Steamworks, Vancouver

This was the first restaurant we hit after arriving. It's next to Canada Place, right by the water and had a good after-work crowd going.

And No, Tony, IT'S NOT A BATH HOUSE!




It's a microbrewery and the light beer was very good. Clean and no aftertaste. Above you can see the brewery and open kitchen.


Above: On the left is Salmon with Pastry crust and on the right is Chilean Sea Bass. Yumm


Above: Dessert was Key Lime Pie which I polished off. Above right: That's a Gooseberry which I also ate. Dee-lish!

Metropolitan Hotel, Vancouver

The Metropolitan is supposed to be a boutique hotel in downtown Vancouver, but it looks like a regular upscale hotel. The Molton Brown amenities was a great touch.

The location is great. Close to shopping, the Vancouver Art Gallery, Robson Street Shopping, Restaurants and Canada Place where the cruise ship docks. It's short walk to Gastown, Chinatown, Granville and Davie Streets.


The room is spacious and the bed is comfy. There is nothing interesting in the interior architecture to push it to boutique status. As a matter of fact, that round cocktail table looked completely tacky and the built-in nightstands are completely 70's, and not in a good way, as Nina Garcia would say.


The bathroom is spacious with a separate tub and shower.


Molton Brown toiletries and hotel stationery, including a letter from management informing us of construction blasting next to the hotel.

Out and About Vancouver

Above: Canada Place, where the cruise ships dock.



Above:Vancouver Bay View



Above: Lovely Indoor/Outdoor space.



Above: Blenz Coffee Shop. Love the date bars!



Above: Vancouver Art Gallery.



Above: Impossible Van at the Vancouver Art Gallery



Above: Street performers outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.



Above: Gastown, Vancouver.

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Above: Steam Powered Clock in Gastown.

Vancouver is Under Construction

First Stop: Vancouver. The whole city seems to be under construction. Getting ready for the 2010 Winter Olympics? I did notice that there is a profusion of high-rise buildings, which I did not expect.

This big blasting hole was immediately next to the hotel where we were staying:

Gone Fishing.

Alaskan Cruise on Sunday - April 27!



We'll be cruising the inside passage. It's the first cruise of the season so it will be COLD and WET. Hope the bears, salmon, whales and dolphins come out to say hi! We will be on the Norwegian STAR (named after ME, not Star Jones). Travelogue to follow.
Photo and screencap: ncl.com

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Switzer Falls

So, our friend, Ariel, invites us to go on this hike weeks ago. He said it'll be an easy hike about 4 miles roundtrip and it ends with a waterfall and swimming hole!

Well, it just so happened that L.A. hit 105 ºF on the day of the hike.

And it was not an easy hike. At all.

But still fun!

Switzer falls is in the Angeles National Forest just outside of L.A. The whole forest is dotted with hiking trails like this and usually includes creeks and views of waterfalls.

The hike starts out easy enough with some pretty scenery and hiking along a creek:




Here's Neil crossing a creek. I lost count after 8 crossings:


Then, you have to scale a mountain.

There is a trail about 2 feet wide.

One side is the mountain and the other side is a GORGE!

It gets especially hairy when there's a blind corner and people are coming in the opposite direction. With their DOGS!

This is the view from the top:


Then you make your way down and see Switzer falls. (Click to Enlarge)

OK, so it's not Victoria Falls.

The swimming hole is at the top of the falls
(you can actually slide down the falls - if you dare! Some people certainly did!). The toughest part is making your way back to the car.

Where's the limo service when you need it!