When we touched down in Vancouver the temperature change was overwhelming. We'd gone from 30 down to -3 degrees! We just about recognized John from the photo he'd sent us with his email. We made the hour journey home via a pizza place and got to know each other. He had no idea we were from Chelmsford-which is where he was born it transpired! John moved to Canada 25 years ago but rarely goes home so he was keen to find out what was going on back in Essex. It was really late when we got back so we ate and hit the hay.
We met his wife Lyn the next day. She's Canadian and was very welcoming indeed. We went on a bit of a day trip that day...they took us to Capilano where there is a huge suspension bridge. They had all sorts of extra safety precautions there as a Chinese woman had recently launched her baby over the edge (somehow baby survived!)
They also showed us the huge dam which controls Vancouvers water flow. They are mega strict about keeping the reservoir totally clean and free of any kind of pollution..they're not allowed to build houses within miles of the reservoir should any waste somehow makes its way in. We also were able to see 'The Lions' from here. These are two mountains, the peeks of which looks like two lions. They're named after the two lion statues on Trafalgar Square.
They took us out for a meal after that at a really traditional British Pub. It was great to see fish and chips, 'bangers and mash' and 'toad in the hole' on a menu!
That night we went over the whole family tree thing-something which had caused a bit of confusion and needed to be laid down in black and white. John is Vick's mums Cousin..His mum is the sister of Vick's Grandpa. That would make John some kind of second uncle to Vick... John presented us with all sorts of old photo's of the family which was crazy..pictures dating all the way back to 1901!
The next day we all put up the xmas decorations in the house. John's youngest son Andrew (Vick's 2nd cousin!) came round with his girlfriend Brenda. We all had a few drinks and put on the Christmas songs to really get into the spirit, it was awsome. Later that night we both went round to Andrew's apartment which is only a few stops on the 'skytrain' away. We all got on really well and a few days later went round there again where Brenda cooked us a mean carbonara. We also met John's eldest son, David, who was actually born in Southampton, but moved over to here when he was 3.
John took us to downtown Vancouver which is lovely. Really clean and it's decorated wonderfully festive..at night it looks magical. We made several trips downtown during the week on the skytrain. The skytrain is awesome-its like the tube on stilts..its has no driver and feels more like a roller coaster ride than a train!
We've booked up tickets to go to stay with Lister and Lorraine in Calgary and fly tomorrow on the 16th..we've been told temperates in Calgary have been hitting -29 so wish us luck!
OK guys, thats about it for now, just to let you know we've gone back over the other countries on this journal and added a load of pictures for every country. Check em out..
Canada
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