Tuesday-Our Day in Vancouver

         Yesterday evening we had a drink in our hotel room.  I had brought some Woodford Reserve bourbon minis and bought a bottle of chardonnay at the liquor attached to the Hilton for Rebecca.  She used the glass that our United crew gave us.

        As I mentioned in yesterday's post we had reservations at Frankie's Italian last evening.  We arrived just prior to the end of their happy hour and Jason, bartender, made a double shot vodka martini for me and some chardonnay for Rebecca.  I told him we had a reservation and would like him as our server.  He led us to a very nice private corner table with a view of the sidewalk outdoor seating.  I have to say he did a great job of serving us plus tending the bar at the same time.  Unfortunately, the food was not so good.  My veal parm was way overcooked and Rebecca's salmon not good.  My spaghetti was way to heavy with the tomato sauce.

        

        Love this Hilton!  It is a fairly new property so everything is nice and fresh.  Our upgraded room 

is a corner two room suite with windows surrounding us and a very small, but adequate, balcony.  I had a problem last night with figuring out the air conditioning as the rooms were too cold.  I would turn the air off but half hour later it was back on.  So I was up several times during the night turning it back off.  I think I finally got it figured out now however.  Another issue is there are only two elevators so the wait time can be long and then multiple stops on the way down from the 17th floor.

                                 That is a liquor store to right of the street entrance to our hotel.

This is Patrick who checked us into the hotel yesterday and gave us a very nice upgraded room.

       Living area of our room with tv and computer desk below it.  Notice all the windows.

                             Another view of living area with balcony door right end of the sofa.

                                              Balcony is small but at least we have one.

        Robson Street is lined with fast food shops with all types of international cuisine.  DQ across the street and a Memphis Blues BBQ next to it.  Thinking of getting some pulled pork nachos from there for dinner this evening.

        We had a continental breakfast included as one of our Hilton "diamond status" benefits.  Rebecca ordered two scrambled eggs ala carte.  Looked like a half dozen eggs as the order was huge so we shared.  Cost $4.  Then we went to an IGA grocery in the same block as our hotel for some sundries we may need on the cruise.  Now 10:30 and back in the room.  Her soap came on at 11:00 to noon but she had watched same one yesterday.

        So we decided to go for a walk.  I was impressed with how clean this city is and we only saw one beggar during our one hour walk.  We walked nearly to the Canada Place, the cruise ship terminal, where we will be embarking on Mariner tomorrow.  We could see a Princess Cruises ship docked there today.  The weather is perfect today with lots blue skies and low 70's.  I might also add that the Canadians are very polite and friendly.

        Vancouver is also a "green" city with most public busses being electric from wires over the streets.  I think you can see the wires if you click on this photo.  The city also requires restaurants/shops/stores to charge for their merchandise bags.  I ask for paper cups for our coffees this morning in the hotel restaurant to bring up to the room and there was a 25 cent charge per cup.  Of course, I did not want to pay that so asked for coffee mugs.  I returned them later when we went back down for breakfast.  The IGA grocery store charged me 15 cents for a bag.  I could afford that.  LOL

        This afternoon I went back next door to the liquor store for another bottle of chardonnay.  Price for the William Hill said $27 (Canadian) but when I checked out she said $31.  Well, there was fine print that listed taxes of $4.  The nice lady said, "Ok, I will give you a discount".  I paid $28 CAD ($21 USD).  Told you that these Canadians were nice folks.

        I asked the front desk if they could give me ten $1 USD bills for a couple fives.  They could not but suggested I go down and ask the bellmen.  Sure enough they had plenty of US $1 bills.  I will need them for tipping tomorrow.

        Our plan for this evening is another "happy" happy hour (maybe longer) here in our room.  For dinner I will run across the street to the Memphis Blues BBQ restaurant and bring back to the room some pulled pork loaded nachos for dinner.  We'll be eating "high-on-the-hog" for the next 43 nights!!

        We will be departing the hotel just after noon tomorrow as our assigned cruise check-in time at Canada Place is 12:30.  I have been warned to bring plenty of patience as the process is very bureaucratic.