Downtown

With Whitney on a business trip, I got to stay at her apartment in the west end of Vancouver just off Denman Street. I was planning on only a weekend but ended up there for a full week!

I loved all the things I could do! Exploring was so easy...I could go back and forth to the apartment to drop off a bag, eat a quick lunch or whatever knowing it was only at most a 20 minute walk away! I visited Gastown, Robson Street, and from Second Beach to Sunset beach.




The weekend was HOT and walks at sunset were great!
I believe this scultpture is by the same artist who has one in Coal Harbour.






This is English Bay where I spent a large part of my week, getting a sweet tan on the beach. This is Monday; busy but still lots of space.
(click on for a close up)





This is the noon on Wednesday, the day of the firewroks. People claimed their spot early for the nights festivities. These people had 10 hours in the sun ahead of them!!

Rain Storms

This is not a waterfall display! Some of the rain storms here are pretty intense. They always wake me up at 3 in the morning. It is best to wear sandals because your shoes get waterlogged. Even if you have an umbrella, the bottom half of you gets soaked.

Miami Vice the movie

Hilary and I just went to see Miami Vice. What a terrible terrible movie. I encourage people to go and see it just so I might find out what sort of person would actually LIKE this film! People walked out in the middle and we were both tempted to, as well.
Colin Farrel is awful! His accent changes and every once in a while he would lower the pitch of his voice by an octave or two for no apparent reason. And the hockey hair has to go!! He should adopt a new rule, to never film a movie without his naturel Irish Brogue. He is in the majority of the movie, which is too bad because Jamie Foxx was less painful of the two to watch.
Half the time Hilary and I had no idea what was going on. It was like the characters were speaking a different language.
In the end I didn't care about the characters, I had no idea what their mission really was or if the accomplished it, and have less respect for both actors...what were they thinking??? Is this why Colin is doing twice the promoting than Jamie is? Maybe Jamie wised up and realized what a peice of crap he made!

ROMA

My first flight to Rome! The flight was really busy, talking to three different countries at once, avoiding thunderstorms, and monitoring escape routes and airports to divert to over high terrain in case of emergency. The route: Southern China, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, India again, Pakistan, Afghanistan (talking to Americans in Kabul!), Iran, Turkey, Greece, Albania, then Italy! Sounds cool, but the flight is all at night, so not too much to see.

First pic, in front of the Colusseum. Took an English tour with a group to understand more. This is where Russell Maximus beat Joaquin Comodus in a fight to the death!

Second pic, an old (everything is old!) Chariot race track.

Me on a bus tour of the city, coming up to the Vatican. The bus tours are always good to get an overview of everything.










I tried to do a panorama of the Forum, the Colusseum is at the far right. Click on picture to get a better view.







Last pic, the crew met up for dinner and wine. Captain Greg, and FO's Adrian and Brendan. This is us after walking back to the bus shuttle during a rain storm. The weather during the day was nice and hot, 35C.

cruiser bikes

Hilary came downtown and met me on Monday. We went and chatted up Justis owner of Denman Bike Shop and he was so nice and to let us take a couple bikes out for a spin!!


We were no more than two peddles out of the shop when we whizzed by two policemen who asked, "Where are your helmets, girls?"
Never mind last time I was on a bike it was perfectly legal to take your brain into your own hands without the protection of a helmet....
So we went to Whitney's but she only had one helmet. Hilary said she was OK to chance it, which was good, because I was wearing the helmet!!

Notice my new shoes, bought for the occasion, which not only match my outfit but the bike as well.




We peddaled around Coal Harbour to the float planes and then headed back the other way towards Stanley Park.






This is Whitney's little apartment designed a la Thrift Store Art Film Funk. Very homey. In fact I lengthened my stay considerably. It makes me think of my own little bachelor apartment back in the day...
It's great being right downtown, it reminds me of Hong Kong!! Minutes from restaurants and all the hubbub and tourists.

Vancouver Visiting

WOW! The weather here is amazing right now! I am nice and brown after a few days lazing on the beach at English Bay. I am staying at my sister Whitney's apartment in the West End for a few days while she is on a business trip. It is so great to be downtown, I might extend my stay and check out the Symphony of Fire fireworks on Wednesday. What else have I been doing while here???

Our baseball team the 420's had their end of season playoffs July 15th and 16th. Suds managed to get a little time in, but it wasn't our season this year; we were content to watch everyone else play! They came in first place so it was very exciting!!

My Grandma turned 90! and Judy Burgon hosted a tea for her on Monday that was very nice.

I stayed 3 nights with Barbara, Francis and the two kids. I watched Jacob getting into trouble in the neighbourhood, brushed up on my Thomas the Tank Engine movies and Leggo construction, and even braved a trip to Metrotown!! Shopping with two kiddies was a breeze after the hell of parking that massive truckbeast!!
Barb has a great guest room and shouldn't worry about it not seeing any action...once word gets out she will have a hard time kicking people out! Not only did I get a big comfy pillow filled bed, but my own TV, an empty chest of drawers to put my clothes and also a little chest holding things I might have forgotten like toothbrush and shampoo. Very interesting to see what my life could be like in a few years with 2 kids...my hat goes off to Barbara!!! Although it doesn't look easy, at least she has stayed (somewhat) sane :)
And just to defend the slander I read about myself on HER blog, it was not I that kept her up till 5:30am, I distinclty remember her saying "I'm not drunk. Maybe I'll have one more beer" I think we were both to blame, and both suffered the next day for it. lol

I have seen two movies; such a treat without the pesky Chinese subtitles! The Devil Wears Prada was more entertaining and definetly shorter the the Pirates sequel.

Suds had to leave after just a few days here. He is now in Rome! I am so jealous! I have encouraged him to post some pics of that trip on the blog when he gets back!! So look forward to those!

Cabin Crew

This is the cabin crew (flight attendants) on my trip from LAX to HKG, plus the First Officer Patrick in the back! There are normally 17 cabin crew on the long haul flights. We only interact with the 3 cabin crew that work the upper deck plus the In-charge flight attendant (the one in the middle in black, bottom picture).

This year is the 60th anniversary of Cathay Pacific Airways and as a part of the 'celebrations' they have introduced retro uniforms from the years past. They are a big hit, they will be around for the next three months. The far left is from 74'-83', then 46'-50', current ISM, guessing 50'-55' (not age, F/A's have to retire at 45), 69'-74', and some other year?

H & M coming to Hong Kong

OMG!!
Just had some great news!! H&M are opening a store in Hong Kong!!!
I just found this tidbit in a press release!! I can hardly wait!

"China to become new market for H&M in 2007. Contracts signed for one store each in Shanghai and in Hong Kong."

Canada Day celebrations in Hong Kong

The Molson Canadian models.

Suds and Jeff (a real Canadian)







The two Sarah's

One real Canadian and one who had to practice how to order a caesar before she went to the counter.










Lorenzo and Suds do blue steel















It was a big Canada D'eh party in Lan Kwai Fong last night. One of the bars was even hosting a UBC and U of T party! There were flags everywhere, free stickers, tattoos, and Air Canada umbrella's, and obviously cowbow hats (because nothing says Canada like a cowboy hat!!)
At midnight they even played the national anthem!
There were many pretenders out, you had to quiz people to find out if they were 'true' Canadians!





Suds, Sarah, Jeff, Craig, Jenny











Suds, Tobi, Kitty, Lucien













Hey!! Who's doing the bunny ears??


















This one's for Shannon who has also been known to take pictures of her shoes after a few drinks.