Robert's HOME!!

Friday – From museums to Hippopotamus!

Hello!

Up this morning about 6 a.m. to a very gray but not rainy day.  However, even as we were having breakfast, the fog was really rolling in!  So much so that visibility was very poor.  With that, Mom decided it wasn’t yet time for her to try the Hippopotamus tour; she wanted to wait until she could see things!  So, about 9-ish we headed out, first to get Mom to an ATM, and then, while heading to the British Columbia Maritime Museum, we stopped for reinforcements at Murchie’s Tea room! 

Mom had a pot of black blend Queen Victoria tea with a cheese scone, which she said was wonderful.  I had their lovely hot chocolate (with whipped cream!) and a raspberry almond tart…let’s just say that we were both happy!

From there, we headed to Bastion Square and the Maritime Museum, which had just opened.  To be honest, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the museum’s collection, except for their huge amount of ship models. 

However, it was very thought provoking in several senses.  First, especially for we Americans, there is truly a Western European bias – not only in the history we learn in school, but also how that history is always portrayed.  Looking at things from the British Columbia side, it quickly becomes apparent that this side of the continent really looked to the west – the Pacific, and Russia, Japan and China  all had major parts to play in the dramas that centered around Canada in general, and British Columbia specifically.  There were exhibits about the Empresses, a line of ships that went back and forth across the pacific from B.C. to Asia – 9 days and a few hours to get to Japan.  While I knew about the Matson liners that went between San Francisco and Honolulu, I had no idea that these other routes were so important – or so frequent!  I also had no idea of the issues between Britain, Spain, Russia and the fledgling United States as to who got what territories and where; and how to defend them!  As I say, learning about the history was very interesting, as well as a bit unexpected!

We finished touring the museum about noon, but as we had been so well reinforced by our “break” at Murchies, we really weren’t ready for lunch yet.  So, as the fog had definitely lifted, and it was conceivably “lighter” outside (not to be confused with sunshine…) we headed over to check out the Hippopotamus tours.  These tours are conducted with huge bus-like vehicles – the secret of which is that they can drive on land as well as float!  Found the tour spot – actually because a huge painted bus saying “Henrietta Hippopotamus” was now on the street!  Signed Mom up, and went to wait the half-hour until she was ready to go/sail/float/whatever! 

 

Put Mom on to the Hippo, and headed back to the flat.  Did some catch-up cleaning and vacuuming, answered email and, the very best thing, heard from Robert that he had arrived in Vancouver – we are now in the same country!  He had an hour and a half wait for the bus – he had just missed one, but that couldn’t be helped!  I’m just so thrilled that everything had worked out so well getting him back to Vancouver!  His U.S. Airways planes both actually left EARLY and arrived EARLY as well!  Robert did say that it was 96 degrees in Phoenix; I asked him to bring a little warmth and sunshine with him, but he declined the opportunity; says he’ll be fine with whatever weather we have … and now that he’s back, me too!  He did discover that he is able to get off the bus in Swartz Bay, which is the crossing point on Vancouver Island to the mainland.  This means that we’ll be together an entire hour earlier than originally planned!!  Yipee!!  Mom and I will leave about 5 – stop at Safeway to pick up a few things, and then head up-island – probably about 25-30 miles, to Swartz Bay!  SOOOOO excited!!

So…back to the Happy Hippo! 

Picked Mom up as her Hippo swam in at 2:30 p.m.  She very much enjoyed the tour, especially the water portion, but was now more than a little hungry!  We decided to try Sam’s Café and Deli, which is nearby on Government Street.

Mom got their Friday special – mac & cheese with a cup of split pea soup.  I had their Cobb Salad.  Everyone was happy; a good place to go!  Their sandwiches also looked really good!

We are now back in the flat waiting to go pick up Robert! 

More later!

m

xxx

PS – Robert is HOME!  Or at least what we’re calling home for now!  He started flying from O’Hare very early this morning (7:10 a.m. Chicago time); the flights actually left early, and he was lucky to have extra seats around him both from Chicago to Phoenix, and from Phoenix to Vancouver!  He then caught the bus which took him to the BC Ferry.  Mom and I actually drove up to Swartz Bay to pick him up, rather than have him bus back into town…which means I got to see him an entire HOUR earlier than planned!!  Yipee!!  Then back to the flat to change and across the street to Clive’s – the closest place I could think of! 

R had shrimp; I had a small steak and fries, and Mom had their soup of the day – black bean/chorizo (which certainly would have killed me!) 

For dessert, I had their apple samosa with ice cream – unusual but very good!  R had their strawberry rhubarb tart, which vanished quickly, and Mom had apple flavored cream brule!  Now back in the flat, and I am doing laundry so R will have some clothes to wear tomorrow!!  I am so glad he is home…

m

xxx