3 flights was all it took to get from Quito to Vancouver. Our flight leaving Quito was at midnight so we went to the airport early and had the most expensive but delicious Jack Daniels ribs and a margarita at TGI Fridays.
At the gate we got alerted to the fact that the plane had technical issues (eeek) and we were delayed until 1am. We flew from Quito to Miami, Miami to Dallas and Dallas to Vancouver. 4 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours in flights.
The customs in Miami took FOREVER! We were in line for nearly an hour and we really should have asked some people if they minded if we go ahead of them because we had to be at the gate for our connecting flight at 7am and we were in the line from 5.30am to 6.30am. When we finally got to the bag drop for our flight (a tiny desk near the International exit) they told us it was too late. So we proceeded up to the main desk, fuming and to rebook the flights. Instead of getting into Vancouver at 1pm we’d get in about 8pm. This really sucked for us as we were meeting Brett and Mum in Vancouver that afternoon. The lady asked one more time why we couldn’t make that flight and we explained. She then realised the flight was actually not until 8am and that it wasn’t too late to take our bags, the other people just didn’t know what they were doing! So she put our bags through check-in there and we ran down to the gate!!
Security in USA is hectic and you pretty much have to strip and get patted down to make it through. But we finally got through and it was crisis averted!!! Woo hoo!! Lucky us.
We got through Customs and received our working Visas in Canada quicker than the customs line in USA. It was an easy process and we walked through the airport doors, tired but beaming!!
That afternoon we were reunited with Brett and Mum at the hotel!! It’s weird how even after a 4 month gap between visits it seemed like we’d never been apart as soon as we all saw each other. So good to see them!!!
The first 2 days in Vancouver were wet and rainy!! Apparently it’s always like that here!! Welcome to Canada we kept saying!! The 4 of us crammed into Brett’s little Chrysler hire car and went shopping for cars, and at the malls to check out prices for the first two days. Matt and I found an F150 truck we put a deposit on and hope to pick up today all being well! So we’re set for mountain life. Saturday we went sightseeing around Vancouver and discovered the beautiful Stanley Park, the Lion’s Gate bridge and we went to go and check out a cool old suspension bridge and Grouse Mountain but they were going to cost $35 per person each to visit!! We only wanted a look and wouldn’t have been there long so this was a bit expensive for us!
Prices in the shops have been marginally cheaper than Australia, but all prices are listed without tax so you get caught out! The price you’re seeing you have to put 12% on top of so it’s not that much cheaper in Vancouver at least.
We were hoping to pick up our car on the Saturday but the inspection meant it needed a new seal on Monday. So since Brett and Mum were leaving for Seattle Sunday morning, we decided it would be cool to spend that extra day with them! We crammed the suitcases and the four of us into the Chrysler and headed for Seattle, stopping at the premium outlets in USA on the way!! Shopping!!
It turned out really well! We got some much needed warm clothing, boots and a few extras much cheaper in USA than we could have in Canada. Each stop we made at the shops made it harder to get back into the car! It was quite funny!!
All in all it was great to see a tiny part of our big family while we were here!! It’s back to reality now though!! I had a big teary when we said goodbye, but we jumped on a train back to Vancouver this morning which is where I’m writing from.
The train is really spacious and nice! It’s easy to sit here typing on the computer, something I could never do in South America! haha! Today we’re hoping to pick up our car, have dinner with some friends in Vancouver and make the journey out to Revelstoke tomorrow morning.
It’s meant to be -30degress on Tuesday night!!!! OMG! I’ll let you know how that goes! ๐
Timeframe: 13-18 November 2013
Happy Anniversary to our good friends Barry and Rachael for the 18th! Love you guys! Hope you had a great day ๐
All photos courtesy of Brett Gilbertson!
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