Home » Canada » The Canadian tour begins...in Beautiful British Columbia

Having returned to Vancouver so many times over the last few years, I was excited to be arriving out of character. I wasn't rolling a suitcase behind me through the gates at the beautiful Vancouver airport, nor was I jumping off of a seaplane from the Island. The train transport was a great ending to my American journey as I had watched an Oscar winning movie and filed my nails to perfection, whilst viewing familiar ground through the window. I was the first off the train from Seattle, wearing my Indiana Jones hat and hoisting my life pack onto my back. The customs official questioned me on why I wasn't using my Canadian passport (awful picture) and began flipping through the pages looking for an available corner for the final stamp. The final stamp! Although the travels are not over, my UK passport has been filled to the max. I'm back in Canada, as a Canadian, though still sounding like a Brit.

The Canadian tour begins...in Beautiful British Columbia

Coffeecat
2006-08-12 14:29:15

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Shangri-La are completed. Yet, despite all of the glass living towers filling in empty lots, the city never loses its outdoor appreciation as a result of the surrounding snow capped mountains and salty ocean breezes in the air. Having said all that, I'm not sure if I really will end up living in the city next, as I'm still playing with the idea of life in Kelowna. Time will tell, I
It wasn't just St. Paddy's Day, but Maria's birthday!only plan one week at a time these days!!

The last thing I expected to be doing during my Vancouver visit, was attending a stagette party starting off with a full range of sex toys. My friend Sara introduced me to the crowd, and a few other familiar faces from high school popped into the picture (Mel and Tamara). I swear to God, I had no idea where and how some of the toys were designed to be used! It looked as though some of the fluorescent and bouncy items suited DisneyLand for adults! Best for the bride- to- be to discover! Even though I didn't know all the girls, we had many laughs as we then ventured over to a local club. Even on a Monday night, the groovers were grooving and the players were playin. I drank and stumbled and eventually made it over to another day.

After a few more sushis with dad, coffees with Tash (another gal pal that has an encouraging career and family change!) my time in Vancouver is up. No more being lazy; I have the rest of Canada to tour!! I re-evaluated everything that I packed into my bag knowing I didn't need
to pack for experiencing the entire world. I added to the boxes of goods that I've been sending home since the beginning of the trip (it was like Christmas when I first saw everything!) and said my farewells. I stepped up onto the Greyhound bus and for the first time in nearly two weeks (the longest stop over in one place!) my thoughts are really on my own again. I feel a return of adventurism and the travelling freedom I have grown to love more than anything I have ever experienced. I snuggle down into my seat wrapped in my blanket and prepare for the day of movies. I drifted in and out of the land of snoozes, and woke up just in time to get off. My true Canadian adventure hasn't really begun afterall, as I stepped foot in Kelowna to visit another dear friend for a few days.

I scooped up Kathy's kids Brianna and Cameron and began hearing the highlights of life in the first grade and what pop stars were the coolest to listen to. Hearing their whirlwind tales was overwhelming, I have no idea how to keep up...and I'm only 31!! Kathy filled me in
on the latest gossip and I took it all in with the appropriate facial expressions. I looked at the family holiday in Mexico photos and reflected on how different my holiday there had been. I love how such cherished friends can lead such extremley opposite lifestyles. We can fill in gaps for each other. I may have the advantage now with no kids in tow, but when Kathy and Christian get to travel the world in 20 years with more disposable money, she'll definitely have the last laugh!! For my second night with the gang, we cruised up the road to a new condo they've invested in. It was bliss. Just 30 minutes outside of town, on a lake surrounded by howling coyotes at night time. Now, I really feel like the adventure is beginning!!

I boarded the bus for Calgary the following day, just slightly envious of the comfy beds that everybody else I knew would have for the night. But then again, I will be the one seeing new things in the morning. Now, the Canadian adventure begins.

The next super catch up blog will be coming from Alberta.

Until then,

Fiona