Saturday, June 9, 2012 - Vancouver BC to Vancouver WA

Christopher and I got up about 4:00am, dressed, packed our luggage, and checked out of the hotel.  We rode a Richmond Taxi from the hotel to the train station.  I paid the taxi driver $30.00 Canadian Money.  We were first in line for seat assignments in Business Class and to go through Customs.  We had seats on the water side.  The train was a bit late leaving the Vancouver Train Station.  Our tickets and passports were checked at the border.

I purchased a banana, coffee cake and apple juice for breakfast.  I read the Vancouver newspaper and Beryl Bainbridge's "Every Man for Himself" and took several naps.  I had a Margherita Sandwich and Diet Cola for lunch and Snickers bar for snack.  We were delayed in Tukwilla when a passenger had a medical emergency - a stroke or seizure.  We got into Portland about 3:30pm.  Paul met us at the train station.  We dropped Christopher off at his apartment and headed home.  Christopher gave me his long-stemmed rose that he was given at the performance.

Friday, June 8, 2012 - Vancouver BC

Christopher and I woke about 9:00am.  Christopher went down to the hotel dining room for breakfast.  I ate Crackling Bran in the room.  I had vanilla yogurt and fruit platter from Starbucks in the hotel lounge after Christopher left for rehearsal and 7:00pm performance at the 39th Sangerfest Concert held at the Broadway Church in Richmond south of the hotel.

I had planned to visit downtown Vancouver however I did not feel well and was exhausted so I watched televison, read Beryl Bainbridge's "Every Man for Himself" and took a nap.  I took the shuttle to the airport in the evening where I had a fish and chips dinner at Koho Restaurant.  Back at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel I watched the 1940 British film "Gaslight".  Christopher came back about 10:00pm.  We had a short night's sleep.

Thursday, June 7, 2012 - Seattle to Vancouver BC

I got up early in the morning, got ready and checked out of the hotel.  I walked about three blocks to the bus stop in the light rain showers where I caught #124 to Union Station.  I traveled on Amtrak, leaving Seattle about 7:40am and arriving Vancouver BC about 11:40am.  I walked a couple blocks to the Skytrain.  I traveled on two Skytrain lines to Vancouver International Airport.

I had Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.  The server brought in a selection of nine loose herbal and black teas for me to choose from.  The Earl Grey tea was just ok.  It was made in a tea press rather than a traditional ceramic tea pot.  The food was delicious but a bit parsimonious.  There was berry salad to cleanse the palate.  Next was a three tier server with sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam; and petit desserts.  The Afternoon Tea was very expensive:  $36.00 plus abt. $4.50 HST plus tip!  Pay with Canadian Money or Credit Card - not U.S. Currency. 

I rode the Delta Hotel Shuttle to the hotel,  checked into the hotel, left my suitcase in the room and caught the shuttle back to the airport.  I traveled via Skytrain to the Amtrak Train Station to meet my youngest son, Christopher.  Christopher's bus was about 20 minutes late as he was interrogated by Customs.  We rode the Skytrain and then the Shuttle to the hotel.

Christopher and I walked along the path caching until it just got too dark and cold to continue.  There was only a water puddle at the bridge underpass but later when we tried to return the area had been flooded by the rising tide.  We had to walk up the slope and scamper across a busy bridge onramp.  We had dinner at Pier 73.  Good night's sleep.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - Amtrak to Seattle

I caught the 8:45am Amtrak train traveling Business Class from Vancouver to Seattle, arriving at noon.  I caught the city bus to 3rd and Virginia.  I walked to my hotel, checked in, dropped my suitcase in my room and left quickly.  I walked a few blocks southeast to the Monorail.   I saw the documentary IMAX Film: "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" at the Pacific Science Center.  I got a cup of strawberry/cheesecake swirl ice cream at the cafe.

Afterwards I saw the Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibition at Pacific Science Center.  The exhibit features more than 100 objects from King Tut's tomb and ancient sites representing some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.  With more than twice the number of artifacts than the original Tut exhibit that I saw when it toured in the 1970s, many of these objects have never toured in the United States before this exhibit.  I enhanced my exhibit experience with an Audio Guide narrated by Harrison Ford.

I purchased food, drink and shortbread cookies at Starbucks and rode the monorail back.  I purchased batteries and a Hershey bar at the drug store.  When I returned to my hotel I noticed that "Shear Madness" was playing next door at The Moore Theater.  I was given a complimentary ticket so was able to see the show - third  row, center.  I had seen the play before - once at a theatre in Chicago and another time at the Kennedy Center in D.C.  I ate the Starbucks meal in my room while watching television.  I showered and was off to bed.  I had a good night's sleep.