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Nat still wants to see a bear, she said she wants to get close, I reminded her that they eat people and she says that's fine she knows what to do... she'll sing to it!!! those of you on on the last tour will know what I'm talking about!!

Back In Vancouver

Tav
2006-01-13 20:34:45

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I'd been looking forward to checking out what they had on this side of the world. The Stampede has been running since 1913.

Went and watched the rodeo - it was first class rodeo action! very impressive, but I guess $50,000 prize money in the bull ride will bring out the competition! They had all the usual events and there was one Aussie amongst the riders so we cheered loudly!

Went back and checked into our hotel and then headed back to the Stampede to watch the World Famous Chuck Wagon Racing! it was out of control - those boys truly are crazy, but it was all in good fun. I had expected that they were going to do the extended version where you have to light fires and stuff too but they didn't, just simple racing - there were 8 or 9 heats in total.

We stayed for the after racing entertainment and all I can tell you is that it was nothing short of spectacular, I don't know how else to describe it. We thought it was just going to be a little singing and dancing but it was a full scale production with an impressive set and it is easy to tell that no expense was spared. They must have spent the whole year preparing for it - so many involved from young to old and such amazing talent - Nat and I have both discussed it and thing that it is probably the best production we have ever seen, including the 2000 opening ceremony!!! (Sorry Sydney!!!) but I videoed most of it and all I really can tell you is that you would have to watch the footage to know what I am talking about - all the lights, costumes, routines, fireworks, excellent singing and dancing of all kinds from Hungarian, to First Nationals Hula Dance, to Irish Dancing through to marching bands - they all fitted perfectly together and it was a complete credit to the choreographer... There were also comedians, gymnists (who I have to say put on more of a Circus De Solie typical show than Circus De Solie actually did in Vegas!!!),narrations of the history of Alberta since it's their centenary celebrations.

Stayed at Vernon last night and nothing much was happening there. Today we arrived back in Vancouver and took a tour of Stanley Park - this was the 1st park in Vancouver, it even has a cricket pitch! something you don't see everyday around these parts! They have a bunch of totem poles there and you can see the harbour and skyline from this part. You notice that some of the buildings have metal supports and earthquake straps, which will allow the buildings to flex up to 1.5 feet in the event of an earthquake - even though there has never been a major earthquake here, the city of Vancouver are very aware that they site on a major fault line.

During the city tour we Vancouver saws the port, which is the 2nd busiest port in North America just behind New York, Lions Gate Bridge and the railway line that was worked on by mostly Asians. They say that they had the most dangerous job on the railway and 1 person died for every km of railway line laid, totalling about 5,000 human losses.

We think that we will have a quiet night tonight and then we just have tomorrow left and I'll be finished my 3rd Contiki in a row, leaving 2 to go!!!

Tomorrow night will be our river cruise and then it's all over...