Dad hits Vancouver

Meet my Dad. 

He was in Vancouver for 2 days on a business trip last week. We spent Wednesday and Thursday evening bonding :) I bunked with him in his hotel, we bonded (meaning we hung out, Father-Daughter style) and of course we stayed up-to-date with Big Brother!! Connection was slow, but with patience, we were able to watch the entire episode. 

This is such a "My Dad" thing to do. Thursday morning he left for a meeting before I was even up. And he every-so-kindly left this note on the alarm clock - he knows my brain doesn't function well in the morning.

Toe-Fee-Know

WEEKEND...

...WAS...

...WONDERFUL!

This weekend 8 of us went SURFING in Tofino!! We stayed at Ben's boss' cabbage (that's a cross between a cabin and a cottage) in Alberi Valley, about an hour and a half East of Tofino. Friday night we roasted marshmallows around our bonfire by the lake. We spent all of Saturday surfing in Tofino then made it back in the late evening for burgers at the cabbage. Surfing was SO SO SO much fun. Within a couple tries I was up and rockin! Here's David and Pratik in their dashingly handsome wetsuits.

After surfing :)

On our ferry ride home Sunday evening, we must have played 32849 games of Euchre. I'm now addicted to Euchre!! Here's Emily and I on the ride home (with me wearing a shirt from Amsterdam)

Tonight I had zumba - it's funny, because the fitness room overlooks the seawall, and everyone who walks by stops and stares at us. It feels so weird, but I love the class :)

Whistler Weekend (second time around)

Edwina and I hit Whistler - the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics (along with Vancouver of course)

Our hotel, and the host hotel for Crankworx - the Canadian Open Dirt Bike Competition!

In Whistler Village

And what would Whistler be without bungee jumping?!

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G ADRENALINE RUSH!

And to top if off, I hit the water, right up to my elbows! My sleeves were soaking wet. I never thought I'd get that close, but apparently "if you're lucky, you hit the water"

And here's the video :) At 0:39 if you look closely you can see where I hit the water. And you know, the screaming you hear in the video is my wonderful friend Edwina - she screamed more than I did :P

Outdoor concert at the Whistler Village Olympic Plaza!

Flashback to Friday morning before we went to Whistler - there was a fire in a building across the street from my office. From what I heard on the news, it started from a cigarette butt that had been tossed away. From all that I heard, no one was hurt.

And that wraps up a fine weekend. I've got zumba tomorrow... zuuuuuumba!!!

Backstreet's Back Alright!!

New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys concert last night!!!!!

Edwina and I saw the NKOTBSB concert at the Rogers Arena last night in Vancouver. Rogers Arena is home to the Vancouver Canucks... I sat in the same arena that Roberto Luongo plays in... and Ryan Kesler... and Kevin Bieksa... so cool :)

I don't really know NKOTB - I really went to see the BSB. It was like, throwback to 1999!!! I'm pretty sure the show was sold out... and if it wasn't, it was pretty darn close!!!

Edwina and I before the concert (me in my new BSB shirt)

BSB!!!! We had great seats - row 5 in centre floor!!

Get down, get down and move it all arou-ou-ound!!

Show me the meaning...

I want it that way!

NKOTBSB - Ending!

Edwina and I near the end

And there was a bit of confetti... I kept some for my scrapbook :)

Mondays suck. Especially after such a good weekend. I'm tired... need to catch up on some sleep.

Good ol' Barneys Caffe on Granville St 

The Grind

I SURVIVED... THE GRIND!!!

The Grouse Grind is the hiking "thing to do" in Vancouver. I don't know why so many people like doing it - it's pretty tough. After all it's called The Grind!

2800 feet to the top. Made it up in just under 1 1/2 hours.

The beginning

Emily at the start... notice how HAPPY she looks? That smile didn't last

1/4 mark

It's steep

Ahh...

THE TOP!!

At the top - overlooking west Vancouver

Lumberjack show

Part of the Lumber Jack show...

David, Matt, Emily and I at the top :)

Gondala Ride down...

Tonight... Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block concert!!! Stories to come soon...

WHOA ZUMBAAAA

I did ZUMBA BY THE HARBOUR yesterday!!! Coal Harbour Community Centre has a great zumba class. The room we use overlooks the water. Ahh... it was so fun. GREAT workout, awesome music, fantastic view :)

(Coal Harbour is the building on the right in the panorama below)

I hate bugs. There was a HUGE bug - about an inch long, flying around my room. It flew into my laundry bag so I grabbed the bag, covered the top and threw it on the floor. 

Next day I carefully emptied the bag to dispose of the bug... but never found the bug... gross...

Post Riot Vancouver Support flags still line downtown Vancouver :)

Tomorrow I'm climbing a mountain. Sunday I'm going to a concert. Next weekend I'm jumping off a bridge. Life's great :)

FAMJAM in VAN CITY... part 2

A little yoga by the Olympic Torch?? Why not...

I sorta can't believe I took a picture of this. Not embarrassing at all...

Here's the Convention Centre at Canada Place

Mom and Dad by the Steam Clock in Gastown

Steam clock doing it's diddle at 3pm

Our Bus Tour (my Mom's highlight of the entire trip). There's Bee Bop on our "Big Bus" - Bee Bop was from the Vancouver Aquarium, which we did visit

English Bay

At the Vancouver Aquarium - parrots 

Seals at the Aquarium

At Canada Place :)

Mom and Dad in front of the hotel, ready to head back to Toronto (notice my Dad's shirt... it's one I brought back from Amsterdam)

And so that ends a wonderful weekend in Beautiful British Columbia. I only have 6 weeks left in Vancouver which is slightly scary. I'm not ready to leave this magnificent city. Still have lots to do before Aug 14th comes!!

True North Strong and Free

FAMJAM VISIT for Canada Day Weekend!!!

Mommieo and Daddieo visited Van City for the long weekend. It was nice being able to show them around my home-for-the-summer :)

They stayed at the Fairmont Hotel... pretty spiffy nook for the long weekend. They were even kind enough to let me bunk with them while they were here.




The lounge of the hotel... not too shabby

And of course the pooch (one of two) - this is Beau. 

Mom, you'll love this video I just found of our friends from the hotel:

Here's Dad and I down at Canada Place... just being ourselves

Mother and Daughter, by the Olympic Torch - lit for Canada Day

Choir in North Van

Here's a video of the choir... with a man who ever so wonderfully decided he needed to star in my video by standing up right in front of the camera lol

...stay tuned for tomorrow's post to catch my ever so graceful father doing yoga down at Canada Place ;)