Well we’re off!!  Michael picked us up just after 4PM today to drop us at the skytrain on his way to work.  We have a hotel booked in Richmond that has a shuttle to and from the airport.  We get the skytrain at Braid Station, travel to Waterfront Station then switch to the Canada Line that takes us to the airport.  Once there we call the hotel to arrange for the shuttle bus to pick us up.  About 15 minutes later we are on our way to the hotel.  It is the Quality Hotel Airport South.  We are paying $189 for the night and have booked it quite some time ago.  I feel it is pretty expensive, but couldn’t really find anything cheaper that had airport shuttles.  I decided to check the prices last night in case there were some great last minute deals.  This hotel is now going for $340 a night.  I guess I feel better about the $189!!

It takes some time to make this trek.  We don’t often take public transportation and muddled through purchasing the “Compass Card” at the Braid Station, but did it without help from anyone 🙂 .  We are glad that there are fare gates now installed at the stations, even though it refused to open for me.  I just scooted through the open gate from another passenger.  From there on they worked flawlessly and told us when we tapped out at YVR that there were no more trips on the card.  It amazes me that they can get electronic info on a simple looking paper transit ticket!  We began our vacation people watching as we traveled the route.  Vancouver is truly a multicultural city.  So many languages being spoken around us.  I was surprised to hear so much Spanish.

Our journey took us  almost 2 hours, but we are in vacation mode, so no problem.

After we check into our hotel we head out for a bite to eat.  We have stayed at this hotel before and know there is a pub just across the street.  I forgot that it was an Irish pub, so it was the obvious choice for this vacation.  We had a good meal and head back to the hotel to set the alarm for 5:30.  Our flight is at 9 AM, but I have medication, a cooler and frozen gel packs to navigate through security, so we want plenty of time.  The hotel shuttle leaves on the quarter hour so it is 6:15 as 7:15 feels a bit tight.

Off to bed.  The real adventure begins tomorrow!!