Aug 28- Vancouver, BC

  We started planning our stay here in the Blaine area, and decided we wanted to tour Vancouver, BC, instead of meandering around on our own.  So, we scheduled a tour of the city, and a bit of the surrounding area for Thursday, but it turned out we needed to be there, in Vancouver at 8:00 am.  This seemed a bit challenging, as we had no idea how the traffic would be crossing the border, close to the Labor Day holiday weekend.  So, Eva, the private tour guide, offered to let us stay at her house, so we could get an early start.  Very generous offer, especially considering we are strangers.  However, we took her up on the offer, and decided to go up today, and explore around a bit in the afternoon.
  We got to the border crossing around 1pm and had about a 15 minute wait.  Once we arrived in the Vancouver area, Georgette had recommended we go to see the Blodell Gardens, in Queen Elizabeth Park.  They were created on the top of and down the sides of a steep hill.  And, they did an incredible job!  Each area was beautifully laid out, and packed with flowers--both annuals and perennials.  Also, included water features, creating delightful ambiances.
  The Vancouver Maritime Museum was next.  It overlooks the English Bay.  Very nice park.  It had the sailing ship owned by the Royal Mounted Canadian Police, that was the first ship to cross the Northwest passage.  They also had an exhibit showing the history of Green Peace, which started in Vancouver.  I can even remember when they first began.  There is a little harbor in this park, and the small ferries that take folks around all these islands stops there.
  We went from there over to Stanley Park, a pennisula, in Vancouver harbor, right in the middle of Vancouver.  Drove around and through it.  By then, it was dinner time, so we headed over to North Vancouver, where Eva lives, and found a quaint Italian restaurant for dinner.  There are mountains on the north side of the city, and Eva lives in a subdivision a little ways up, so we drove around, heading upward, and watched the sun set from the mountain-side.  On the way to her house, we passed the shipping yards.  They are huge.  Apparently, Vancouver is one of the busiest ports in the world.  Huge silos, many in a row, and there were quite a few of them.  Coal, ships, trains, --all along the water way. 

Border crossing into Canada photo:

Blodell Gardens photos:

Vancouver Maritime Museum photos:

Stanley Park photos: