Where ever you go, there you are.

I’m sitting somewhere around 35,000 feet above an unnamed western state, with Stuart, Karen, and Beth, as we are heading toward Vancouver, BC to begin an Alaskan cruise tomorrow.  Another adventure under the guise of “retirement.”

It began this morning about 2:30 am, as we weren’t quite getting the REM sleep we’d hoped for and with the alarm set to go off in 30 minutes, we got up and started our wheels turning a little earlier than expected.

No wait.  It began about a week ago when the suitcases came out of the crawlspace and were set up in our bedroom, as we began contemplating what we would need to take with us for a 13-day Holland America cruise (by ship/bus/train/and plane) across parts of Canada and Alaska.

No, actually it began shortly after our most recent president was sworn in.  We had been planning a trip to Denmark, with Karen and Stuart, when our pocket book began to pucker and the short of it is, we set our sights on another destination.  A cruise to Alaska soon took on a life of it’s own.  But “cruise” only represents the first three days, as we scoured the literature online.  We also would be bused, flown, and carried by train starting in Vancouver, British Columbia, to the Yukon, and into Denali National Park, with our finale flying home from Anchorage.

Drew had asked us not to wake him until the last possible moment this morning, so that he would be able to roll from his bed into the back seat of the car, as he, in a weak moment, had agreed to take us to the airport at 4 am.  So, when Beth called his name at a 3:45 am, I only heard his response, which was something cartoonish-like… ”Huh?  What?  Ya, okay I’m ready!” as I’m sure his subconscious must have been scrambling to come up with a reason as to why his eyes were open, when the sun’s eyes were still shut.  But like a trooper, his eyes were open long enough to see that we’d made it out of the neighborhood and onto the highway, heading for K.C.I.

As our luggage handles were extended on the terminal sidewalk and as luck would have it, Stuart and Karen were in the crosswalk in front of us, heading for the same sliding door we were, we hugged and waved at Drew and began our two hour wait until we would board Alaska Airlines to Seattle.

A full moon set us on our way from KC to Seattle.

Fast-forward about 4 hours and we touched down in Seattle, scooted across the terminal and boarded a 30-minute jump over to Vancouver.  The flight from KC to Seattle was doable, only interrupted by a breakfast like serving of something involving sausage, egg-like material, and possibly a few other unrecognizable ingredients.  The orange juice was a hit!  Other than that, a few nods of the head, some video gaming on my phone, and a flyby of Mt. Rainier as we made our approach to land filled the time nicely.  The short hop for Seattle to Vancouver was so short (How short was it?), we didn’t even see the flight crew once we took off.

Busy Alaska Hub.

Mt. Rainier ushering us to Sea-Tac.

Large native water wall in the terminal.

Once reunited with our luggage, we traded some of our currency for theirs and headed for the train (light rail transit) that would deliver us to Vancouver City Centre.  From their, a 5 block walk to our hotel with baggage in tow.  Leaving our baggage at the hotel, we finally, at around 2 o’clock central time, found lunch and walked some streets of downtown.  Interesting area to explore, but that will come another time.

Waiting for the train and still smiling, with little to no energy in our bellies.

?

Our hotel

Alley art

Old and new.  Two wedge shaped buildings.

Clock had some significance, but I didn't read it all.
Too busy people watching.

A Seattle-like Space Needle.

Stars Wars inspired Inuit Art, or whatever.

Our take off point tomorrow where there was another cruise ship today.

A coffee stop on our walk around today.
The name of the shop and the person under it
have nothing in common.

Architectural significance everywhere you looked.

Old surrounded by new.

Big day today!  Tomorrow should be as adventurous, as we board the Volendam in the afternoon and set sail north, to the land of long summer days and short cool nights.

My Zen from the Road:  As we were walking along the streets of Vancouver this afternoon, we passed an alley lined with some really unique graffiti.  On the way back to the hotel, we passed another alley that had an odor that put me right in the heart of the Kansas City Zoo, at the Sea Lion exhibit (pool).  The smell was reminiscent of a cross between Sea Lion and restaurant garbage, with a hint of cotton candy.  So unique, I know.  My prejudices tell me that I wouldn’t want to go back to visit in the middle of the night, because there were lots of interesting folk hanging out in those areas that may call those alley’s home.  But my take away from this is that the highlights you encounter aren’t necessarily those listed in the free Chamber of Commerce material at the visitor’s center, sometimes they are the little surprises where you least expect them…even the smelly ones!  Look down the alley’s and inhale, even if your better judgment tells you not to.

Bonus (or not)?

This sign outside a business near our hotel.  The fine print drew
a double take.  To each their own!   (I can't make this stuff up!)