Travel Day

Megs typing

Well we are on the move, up early - no really we were up early as we had to be at the airport by 7am to check in for our Alaskan Airways flight to Seattle that was due to depart at 9.30.  Upon arriving at the Anchorage airport we were again greeted by the friendly Alaskan staff and no queues.  It can not be said enough that the hospitality and friendliness of everyone (with maybe the exception of our very first taxi driver) has been welcoming and genuine, truly very lovely people.

With boarding passes in hand and backpacks checked we headed up stairs, through security (no pat downs this time but the security guys did like my red christmas socks), for the 2 hour something wait for our flight in search of coffee/tea.  It seemed obscenely early at 8.00 am and the sun not scheduled to greet this part of the world for another 2 and half hours.  We settled down into a booth at the closest Starbucks coffee in hand and skyped/email/read until it was time to go to the gate.  Just before we were due to board we were notified that due to really strong headwinds the plane had been delayed approx. 40 mins.

What amazed us is the number of people who had connecting flights out of Seattle within that 40 mins window that needed to be booked on to later flights in case our flight (with the head wind behind us) did not make up the lost time.  Anyway we were all cool as our flight to Vancouver was not due to depart Seattle until 4.30.

Flight was uneventful, (we slept most of it on and off) we landed in Seattle wandered around a little had some lunch, Elona bought a replacement travel pillow for the one she lost on our first night in Alaska, and declined to buy replacement headsets for the new ones also lost with the travel pillow.  I think there is a slight trust issue between headsets and Elona at the moment.

The most notable thing about Seattle Airport was that they had their air conditioning turned up to tropical, we were sweltering, we delayered as much as possible it did not really help, and my lovely christmas socks (that were not made for travelling) were quickly making my feet very uncomfortable and squelchy.

We boarded the plane to Vancouver, the plane went up, we filled out the entrance paperwork for Canada, they offered us a glass of water and then the plane went down.  40 mins flight time WOW.  Coming into Vancouver was a picture of coloured lights that seamed to go on for ever.  Never really considered how big Vancouver would actually be and after Anchorage it really was on a whole different scale.

We collected our bags and went through customs.  Elona and I took separate queues, we were diligent and declared our animal fur.  Elona went straight through thank you very much, and I was directed to go to Agriculture and Farming customs officials GREAT!!!  Though on arrival the gentleman helping me seemed very perplexed when I showed him my lovely winter fox hat and asked me again where the food products or agriculture products I was bringing into the country. Again I showed him my hat... "is that all???" he asked and upon receiving confirmation from me, he redirected me through the gate for non-importers.

Elona Typing

Well I'm wondering the hallway looking at pictures and I turn and there she is: Megs to relay her little adventure in customs and the world of agricultural importing!! We head on out and I make the comment - No hugs from anyone??? you know what I mean - you walk down that aisle at the nervous but welcoming faces and of course NOT for us BUT THEN there is this little sign that says my name - EVEN BLOODY BETTER I say!!! I'm a VIP and then ruin it by asking him if he'd hold the sign again so I could take a photo - very pathetic but I was choofed!! We then met Robbie - bless him - he was 12 too; home from college, working in the family business and told to pick up the crazy Australian women at the airport and deliver them to Whistler. He was lovely and quite informative. Driving through Vancouver reminded me of driving through Sydney: Big Bright City but as we headed north our young guide began to do the tour bit which was cool; always pays to listen and pick up tit bits. Did you know????that the road signs heading up to Whistler all have the native language written under them (some had numbers in place of letters in them) and when asked what it was our knowledgable guide had absolutely no idea but basically said it was a good gimmick well political thing for the Winter Olympics - got to look inclusive and culturally diverse.

We were dropped at the door of HI Whistler hostel - a little anxious and more so once we entered as instantly we felt ancient: there were a bunch of kindergarten kids running around...well 16 somethings!!!! Who let their kids out???? Anyway we took deep breaths and headed to our shared room when Megs said she saw somebody our age - YEAH! Actually she was very nice - the poor English love was sharing a room with 3 other australian boys. Us on the other had an all girl room - YEAH for us! We unpacked what we could in our little locker spaces had our showers - this area is shared between the eight people but toilet, shower and vanity area are all separate which makes things easier. The 2 bedrooms holding the eight beds are in it's own little area then the bedroom doors are locked. Quite a good set up really. We are on the floor above most of the common areas laundry, dining, playroom (for the kiddies he he he), TV room and lounge area. The bottom floor called 'M' in the lift???? is reception and a cafeteria that's for open 8 till 8 and is very reasonably priced: $4 for soup and toast - not bad :)
Night night.