Wood Squared: Adventures in the Pacific Northwest Day 2

Day 2 started much better than Day 1, mostly because it didn't start until 7:30am (as opposed to 4:30, ugh!)

We got up and had the free, and pretty good, breakfast at the hotel. I picked the brain of the sweet girl at the front desk and decided to go shopping with my morning alone. (Timothy was attending the morning sessions, something about bridges and building stuff so it doesn't fall down. His job is complicated!) After some great directions, I walked down Pender street to the Pharmasave and bought 2 day passes for the bus. (Aside: the buses are SO easy here. I would venture to say even easier than they were in London and infinitely easier than Mexico City. The bus drivers, though not always in the best moods, were totally willing to tell you how to get where you were going, and announce your stop so you wouldn't get stuck on the bus. It was really awesome. But, then again, I am a big fan of public transit.)

I walked through Pacific Centre Mall out to Robson street. Robson street is one of the shopping areas in downtown Vancouver. I peeked in the Roots store and saw they were having 25% off of everything and resolved to bring Timothy back so we could get some authentic Canadian gear. I enjoyed walking and not buying anything (except for some Japanese candy at this really cute Japanese market) and looking down the streets to see the bay and the mountains! It was so pretty and serene, I felt like I was in my own little movie. I was walking at a leisurely pace to warm my legs up... And if I stopped here, it would sound like a perfect morning.

But, of course, it can't be that easy! Would it be an adventure if it was easy?! Nay, I say thee nay!

I decided to up the pace a little bit, thinking I'd work out some of the soreness from trying to hoof it around Seattle the day before. I'm singing along under my reath to the Caedmon's call song I had been listening to when all of a sudden....

BAM!!!

I'm on the ground. A rogue CD had been left on the sidewalk and I used it to slam my knee to concrete. Concrete and jeans are not forgiving, my friends, not forgiving. I am tempted to post the picture on here. I have a pretty awesome scrape. Lost of flesh gone. I'm hardcore.

Anyway, by then it was 11:20ish and I was to meet hubby at 12:ooish, so I pulled my sniffling self up and hobbled to the bus stop. One of the people from the hotel outside of which I fell came out so see if I was alright. Oh yeah, it was bad. But, I politely, if not a little sniffly, said no, and continued on the painful journey to the bus. I made it and made it back to the hotel, so that when my husband arrived, I was laying on the bed with my pant leg rolled up. I got lots of sympathy points from him.

After that, we maneuvered the buses to Stepho's Souvlaki for a lunch of excellent and way too much greek food. I have not had a bad meal here.

We took the bus to Granville island and wandered around the public market, which is a hippie's paradise. A market full of organic food and artisans hawking their wares. It was ok, but the best part was just walking around and looking at beautiful Canada. We took the a boat back to the city and wandered around Chinatown (where I got the coolest little kitsch wallet). Then we went back to the hotel and relaxed for awhile.

Next, Timothy wanted to see the Roots store, so we went. My new favorite Canadian, Pam, helped us find some cool stuff AND gave me stickers to give to my kiddos "all the way from Canada." She was so fun! She laughed at our jokes and we laughed at hers. She sold me a jacket with thumbholes. Awesome.

So, after some contemplation, we decided it was dinner time. Dinner was a bit of a fiasco, since after a walk that was twice as long as the hotel guy said it would be, we were TURNED AWAY FROM THE SUSHI PLACE. The guy was so weird. We were willing to wait for a table, but he didn't want us to. Very surreal experience. But luckily, there is a sushi place every 13 inches here, so we didn't hace trouble finding a replacement. We ate, got sleepy, grabbed a bus back to the hotel, and went to bed.

We'll leave Vancouver today and head back to Seattle. So far this trip has been awesome. I pray that the trip the summer is as good (maybe with less scars).

It's beautiful here, and easy to remember that the Creator is infinite. Staring at the beauty of not only the landscape, but the many different faces surrounding me, I can see the great care God had in creation. I'm also humbled that the One who created all humbled Himself to come and save us. Praise Jesus!! Praise the Father!! PRaise the Holy Spirit that stirs within us to show Himself in creation!! Praise to the Three in One!!

Well, I'll update more later, eh?

Robs