We flew from Heathrow to Vancouver, catching a 1:15 pm plane and arriving 10 hours later in Vancouver at about 3:15pm. After collecting our numerous bags we went to pick up the car from Hertz. Unfortunately the Ford Explorer we were expecting was not available so we were offered a Jeep. The boot was way too small for us though so after loads of mucking about we ended up with a very nice (and of course more expensive!) Volvo XC90 4WD.
We checked into the Granville Island Hotel on Granville Island in South Vancouver. After a short rest, we went and had some dinner and a drink. Well, Martin and Jack ate, but Marina and Bekky couldn't handle the idea of eating at what for us was 3a.m. and confined themselves to a few pieces of the rather nice cranberry bread.
We'd been told on arrival that Vancouver was in the middle of an international fireworks competition! That night, reigning champs, China, were due to give their display. So after tucking a very tired Bekky and Jack into bed, Marina and Martin walked around the various quays to a park where we could watch the display over English Bay. It was.... not that awesome actually! But a nice start to the holiday nevertheless.
Here's some photos from the first day of our holiday:
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| The Rockies, seen from the plane. |
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| Downtown Vancouver across the water from our hotel on Granville Island. |
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| Looking down False Creek from the hotel quayside. |
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| People like their canoes in Vancouver :-) |
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| Underneath the bridge to Granville Island as Martin and Marina head out for the evening's fireworks competition. |
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| Waiting for the fireworks to start, looking out across English Bay. |
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| And here we go.... just a small selection..... |
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| The Rockies, seen from the plane. |
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