Downtown Vancouver

Starfish
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Today after a nice sleep-in (gotta get them while you can on this holiday), and a continental breakfasted at the hotel, it was off to the post office to post home a box of unwanted travel items. We were concerned about the weight of our luggage and future travel in the UK and excess baggage charges, so we culled out luggage and sent home stuff we didn't think we were going to need. This was relatively simple abnd unburdened us for future commuting.

We decided today to do the Hop-On-Hop-Off city tour and had two operators to choose from - either the Old Trolley Bus or the Big Bus company. The first to turn up at the nearby stop was the Trolley bus - so the decision was made. We didn't get great commentary from the driver who spoke softly and was over spoken by the Americans on the trolley who wanted to catch up on their previous evenings activities, rather than hear the commentary. I was bouyed though by sighting a lady walking a spitz just like my Baz back home!

These are strange lookin' whales...

Momma and Bubba Beluga
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Our first hop-off was at Stanley park - this is like the Botanical gardens on steroids. Here we opted for the second stop which was the Vancouver Aquarium. We had been told this was a must to go see the baby Beluga Whale so in we went. A sroll around the fish and frog exhibits was interesting, then it was through to the big tanks where we saw some very cute otters playing. The beluga tank was close by and contained momma, poppa and baby beluga. I couldn't believe how white this species is. The baby was light grey, apparently turning white as it gets older. The baby was momma's shadow with momma being very active and constantly swimming around the tank. Poppa was more or less just swimming in one place and being very boring. We went downstairs to the underwater viewing tank, which was not that great as the handlers were cleaning the tanks and there was heaps of alga floating around hampering visibility.

Amazing looking jellyfish
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After a bite of lunch it was a look through the frog exhibit - where many of the frogs were elusive (or we were just blind), then a quick look at the dolphins before we made our way to the exit. Rather than waiting for the Trolley we decided to walk around the sea wall to the next stop - totem pole park. Here a number of totems are on display to the public. It was then back on the trolley and a stop at the lookout for a view of the Long Bay Bridge. I went off and bought my hard-serve double-scoop icecream while Joe did the other tourist thing and took pictures of the bridge. When I wandered down to the lookout I spotted a racoon just ambling by, obviously very docile and used to people as he wove through their legs.

Those wierd looking walking fish
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Back on the Trolley and onto the next stop at Granville Island. This is the public/farmers market which is very popular with residents and tourists alike. We spent a day here last year, so instead of re-visiting, went for a walk in the opposite direction to Joe's favorite travel outfitters - Tiley's. After a couple of purchases we headed back to the trolley stop, aware that it was coming to the end of the day and there were limited trolleys left to get us back to our hotel. We must have just missed a trolley bus as waited about 25 mins at the stop, but dud start a conversation with a couple from Florida and some Aussies from Townsville. Finally on the trolley we were dropped close to our hotel - it now being about 5:45pm. I was starving so we picked an Indian place for an early dinner called Salem Bombay on Burrard St. The food here was fantastic, the nan bread fresh out of the oven was mouth watering and my butter chicken was to die for. Joe then asked for a sweet nan, which was not on the menu, but the chef made specially. Given the restaurant was empty wnen we entered it probably gave him something to do. This sweet nan was also delectible and we left sated and very impressed with another restaurant choice in Vancouver.

Quaint Beluga Family
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That was the end of our adventures in Vancouver, with time required for travel blogging and bag packing before our early start tomorrow travelling across the North American Continent.