Thursday, September 27, 2012

Vancouver to Vancouver - Day 9

Monday, September 24 - I rose very early and took a taxi to the Amtrak Station to travel from Vancouver, B.C. (Gastown established 1867; Vancouver incorporated as city in 1886) to Vancouver, Washington (Fort Vancouver was built in 1825; Vancouver was incorporated as a city in 1857).

Amtrak was supposed to depart at 6:40 however we sat on the tracks for an hour while they repaired an electrical problem.  I had a double seat on the "water side" in coach.
Shortly after the train was underway I got a Apple Danish Pastry and Yogurt Parfait in the cafe. Three customs agents came aboard at the border to check our passports.  I took two photographs of the sculpture.

I took several photos of the Nimitz.  According to Wikipedia, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a supercarrier of the U.S. Navy, and is the lead ship of her class.  She is one of the largest warships in the world. She was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN-68 but was redesignated CVN 68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on 30 June 1975 as part of the fleet realignment of that year.

The ship was named for WWII Pacific fleet commander Chester W. Nimitz,  who was the Navy’s third fleet admiral. She is the first carrier of her class and the most recent supercarrier not to be named for someone who held elective office in the United States.

Nimitz was homeported at Naval Station Norfolk until 1987, when she was relocated to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.  Her homeport was changed to NAS North Island in San Diego, California in 2001.   Nimitz home port was again changed to Everett, Washington in 2012. 


I photographed the Bridge of Glass and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma.
When the train stopped in Seattle I got a sandwich and a bottle of Apple Juice in the cafe.  I chatted with an interesting woman named Margerita from Colombia, South America during the train ride to Vancouver.  She took a photograph of us.  I talked about the Road Scholar programs to the woman in the seat behind me.  I photographed the Tacoma Narrow bridge. 
I arrived in Vancouver late and was picked up at 4:30PM.  It has taken me a few days to fully recover from the trip.

Golden Princess and Vancouver, B.C. - Day 8

Sunday, September 23 - I had a good nights sleep.  I woke very early so I could get breakfast at Horizon Court on Deck 14 Aft before leaving the ship.  I packed my suitcase and gathered up my things.  I was off the ship rather quickly and through customs.

I am glad that I went on this brief cruise however I will not likely go on another cruise.  I recently read in an article  "The greatest drawback of cruising is you are not in any place long enough to truly experience it.  You do not learn much about its geography [and geology] and wildlife or its people, their culture and history."


I took the Sky Train to Yaletown Roundhouse Station and walked a few blocks to the Comfort Suites hotel on Howe Street.   After settling in my room #626, I took a photo of the view from my hotel window.
I walked back to the Sky Train Station in Yaletown and rode to the Waterfront Station.  I purchased a ticket at 10:30 to ride the Blue and the Red lines on the Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley.  After I rode the Blue line I got lunch at Starbucks of Fruit and Cheese Plate and slice of Lemon Poppyseed Loaf.  I rode the Red line stopping at the rose gardens and flower gardens and the totem poles.   As we came near the end of the Red line I left the Trolley to join the Blue line.  I rode as far as Granville Island.




I had a cheeseburger and beer for dinner at bridges while I watched the football and soccer games on the televisions in the bar.


I rode the little ferry boat across False Creek and walked several blocks to my hotel.  I had a good nights sleep.

Golden Princess Cruise to Vancouver, B.C. - Day 7

Saturday, September 22 - I had a good nights sleep.  I took a couple photos of the view from my room at The Moore hotel in downtown Seattle.

I packed my suitcase and took it down to the lobby to store until I was ready to leave for the cruise ship.  I checked out of the hotel at 10:45.  I ate a late breakfast at the cafe on the 4th floor of Nordstrom.  I had a Garden Veg Omelet with no potatoes and extra fruit, orange juice and toast with strawberry jam.


I walked back to The Moore hotel to retrieve my luggage.  I caught the city bus at 4th and Stewart for Pier 91.  I met two men on the bus: Arnold and Robert.  We walked about 1/4  to 1/2 mile to the check-in building.  Almost everyone else drove cars, arrived by cars, arrived by taxi or arrived by tour bus.


