Alaska Cruise Day 2 - Vancouver

We spent a beautiful day in Vancouver seeing the city. I didn't have time to label them but here are our pictures

Alaska Cruise Day 1 - Vancouver

Nancy & I made it to Vancouver and are resting in our room at the Hilton Barnaby.

Dreux came by at 6 and drank some coffee while we finished getting ready. We left for the airport at 6:30 and got to Terminal E about 7:20, 2.5 hours before our flight. I'd checked in the night before so we only had to check and pay for our three bags ($55) and show our passports to the Continental rep.

Getting through TSA security was as uneventful as you could hope for with eight screws and two plates in your ankle - i.e. I had to be wanded. But the TSA guy was polite and professional. His metal detector was pretty amazing - even picking up the iPhone ear buds in my pocket. Since my ankle set off his wand he had to pat me down also.

Even with all that we were done before 8. We took the tram to Terminal C, ate some breakfast there and went to the gate. One more check of our passports and we were boarded and took off on time. The flight up was uneventful, if not long at 4.5 hrs, and arrived on time.

Vancouver airport is beautiful and they have a lot of friendly folks directing you and answer

ing your questions. An incredible number of people were arriving at Vancouver - a lot of them for cruise ships that day. And they were from all over - Israeli's, Arabs, French, Brits, Germans, Aussies, New Zealanders.

We took our time getting to the line for immgration control and cleared it and then though immigration which consisted of scanning our passports, asking how long we'd be Canada and if our stay was business or pleasure. I'm curious how it will go at Whittier when we go through US Customs - Monday, July 6.

We took a $35 cab ride to the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown and got checked in and to our room by 2:3o (4:30 Central). My blood sugar was crashing since we'd breakfast so we went to the fast food court of the Asian market next door for a quick meal noodles, pork and chicken.

It's been a nice day and we're looking forward to the rest of the cruise.

I'll update this blog and post pictures to my Picasa Web Album as I can but we'll have limited time near an internet connection.

Here's our Itinerary:

Sat June 27 Fly to Vancouver

Sat-Mon June 27-29 Vancouver

Mon June 29 - Sun July 6 Cruise

July 1 Ketchikan (port)

July 2 Skagaway (port)

July 3 Juneau (port)

July 4 Glacier Bay National Park (cruising)

July 5 College Fjord, AK (cruising)

July 6 Whittier-Anchorage

July 7 Train to Denali

July 8 Denali Tour

July 9 Train to Fairbanks

July 10 Fly home

And yes, we'll take lots of pictures - but most of them won't get uploaded until we get back.

One other note. I'm on vacation. Retirement won't begin to be real until Monday, July 13 when I sleep in and don't have to drive to work.