My Journey Round The World

GAME OVER

Rainy morning but nice afternoon. I went to see the city from above from the Loukout, impressive view!

Had a nice walk around Gastown to see the steam clock – said to be the world’s first steam-operated clock & one of the most photographed place in the city. I was waiting to hear the Westminster chimes, supposed to strikes every hour on the hour, but its seems that the clock was stuck 5 mn before 3… Only things to be heard every 5 min was an alarm car! Anyway, I could still see the steam coming out but no explosion of steam supposed to happen every 15 mn… It seems that something was wrong here…

The Chinese Garden in Chinatown reminded me of my trip to Japan, meeting Ariane & Helene in Kamakura – good memories Today, Chinatown in Vancouver is the North America’s second-largest Chinatown. Which seems to be mostly influenced by “the Hong Kong Chinese, who sought out Vancouver as a safe haven after the British colony returned to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997.” The Vancouver SunJune 30, 2007

I then met Tanya for a quick interesting chinese diner… After I missed my flight in London, someone said to me that my luck can only improve from here on… I hope that finding a worm in my meal wasn’t improvement, or maybe not eating eat was my luck!!! Otherwise, I don’t want to imagine what can happen when going more South… By the way, I’ve had a 1 dollar discount for the worm, lucky me

We then head to a Hockey match – Vancouver Giants-Lethbridge – It was such an experience!!! Especialy that in the middle of the game they start fighting & it took around 15-20 mn to stop them & figure out who did what!

This is an impressive but somehow unrealistic park! Between forest walk & hiking trails with huge cedar & rainforest fir, lake, beachside strolls, rose garden, aquarium… You can meet so many different plants & little animals such as birds, ducks, gooses, swans, squirrels as well as raccoons! You can even access – without visiting the aquarium, as for the sea lions at Nausicaa – the pool with belugas, which dosen’t seems to have that much space! You also find unusual stuff such as sign for wheelchair… By the way, I didn’t see any…

However, even if you are in the middle of the nature: you have the nice smell & view of the forest, sea, garden… There is an incredibly annoying thing – I know, I’m really sensible on that! From almost everywhere, you can hear civilisation all around you, between cars or planes above your head! Only quiet stuff are boats… So huge just in front of the bay!

Ok, one good thing with civilisation is that you have toilets all around the park

After more than 11 hours sleep – more than needed! We had a really nice quiet Sunday around Granville Island with a view on Vancouver Downtow. Tanya brought me to a really popular take away restaurant on the port, where we enjoyed fresh fish – my dear Professor will be happy about that! -  on the sun. Then walking around the area – and my dear ostheopath would love the view off all this boat… -  seeing people having bbq on their boat, discovering the Public Market… With fresh fruits & vegetable, enormous oyster – Daddy, you’ll be impressed!…  It was a nice & peaceful day to recharge my batteries! With a nice sunset on the Pacific

 18 hours trip… 2 planes, 1 bus… After only 3 hours sleep the night before… I arrived exhausted!!! What an idea not to take a flight from Boston to Vancouver! But I might also had some surprise as the connexion in Washington DC not plan on my journey… Anyway this is another mistake which I think won’t be the last one… At least I had some fun…

• Arriving at the airport by motorbike at 4:30 am
• Meeting a nice old couple – on a trip for their 50 years wedding anniversary! Yes, this is possible! – in the plane to Seattle, offering to drive me to Vancouver! We had nice chat which helps to survive this 5 hours flight without anything to eat! Nearly worse than travelling with Ryanair, ok at least they offer something to drink!
• Having a nice chat with a helpfull man in Seattle airport before taking the bus,
• Travelling with a really funny bus driver to Vancouver, making jokes every now and then;
• Without mentionning the nice view on the way, even if with my lake of sleep I more wanted to sleep than to watch the landscape!

 

The Freedom Trail is a 4 km long path through downtown Boston that passes 16 of the city’s historic landmarks. The only thing you have to do is to follow the red line on the pavement & look around you Ok,  it’s better when you realise that at the beginning of the trail & not in the middle! It looks a bit like if you where a sheep but it’s so practical! No more book or map needed, just the red line to follow…

I went up the Bunker Hill Monument: 294 steps in spiral staircase. I love counting the stairs, but here you don’t even need it – or maybe just to check if they didn’t do any mistake! As it’s written every 25 steps where you are… – My legs are still feeling it! After that, I had a quick & nice lunch in the sun at the Faneuil Hall – Old Market building first build in 1742. Later on I met Alex for a really nice boat trip with a gorgeous sunset on the way back to Boston harbour. After this wonderfull view, we went for a diner with my cousine’s cousine: Julia & Amanda. It was really funny to speak about your family members with people you don’t know & which are also part of this family

Beautiful motor bike tour  in New England today – Guy, guess what: it was a BMW Perfect weather & wonderful landscape. I forgot this feeling of freedom while your seeing the landscape passing… What was quite impressive, it’s the car… Most of them are really huge compare to Europe! Without mentionning the trucks!

Visit to Rockport where we eat fresh fish & brought back a lobster for diner – Daddy, you would love the place! Nice tour around the villages & all the small harbour around. It was a peaceful and quiet day. On the way back Alex was afraid I’ll fall over and actually I nearly did… Falling asleep behind him, as usual when I’m too tired…

First day on my own, in an unknown city… At least I can speak the language, even if I need to ask people to repeat from time to time – it’s too quick! So yesterday I went to visit the prestigious Harvard campus. Harvard Yard is a nice & peaceful area with many seats to have a rest or to study! Colorfull chairs everywhere in the garden, snacks around, nice cantine (only for students) as in Harry Potter!

In the Cambridge city around I discover an interesting project, the Wheel Questions: It’s an art installation touring outdoor public spaces. You can write a question on a card, and Johnny will turn it over and write an answer on the back from a secular philosophy about thinking clearly and being proactive. The cards are posted online (http://wheelquestions.org) and on a big outdoor wheel for everyone to be inspired by. So funny to find out that this philosophy is really close of my way of thinking since I start to organise this adventure…

Here you can also find people asking for money while chatting on the phone…

Then, I head toward the lovely Beacon Hill area! Walking through Charles & Mount Vernon Street which combine fashionable boutiques & contemporary restaurants, cobblestone streets, bricks side walk, gas street lanterns… which characterize is Victorian charm!

After this nice charming promenade, I end up at Boston Common & Public Garden, where I took a rest while drinking a refreshing Lemonade watching such small kids already training for baseball & little squirrels all over the place.

And true, I need to apologies for missing the flight… SORRY!!! Steph & THANK  YOU & Freddy for this nice relaxing days at home

  

I finally made it!!!… Never 2 (in March I couldn’t fly because of my passport picture…) without 3, the 3nd one is the good one! Luckily it works, after:

• 70 pounds rebooking fees – i was expecting much more, I didn’t even think to ask for an upgrade, I’m sure with my crying face it could have work for free ,
• 5 hours waiting, where I was every minutes checking the board to know where I need to run for the gate…
• beeing scared that my luggage won’t follow ; but no problem on that !

Arrival in Boston around midnight European time. My friend Alex really though I didn’t want to visit him It was already dark We went quickly shooping, had light diner where he explain to me the nice programme he planned for my 3 days here & I went to bed for a good night sleep after this adventure!

 

Good departure for my big journey…

…I’ve missed the flight…

…Don’t smile, this is not funny at all… Luckily I can still fly today & will arrive to Boston with 5 hours delay… Not that bad!

Need to concentrate a bit more while at the airport