laughed out loud, to the consternation and/or annoyance of some of the other people waiting at the gate:
OMG! It’s funny ‘cos it’s true! *I’m* big and nimble! And I love elephants! Oh, gigantic corporation. Who knew we’d ever have something in common?
The flight to Vancouver was probably the best flight I’ve ever taken. Ever. Ever. First of all, I selected the seat in the very back of the plane against the window on the right-hand side because:
a) I love window seats. Looking out the window at the world below and the clouds around us and the superthin atmosphere above never gets old for me;
b) I love being in the very back of the plane because I’m right by the flight attendants and the restrooms, should I need either of them, and also the wings of the plane don’t obstruct my view, and alsoalso I can lean my chair way back without having to worry about the people behind me because there aren’t any people behind me;
and c) There was no one else booked on my row or the row in front of me, which meant that I had space to lie down, I could put my feet on the armrests in front of me, and I could even rest my legs on the seat in front of me and sit almost folded in half, which is very comfortable and a nice little stretch for my back.
Not only did I get like the best seating arrangement ever (first class, eat your heart out!), but also I met this really funny and nice massage therapist from Houston who frequently works in Austin, and he offered to give me a free massage when I get back home. Nice man! So he kept me company for a good portion of the flight, which was delightful. And also, let me tell you how awesome it is to see the autumn colors of the Rocky Mountains from 30,000+ feet. Wow.
We arrived in Vancouver a little early, and p.s. Vancouver airport is the most beautiful airport I’ve ever seen. No, seriously. You know how most airports are just kind of utilitarian and butt ugly? Well, Vancouver put a lot of effort into making sure their airport is aesthetically pleasing and welcoming. They have fountains everywhere, including ones that are meant to look like rivers and creeks. They also have a lot of really interesting sculptures and statues all over the place. And a lot of First Nations décor. By the way, silly politically correct convention number eleventybillion: just as it’s considered inappropriate in the States to call Native Americans “Indians” (because, hi, they aren’t Indians, and never were), it’s considered inappropriate to call them “Native Americans” in Canada because Canadians prefer the term “First Nations”. What strikes me as odd about this is that the term “Native American” is accurate, for the most part, inasmuch as you can ignore the fact that the early explorers named this land the Americas. “First Nations” is also accurate because those nations were here first, BUT I don’t really see how the former is more offensive than the latter, since the words “first” and “nations” are also in the language of the invaders, so we’re still labeling them with our own constructs. When I asked my aunt why Canadians consider it to be offensive, she said, “Because it’s an American term.” Huh. Ok. Whatever. Humans are funny.
Anyway, blahblahblah. So. Where was I? Airport. I got through customs quickly and easily and then my Aunt Janet met me in the greeting area and we headed down to the part of town where my uncle works so we could kill time until he was ready to leave work. Just driving to North Van was stunning. I was in the city for less than five minutes and already busting out my camera.
Oh hai, Vancouver. I can haz city?
We walked around Robson St. for a while, which was charming and interesting, but oddly enough, a lot of people were giving me strange looks for wearing a sleeveless blouse, goucho pants, and flip flops. I mean, hi. It was NOT that cold. Maybe in the low 60s (That’s like 19-20 Celsius? Around there?), *and* the sun was out. What can I say? Big girls are warm blooded. We wear our insulation on the inside.
When my uncle got off work, we drove down to the dock to grab some dinner at Whole Foods and then wait for the ferry. And may I just say? I want to have to ride a ferry to go to and from home every day. As long as the ferry ride looks like this:
Wowza!
My beautiful aunt and uncle on their beautiful ferry ride to their beautiful house:
And my aunt indulging me while I be all touristy and obnoxious:
Hey, by the way, thanks, breeze, for puffing out my blouse and making me look pregnant in these photos! Just what every girl aspires towards!
When we finally got to Bowen Island, I think I died and went to heaven. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m dead right now and just wandering around heaven thinking that I’m still on vacay. Because, seriously, I know photos don’t ever do a place justice, especially when those photos are taken on a little amateur camera by a complete idiot who knows nothing about photography, but even still, look at these photos and tell me if you think a place like this can be real:
RIGHT?!?! I mean, wow!
So anyway, after I stopped having heart palpitations from sensory overload, we snuggled down in their living room for a pleasant little catching-up chat and then watched a movie. By the time it was over, I was completely exhausted and went to bed. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so soundly in my life. I didn’t wake up once all night.