Vancouver to Whistler

Arrived in Vancouver by train. The Budget car we booked through Amtrak to simplify the process was unusual, no it's not at the train station. You have to go downtown by cab to pick it up. There is a Hertz office but they ran  out of cars. Let me repeat that ... The Hertz car rental company has NO cars. OK off to budget picked up Subaru Impreza. Off to our hotel to check in. Richo has this crazy notion he'd like to play in the snow, so off to Whistler we go. Quick stop off at Shannon Falls the water is so clear and fresh. There is moss growing over logs and live trees sort of like dripping green. The road is amazing, I'm loving buzzing along in this car. It has a keyless start which I do not understand, it's so automatic it locks and unlocks itself at will.

This is Alice Lake and it's pretty and is surrounded by camp grounds, little tents and signs about bears hmmm....

The weather is closing in, the temp has dropped to 12 degrees C. Every time I get out of the car I start coughing. The snow is too high to 'Play in' so we came back to North Van (couver) and found another Chinese restaraunt. Richo ordered a chicken with ginger, garlic and shallots in a sizzle olate. I wonder if there is an organisation called sizzle plates anonymous, cos Richo is displaying Sizzle Plate Addiction traits.

Me, I want it all they have a thing called the combo for 2 which is chicken chow mein,  sweet and sour port, broccoli beef, spring roll and dipping sauce. Yum yum. Crisp fresh veggies, lean tender pork in ultra thin crisp batter with a lightly spiced sweet dipping sauce.smoky noodles with bean sprouts, crisp sautéed carrots and spring onions and I have made the best choice. Back home for a long soothing soak in the bath and bed. 

About the Vancouver Railway Station. The entry point from the USA. 4 customs officers for an entire train. No welcome to Canada anything. The Vancouver sign on the platform is about 15cm high if that. No information booth or staff. One relatively small yet well stocked brochure counter.  All but 2 of the public phones have been removed leaving empty phone cabinets attached to the wall with wires sticking out. No budget car rental

Booth even though the train company allows you to book a car to pick up there. The Hertz car rental company is car- less. Nobody knows anything. Passengers help each other. The floor tiles are cracked, some of the bathroom taps can't dispense water. The mirror is all flawed around the edges and the silcone sealant around the basin bench is broken and or missing. No hand bag hooks on the bathroom doors. Drab, dated, neglected and dingy are the most apt and descriptive words to describe every passengers initial impression of the entry gateway to the Canada/ USA border. No wifi to assist visitors to get started booking, organising, touring and start spending their tourist dollars. Tourism Canada get down there and welcome, inform and market your state to the information starved tourists who are wandering around in bewilderment. I fail to see why you would leave the people visiting your country simply dumped at the front gate. Not one single sign with the word Welcome either written or implied. I don't know how the other entry points, airports etc are treated but the train arrival hall is the epitome of indifference.