It took me rather a long time get my act together, after the most efficient transfer from stateroom 8146, to my rather swish accommodation on the 4th floor of Fairmont’s Hotel Vancouver. I was told by the receptionist that if I didn’t like the room, they would charge it. But, what was there not to like? The bedroom is large with two King sized beds (I think), dressing table, TV, desk and super en suite facilities, etc.
I purchased a hop on – hop off bus ticket which remains valid until tomorrow morning. However, I also booked a round trip to Whistler, once served by the Rocky Mountaineer. It’s two hours each way on the bus, and I get four hours to look around.
On my way back to Canada Place, I dropped in on Christ Church Cathedral where I had been made very welcome in 2019. I remember it as a mix of High Church/traditional and modern inclusive evangelical. Perhaps its clergy may beg to differ! Had I not booked my trip to Whistler tomorrow, I could have attended a Eucharist at 12.10.
Soon, I was back at Canada Place from where I would eventually take the hop on – hop off bus, going around the 1.5 hour circuit in one journey. Travel fatigue had set in, but nevertheless, I did enjoy the trip which in many ways acted as a reminder of my trip here three years ago. It was weird seeing the Queen Elizabeth berthed so close by. I am, of course, no longer Cunard’s “concern” and the privileges I enjoyed for 43 days are no longer. They will be reinstated in January next year when I join QM2 for a winter break.
Outside, it was cold with fairly strong westerly winds, exactly as it was yesterday in Victoria. At the end of the bus tour, I walked back to Gas Town, now a very trendy part of Vancouver. The steam clock is still in situ, chiming through steam whistles every quarter of an hour. I found a spaghetti restaurant with a genuine short wheelbase street car, re-purposed as an eatery, still on its wheels, and seemingly with the brass driving controls still in tact.
Gently, I made my way back to my hotel, via Canada Place to confirm that Queen Elizabeth was now on its way back to Alaska. My original plans took in two Alaska voyages, albeit the first one starting from Seward (Anchorage) having sailed from Japan, all this cancelled repeatedly because of the pandemic.
I rested in my room for a couple of hours but now I am relaxing in the hotel bar, transformed in what appears to be a recent refurbishment to something very tasteful and contemporary. I just needed a decaff latte as a soothing night cap. There is no reason I shouldn’t catch up on some sleep tonight. In the meantime, I leave a few pictures I took today, at the start of my North America rail and bus trip.
Many thanks for reading, David, 22.33 hrs Hotel Vancouver Bar area.
David's Cruise 