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| Day 18 - Granville Island, Shopping and The Spice Girls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08:00 - ish | Mary up first - down to pool 50 lengths! Guess what, cloudy and drizzly - Good Lord, must be time to go home. |
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| To Granville Island | Adventure today is to go to Granville Island by public transport as no-one is willing to walk.
Asked the first bus driver who indicated we wanted 8, 9 or 50 - "In fact - any except me!". 50 was just behind so we got our 4 $1.50 tickets. Crossed Granville Bridge. We were about to get off when the driver told us that the next stop was nearer - and it was.
A busy harbour with a collection of marine-related shops, a huge food/fish market, a brewery and lots of other craft/arty shops. Left the ladies in the 2-storey toy shop near the entrance and had a wander round. Lost them completely so had tea and cake and listened to the 11:30 busker (yes there was a rota on the wall) playing a 'Struck Dulcimer' - loverly. |
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| Shopping - for Dad! | 12:00ish - Eventually found the ladies and they had drinks and cakes. Made our way walking (with some complaints it must be said) south to Broadway West to find the Mountain Equipment Co-op. Approximately 10 block east, so they went on another bus and I marched out for a change.
Arrived 10 minutes or so behind them. Bought Hi-Tec walkers, socks and glasses strap (this last for Mary). They caught 2 buses back, I took the shortcut across Cambie Bridge - very long bridge! Got a 6" sub and was back at the hotel eating when they arrived in the street below. This time they didn't look up - instead they went straight to the subway too! |
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| A stake-out | Rested awhile and staked out CBC Radio Vancouver with binoculars from our room to see who the crowd had gathered to see. Nothing obvious. Next, marched out in my new shoes and socks (label still on sole - OOPS) to Pacific Mall and got me a larger suitcase. I was allowed home then, whilst they took the rest of our cash to ensure we didn't need to change any back when we reached Rossett - well that's what they said. |
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| Preparing (reluctantly) for home | My original suitcase, my clothes plus the stuff I had previously put into Lucy's all easily fit into my new bag! Rang airline - but recorded message still Sun/Mon. Also Cable TVv only has latest Arrivals/Departs, so another wasted call. Mary may Ring Dolly/May tonight. She might get a taxi over there if one of them is back from the wedding. I'm going to hot tub it (or tubby it) tonight - but feel better (if a little sweaty) for the two stride out sessions. Funny - they don't hurt my legs like shopping! So, had a little nap and at 18:15 they all came back.
And the scores are:- Katie a Top and Cardigan, Lucy Jumbo Cords, Mary 2 pairs of shorts and a pair of jeans and $20 from a cash machine. |
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| Mystery Solved | Over the way at the CBC studios people have been gathering all day. Our stakeout thinks it's the Spice Girls, but who knows? I am going for a brisk swim and that hot tub.
When I got back Mary had ascertained that it indeed was the Spice Girls. They had come in earlier today for some sort of promo for an upcoming 'gig' using the recording studios underneath. Mary found this out simply by walking over and asking the Security Guard - who said some kids had been there since 5:30am. Daft lot! Going for Tapas again when the girls have packed. Think we saw the unmarked, blacked out windowed van taking you-know-who away from CBC. Lots of kids chased it round the block - it actually crossed a RED light - but very carefully in a Canadian sort of way. When we went to the Tapas Bar those kids were still running round the streets (lots in bare feet carrying stack heeled/soled shoes) |
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| Our Final (evening) Meal in Vancouver | Tapas Bar lovely again - we had different combinations again with extras to share. Even had room for sweets. Really pushed the boat out and it came to $104 - nearly £50! Good old Visa scored again. Mary didn't ring or go to Dolly/May. Neither did we do the washing - 5 pieces of luggage instead! All packed and ready for the 6:15ish start - want those window seats again.
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