Letting Off Steam

So all in all the journey was straightforward, just long, but uneventful and before long we'd checked into The Sutton Place Hotel and were out for a stroll and an early dinner. Keen to locate where we need to be tomorrow morning for embarkation we headed direct for the harbour, a beautiful, large and spacious area populated by frequent seaplanes taking off and landing and with a stunning mountainous backdrop that I suspect will be the first of many. 

Convention centre.

Job done we followed a recommendation for an early dinner and found ourselves at Nuba, Lebanase, excellent and hugely popular with locals even at 5.30pm and underground! The Paw Honey lager was dark, cold and very welcome in the heat of the late afternoon and the food excellent. Top tip there, thanks TIC ladies. 

Walking back we found ourselves in Gastown, in the early 1900s the commercial heart of the city which by 60 years later was very much abandoned and derelict. A decision was taken in the 1970s to refurbish and rejuvenate Gastown, the success of which was down to the combined efforts of local property owners, the civic bodies and retailers. Today it's a thriving commercial and tourist success. The incredibly beautiful and clever steam clock stands at its heart. Designed and built by my almost-maiden-namesake, Raymond Saunders, the steam is supplied by the underground system of central heat distributors and powers the weights that drive the pendulum. Sadly we missed the Westminster chimes and the hourly whistle but with a little patience I captured this photograph, remarkable if only because at just after 7.00pm on a busy sunny Friday evening this place is teeming with people yet for a fraction of a second no-one was in shot! 

Gastown Steam Clock

And so to end day one, just time to stop and admire the statue of a fallen soldier being carried aloft by an Angel, en route back to our giant King-sized bed, air-con and sleep. Cruising commences tomorrow. 

To commemorate the lives of those in the Canadian Pacifc Railway Company who were called up to join the war effort, 1914-1918.

Fairmont Hotel - the words along each balcony read 'The clouds look no nearer than when I was lying on the street'! Not sure I understand, but it looks good.