Vancouver 2002

[early August 2002, Susie's 50th birthday]

July 31 – Good flight. Tasty sandwich in 1st class. Checked into a corner suite in the Pan Pacific. View of downtown one way and the seaplane launch the other.

August 1 – Relaxing morning. Went out to explore – Gastown, Robson st., checked e-mail. Morning swim for Susie. Dinner at Misaki, Japanese rest at our hotel (Pan Pacific). Steve enjoyed his: spicy tuna roll for app, grilled Atlantic salmon for main. Susie didn’t like hers: fish broth soup that reminded her of dirty dish water, mixed tempura was OK but oily.

August 2 -- Birthday!! Very low key. Morning walk for Susie. Bike rental, Stanley Park, visit to the aquarium (disappointing). Afternoon swim, hot tubs, read by the pool (Steve back to the room). Tried BC wines in Cascade lounge of hotel before dinner. Quail’s Gate chardonnay. 

Dinner that evening at Villa da Lupo: excellent Gaja’s Sita Moresco (vino di tavolo), foccacia fresh from the oven. Steve had the veal with pancetta & provolone and for dessert chocolate terrine with coffee ice cream. Susan had an onion tart for starters, veal and a berry mousse layered thing.

August 3 – Day trip to Whistler with Don the Tour guide. Bus at 6:15 am to N. Vancouver train station then to Whistler at 7 am. Very scenic. At Whistler bus shuttle to village (a rather clunky and inefficient way of getting people to the village we thought). Checked out village, shops, took gondola ride to the top of Whistler mtn – breathtaking. 

Bus trip back to Vancouver with running commentary by Don. Stops at Tantalus mtn lookout, Shannon Falls & Britannia beach (once an old mining town now a few shops & food places that don’t have much going for them).

Relaxed in room then to Rain City Grill at English Bay for dinner & got to see part of the spectacular fireworks display as part of the weeklong fireworks competition.

Dinner: tried BC white wine Quail’s Gate Riesling by the glass – very good. Steve: Dungeness crab cake with jicama slaw followed by gazpacho and then halibut with potato dumplings, peas and a cherry tart with hazelnut ice cream. Sue: crispy tofu with black beans & plums, gazpacho and also the halibut and cherry tart.

August 4 - Very leisurely morning. Rainy/cloudy. Susan went walking/swimming. Afterwards we both walked to Chinatown for Chinese cultural festival. Had “fast food” lunch in a small indoor Chinese mall; food poor. Went to Dr. Sun Yat Sen park and Chinese gardens – very nice.

Back to room & relaxed. Dinner at Imperial Chinese Seafood restaurant. Shared grilled beef filet, mixed veggies, fried rice.

August 5 -  Another leisurely morning. Walk and swim for Sue and then to Kinko’s for email and then headed to Granville Island via the bus. Spent afternoon there. Great lunch at Bridges (although Steve lost his sunglasses in the water). Steve: halibut fish & chips; Sue: chicken Caesar salad sandwich wrap. Enjoyed the huge indoor market and strolling the shops. Took the tiny ferry across False Creek then ambled back to the hotel via Chapters bookstore for Starbucks & browsing.

August 6 - Anniversary! Woke to rain. Seaplane to Victoria, then bus to Butchart Gardens with “Bill the bus driver”. Gardens absolutely breathtaking – weather turned out OK. Bus back to Victoria, a bit of strolling, then bus to Swartz Bay, and ferry/bus back to Vancouver. Lots of traveling. Diner at Five Sails at the hotel. 1991 Mersault. Steve: Dungeness crab ravioli, cold sweet pea soup with crab, halibut with asparagus, molten choc. Cake with pistachio ice cream. Susan: ravioli, roasted salmon with fennel, artichoke & asparagus with potato pieces, pear tarte tatin. Very good.

Butchart Gardens

return ferry

August 7 – Relaxing.

And home.