My room was in a perfect location.  I rode the elevator to Aloha Deck 12, turned right, entered the hallway and my room A703 was right in front of me.  I was quite impressed with the room with a large bathroom with shower, large closet and bedroom with Queen size bed, side tables, easy chair, small refrigerator and television.   The balcony had two patio chairs and a low round table.  Great view of Seattle and when underway the Washington coast.


I dressed in black for dinner.  I had interesting dinner companions - three women from Grants Pass, Oregon and a couple from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  I had delicious crème brulee for dessert.
I attended the Production Show: British Invasion in the Princess Theater, Decks 6 and 7 forward.  It was enjoyable.  I went back to my room to change into a sparkling top.  I went to the Marriage Match Game Show at the Explorers Lounge, Deck 7 Midship.  It was hilarious at times.  I am sure that one of the wives will have words with her husband after the show.  He told the Cruise Director during the game that if he had to chose a second wife he would chose his wife's friend, Elizabeth.  It absolutely did not sit well with his wife.  She leaned very far away from him in her chair for the rest of the game.

About 10:30 I went up to the cafe where I had three light desserts including a delicious rice pudding.  I went back to my room and promptly fell asleep after a warm shower.

The Upper Left Hand Corner - Day 6

On Friday morning, September 21, I packed my suitcase and took it down to the lobby to be stored until afternoon.  I had breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  I took a couple photos of the view from my room.

We met at 9:00 in the Bainbridge Room on the 3rd floor to watch a video of the 1962 construction of the Space Needle.  We rode the monorail at 9:45 to the Seattle Center and the glass-fronted elevator up to the observation deck of the landmark structure.  I walked around the outside deck to spot some of the places that we had visited this past week.  I spotted a cruise ship at either Pier 90 or Pier 91 but it was not the Golden Princess.



After viewing the scenery for quite some time, I walked down the street to catch the bus to Fremont.  I stopped briefly at the lobby of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center to view the exhibits.

I caught the bus #30 to the Fremont district.  I had lunch at Starbucks on Fremont Avenue N. of Fruit and Nut Box, Izze Clementina drink and Shortbread cookies.  I photographed "Waiting for the Interurban" and the statue of J.P. Patches and Gertrude - a couple of clowns.  I visited Groundspeak Headquarters at 2:00PM where I met several of the staff and purchased a Groundspeak Lackeys MMXII Geocoin.  I forgot to sign the log book.  




I rode the bus back to Seattle Center and then rode the Monorail.  I picked up my suitcase at Red Lion hotel and walked several blocks to The Moore Hotel.  My room was not ready so I read my novel in the hotel lobby.  I was disappointed in check-in and the view from my room.  I should have stayed another night at the Red Lion hotel.

I walked to the Seattle Art Museum where I had a sandwich at the SAM Taste Restaurant.  I browsed the artwork on two floors.  Several galleries were closed for installation of a set of exhibitions to open in October.  Rather disappointing.  I purchased "Lunch Box Revolution" by Gil Kahana and Michiko Nitta in the Gift Shop.



I had a good nights sleep at The Moore hotel.  There was a folk rock band performing next door to the hotel but I barely heard it.

The Upper Left Hand Corner - Day 5

I had buffet breakfast at 6:30 in the hotel restaurant.  The tour bus departed at 7:50.  We saw the new Fireboat and the Ferris Wheel at the dock.  The tour bus drove aboard the Washington State ferry to cross the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island.

We drove to the Scandinavian village of Poulsbo where we stopped for pastries at Sluys Bakery.  I was turned aside so the clerk could wait on a couple, probably local, so I left.  I really did not want that cream filled chocolate covered donut or I would have stayed regardless.   We crossed the Hood Canal Floating Bridge on our way to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. 

I had lunch at Silverwater Cafe of Avocado Crab Wrap with a glass of Reisling Wine.   I got a dish of ice cream at Elevated Ice Cream.  There was no time to explore the town.



At 1:00 we had a guided tour by a local guide about Port Townsend's colorful history.  We visited  the interior and garden of the Starrett House (1889) - a very ornate, three-story Victorian.



We visited the Commanding Officer's Quarters at Fort Worden.  I saw the Point Wilson Lighthouse in the distance.

We traveled back across Puget Sound by ferry to Edmonds...
...for a leisurely dinner at Arnies - a waterfront seafood restaurant on the way home.  I had a Caesar Salad, Grilled Garlic Prawns, and housemade Key Lime Pie.  
We arrived back at our hotel late.