If you cannot ski or snowboard this is the way to go 
John Guiding us into the big red Gondolla
on top of the World
Building at Whistler
Greetins at The Vancouver Airport
A street in Vancouver
Vancouver on the Friday 24th April 2009.
At 8:43pm on the 24th we left the runway a little late on board NZ84 and touched down on the runway 12hours and twenty minutes later. The flight was a little “bumpy” for the first third of the flight and smooth thereafter. Vancouver from the aircraft looked grey and dullish; only three or four red roofs; the rest we different shades of grey. I gained a different impression as we travelled into the Holiday Inn in downtown Vancouver. There were plenty of spring flowers in bloom, lots of pink cherry blossoms and plenty of colours all around. We arrived at the hotel around 4:30pm, a little tired, after only about 5and a half hours sleep on the plane. The Air New Zealand food was excellent! After a short walk and an early tea we bedded at 8pm, tired but happy.
At 8:43pm on the 24th we left the runway a little late on board NZ84 and touched down on the runway 12hours and twenty minutes later. The flight was a little “bumpy” for the first third of the flight and smooth thereafter. Vancouver from the aircraft looked grey and dullish; only three or four red roofs; the rest we different shades of grey. I gained a different impression as we travelled into the Holiday Inn in downtown Vancouver. There were plenty of spring flowers in bloom, lots of pink cherry blossoms and plenty of colours all around. We arrived at the hotel around 4:30pm, a little tired, after only about 5and a half hours sleep on the plane. The Air New Zealand food was excellent! After a short walk and an early tea we bedded at 8pm, tired but happy.
Vancouver, Saturday 25th April 2009.
After 9 hours restorative sleep and an early breakfast we boarded our charted coach and left on time at 8:55am bound for whistler a ski resort about 110km to the north east. We drove through tall buildings some well glazed before driving through a pretty Canadian pine forest before travelling over the large green Lions Gate Harbour Bridge to North Vancouver, past horse shoe bay and along the edge of Howe Sound. Along the way we stopped to view a large waterfall before passing through an outdoor pursuits town of Squamish. The scenery includes the Howe Sound on our left with high rocky cliffs on our right hand after the houses ceased with snow-capped mountains in the background. We arrived at whistler at 11:30am; where the mountains closed in and surround the ski resort. The next Olympic Winter sports will be held there in February 2010. There were tourists like ourselves mingling with the crowds skiers young and old, eating and drinking in and outside the liquor shops, all enjoying themselves. John went to seek information on a gondola experience for us. Very soon we were climbing on the first gondola about 12 at a time. When we reached the top we walked through snow to an even bigger gondola station which held about twenty skiers and tourists. It was bright red. It took us across a very deep snow and tree clad valley to another mountain top. The scenery was breathtaking. At the end of the second gondola ride there was a big restaurant full of people eating and drinking some of the wide variety of refreshments on offer. I made my way to the viewing platform which overlooked the ski slopes with skiers skiing all the way down to Whistler which looked so tiny 1170 meters below. We arrived back to our hotel around 5pm. The heavy traffic in Vancouver slowed our progress. After a short rest up we went for a short walk before dining in the Irish pub next door to our hotel. Fay had real Irish stew followed by bread pudding with a sweet bourbon sauce. Yummy! I had good old English bangers and mash with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and caramelised onions. Good night.
After 9 hours restorative sleep and an early breakfast we boarded our charted coach and left on time at 8:55am bound for whistler a ski resort about 110km to the north east. We drove through tall buildings some well glazed before driving through a pretty Canadian pine forest before travelling over the large green Lions Gate Harbour Bridge to North Vancouver, past horse shoe bay and along the edge of Howe Sound. Along the way we stopped to view a large waterfall before passing through an outdoor pursuits town of Squamish. The scenery includes the Howe Sound on our left with high rocky cliffs on our right hand after the houses ceased with snow-capped mountains in the background. We arrived at whistler at 11:30am; where the mountains closed in and surround the ski resort. The next Olympic Winter sports will be held there in February 2010. There were tourists like ourselves mingling with the crowds skiers young and old, eating and drinking in and outside the liquor shops, all enjoying themselves. John went to seek information on a gondola experience for us. Very soon we were climbing on the first gondola about 12 at a time. When we reached the top we walked through snow to an even bigger gondola station which held about twenty skiers and tourists. It was bright red. It took us across a very deep snow and tree clad valley to another mountain top. The scenery was breathtaking. At the end of the second gondola ride there was a big restaurant full of people eating and drinking some of the wide variety of refreshments on offer. I made my way to the viewing platform which overlooked the ski slopes with skiers skiing all the way down to Whistler which looked so tiny 1170 meters below. We arrived back to our hotel around 5pm. The heavy traffic in Vancouver slowed our progress. After a short rest up we went for a short walk before dining in the Irish pub next door to our hotel. Fay had real Irish stew followed by bread pudding with a sweet bourbon sauce. Yummy! I had good old English bangers and mash with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and caramelised onions. Good night.
Wow, sounds so beautiful.Mum must have been having kittens when you were on the viewing platform Maurice.What an experience. Food sounds very nice too. Pleased to hear mums leg is healing, thank goodness that there is a nurse on board.Enjoy the next few days on the train.
ReplyDeleteHeather