I am home from Vancouver!!
I had a WONDERFUL time, it was better thanI even expected. We arrived Saturday and right away went to the hotel. The taxi ride was an experience, the roads were so packed with cars and people, the taxi was speeding, swerving in and out of lanes and honking at people. I swear, I was scared for my life in the taxi but not the plane LOL!
We got to the hotel and were quite impressed. It was very fancy, right in the heart of downtown Vancouver (Robson and Burrard). We got changed and went straight to the dinner Canwest was putting on. It was really yummy!!
After that and a few drinks we headed out to explore Vancouver. We walked about 4 blocks or so to an Irish Pub, had a few drinks and walked back to the hotel - we went to bed around 1:00 (3:00 for me!!) and still managed to be up at 8:00 am for the run!
The run was amazing - there were over 50,000 people, you could see them lined down the street as far as the eye could see. I can't wait to see the pictures. We didn't start the run until 10:00am, they started in waves - so by the time we got going we were antsy. The run was good but HARD!! A lot of it was up hill and OMG - not the same as running in Winnipeg ROFL!! But the scenery was beautiful, we ran through Stanley Park and along the ocean. Everything was so green and smelled beautiful, the trees and flowers were blooming. There were bands and people cheering along the route - at every kilometer therewere people handing out water. There was a half way point where you could break for coffee (I know - odd choice but they were Dulce deLuche (I have no clue how to spell that) Lattes from Starbucks so we
just couldn't resist!!) and fruit. We did a 10 minute break there and kept going. I had hurt my ankle the day before the run so I was impressed that we finished in 1:30. I am completley HOOKED on the races now though. I am already planning my next. I want to get a tattoo to commemerate my first run too - I think anyways. ;)
After the run we still had to walk about 8 blocks to our hotel so when we got back we were WIPED. We had brunch (put on by Canwest) and then sat in the hot tub. After we went and did some sight seeing (shopping) and then went to a sushi place for dinner. (CHEAP and GOOD - my entire meal of vegetable tempora, three rolls, miso soup and a margarita was $14.00!!) and we then decided to check out a kareoke bar we were told was good with cheap drinks. Well - we tried but after about 12 blocks with no bar in sight - we stopped at an outdoor pub and had a drink. After we ordered we realized it was a gay bar ROFL!! Oh well!! After that we headed back in the direction of our hotel and went to another bar. It was ok but slow and we wanted a night of dancing. Thankfully it picked up and we danced the night away!! At 2:00 we went back to our hotel.
We were up at 8:00 on Sunday and went shopping all day - Coach, Lush, MAC, Ikea (Ikea was quite an experience, I'm never again taking a city bus in Vancouver!) --- sooo many stores. It was GREAT. Tons of small local shops too.
Then we went back to the hotel for another hot tub break because OMG we were sore. Next time I will go tour BEFORE the 10K run!!!! Sunday night we went down to the waterfront and did some sight seeing, we found a great little restaurant that had the BEST food and was cheap. So we had dinner and made our way back to the hotel around 10. We were in bed by 11 because we were so wiped from the weekend and we left early this morning. I had a GREAT time - I can't wait to go back. I'll share pics when I get them on the computer.
I had a WONDERFUL time, it was better thanI even expected. We arrived Saturday and right away went to the hotel. The taxi ride was an experience, the roads were so packed with cars and people, the taxi was speeding, swerving in and out of lanes and honking at people. I swear, I was scared for my life in the taxi but not the plane LOL!
We got to the hotel and were quite impressed. It was very fancy, right in the heart of downtown Vancouver (Robson and Burrard). We got changed and went straight to the dinner Canwest was putting on. It was really yummy!!
After that and a few drinks we headed out to explore Vancouver. We walked about 4 blocks or so to an Irish Pub, had a few drinks and walked back to the hotel - we went to bed around 1:00 (3:00 for me!!) and still managed to be up at 8:00 am for the run!
The run was amazing - there were over 50,000 people, you could see them lined down the street as far as the eye could see. I can't wait to see the pictures. We didn't start the run until 10:00am, they started in waves - so by the time we got going we were antsy. The run was good but HARD!! A lot of it was up hill and OMG - not the same as running in Winnipeg ROFL!! But the scenery was beautiful, we ran through Stanley Park and along the ocean. Everything was so green and smelled beautiful, the trees and flowers were blooming. There were bands and people cheering along the route - at every kilometer therewere people handing out water. There was a half way point where you could break for coffee (I know - odd choice but they were Dulce deLuche (I have no clue how to spell that) Lattes from Starbucks so we
just couldn't resist!!) and fruit. We did a 10 minute break there and kept going. I had hurt my ankle the day before the run so I was impressed that we finished in 1:30. I am completley HOOKED on the races now though. I am already planning my next. I want to get a tattoo to commemerate my first run too - I think anyways. ;)
After the run we still had to walk about 8 blocks to our hotel so when we got back we were WIPED. We had brunch (put on by Canwest) and then sat in the hot tub. After we went and did some sight seeing (shopping) and then went to a sushi place for dinner. (CHEAP and GOOD - my entire meal of vegetable tempora, three rolls, miso soup and a margarita was $14.00!!) and we then decided to check out a kareoke bar we were told was good with cheap drinks. Well - we tried but after about 12 blocks with no bar in sight - we stopped at an outdoor pub and had a drink. After we ordered we realized it was a gay bar ROFL!! Oh well!! After that we headed back in the direction of our hotel and went to another bar. It was ok but slow and we wanted a night of dancing. Thankfully it picked up and we danced the night away!! At 2:00 we went back to our hotel.
We were up at 8:00 on Sunday and went shopping all day - Coach, Lush, MAC, Ikea (Ikea was quite an experience, I'm never again taking a city bus in Vancouver!) --- sooo many stores. It was GREAT. Tons of small local shops too.
Then we went back to the hotel for another hot tub break because OMG we were sore. Next time I will go tour BEFORE the 10K run!!!! Sunday night we went down to the waterfront and did some sight seeing, we found a great little restaurant that had the BEST food and was cheap. So we had dinner and made our way back to the hotel around 10. We were in bed by 11 because we were so wiped from the weekend and we left early this morning. I had a GREAT time - I can't wait to go back. I'll share pics when I get them on the computer.
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