08.30.03
Oh Canada
I am traveling again, this time aboard a Dash 8 en route to beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. As I write I am looking down over Seattle at 20,000 feet. The space needle is right under us with Puget Sound, West Seattle and Bainbridge beautifully visible straight ahead. Below I can see two of the cruise ships that are now docking in Seattle. For anyone making this trip I highly recommend getting a window seat, the views are well worth it.
It has been at least three years since I visited Canada, much too long. When I lived in Seattle I would visit Vancouver with some regularity and have nothing but very good memories. I have a story from a trip I tell people when exalting the friendliness of the Vancouverites. A friend and I were in town for the weekend playing tourist, when I asked her what she wanted to do she told me she really wanted a milkshake. I told her I did not know town well enough to recommend a place but we could ask. She was cynical that we would be able to find a milkshake late at night by simply asking someone, to which I replied “you have no idea how friendly these people are… watch this” and stopped the very first person that walked by to pose the question. The fellow stopped, smiled and told me he did not know a good place but that he was sure someone could help us, he in turn stopped the next person to come by and asked the same question. This fellow happily offered a suggestion, which was seconded by another passerby who overheard the interchange and wanted to help if she could. In short order we had three candidates for likely milkshakes suppliers, consensus from a small group on the best of the options and two offers to walk us the four block distance to ensure we had no trouble finding it. Now THAT is hospitality.
We are over Bellingham and looking out at the San Juan Islands now. The captain just came on to say that we would be descending soon, so I think I will close out the first entry.