Last week we set out for our Olympic adventure that began in Seattle and then onto Vancouver. Despite blizzard conditions in PA, Mom and Jon were able to meet up with us without any delays. Our flights arrived in Seattle a mere hour apart, and then we were off to explore the city. We stayed at the Moore Hotel, a fun and quirky place run by three siblings renovating the old building one floor at a time. We had dinner at Mama’s Mexican where the food had a little to be desired, but the atmosphere made up for it. Where else can you find decorations of Elvis, Marilyn and Santa Claus while listing to mariachi tunes?
The next day, we spent the morning at Pike Place Market, which isn’t just a tourist attraction. Locals also shop for fresh foods and flowers there. The market stalls change daily with different vendors arriving each morning toting their wares. It’s $75 to set up for the day, and the sellers have to take their belongings with them each evening since there isn’t way to secure them at night. It’s a feast for the eyes to see amazing looking produce (one place had ‘big-ass grapes’) and gigantic bunches of flowers. I have to say it made our farmer’s market in Atlanta look a tad skimpy.
We had breakfast at the Crumpet Shop where you can get crumpets with ricotta cheese and almond butter with really good organic coffee. Ah, coffee. Coffee shops abound all over the market and on nearly every corner. There’s even a drive through just for espresso.
After checking out at the hotel, we took a cab to pick up the Quick Shuttle that would take us into Canada. The bus driver was a highly excitable, overweight man who talked about how long it might take to get through customs. Due to increased security for the Games, he said we could be there from 30 minutes to eight hours. The bus ride to the border takes about two and a half hours. Our driver assured us that we were get there as quickly as possible, and try and get in front of any buses in line at the border. Each time we passed a bus on the road, he said that’s another hour we just saved!
We all had to get off of the bus and take our luggage into customs. The process took about 45 minutes and then we were back on the road. The ride took about another half an hour to get into Vancouver. With our faces pressed to the windows, we saw the rise of the majestic Coast Mountains. Each block that we passed had coffee shops, florists, and bakeries.
Our group took a cab to the rental near the university in a quiet neighborhood. The owners live upstairs and usually rent out the third floor to students visiting BC to learn English. After unpacking, we checked out the neighborhood and found a coffee shop and bakery called Butter (Jon sampled the giant Oreo that’s been written up as one of the top 101 foods to try in Vancouver). I was enchanted by a place called Shopper’s Drug Mart, where you can buy stamps, mail packages, buy groceries, any kind of beauty treatments from lotions to cosmetics, and get your prescription filled.
We had dinner at Handi, a really good Indian restaurant. Although Vancouver is known for great food, I didn’t see anyone who was overweight. The people who live in the city have such ready access to healthy foods and produce that rivaled the Pike Place Market. Stores are near enough to homes that people walk instead of taking to their cars. Public transit is great from buses that run all across the city to the sky train that’s like a subway. But cleaner. Vancouver is a very clean city. I think we saw one wrapper on the ground the entire time we were there. And the trash bins have recycling receptacles on them.
That night, we slept well as our travels had quite tired us out. Stay tuned for more on the city and our experience with the Games.
-Jennifer Taylor lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and Burmese cat. Her website is www.jrtaylorweb.com
Photo Credit © Christopher Howey | Dreamstime.com
Read: An Olympic Adventure Part Two-Being There
Read: How to Pack-An Olympic Task
