We arrived at Vancouver at 9:20 AM and jumped on the ferry going to Victoria. Being great lovers of the sea, we never got bored, while staring at the ocean waving and splashing during the whole course of 95 minutes trip on board.
We stayed at the Ocean Pointe Resort.

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We were taken aback at the vastness of the Buchart Gardens. Unfortunately, the renowned flowers were all gone, because it was after the season, but we were warmly welcomed by the mosaic of varying hues of red, yellow, green of the maple leaves rejuvenated by an early morning shower.

Having spotted an elderly gentleman clearing the fallen leaves in the garden, we mustered up our courage in a desperate attempt to seek help from him using an awkward English. We told him we were lost. He led us to the exit No.10 from the " labyrinth " of the garden.



We enjoyed a leisurely city tour on bus with a detailed and well mapped-out guide belonging to a Japanese lady living there.

We spent the whole afternoon at the hotel.

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We left Victoria for Vancouver on the ferry. We again indul ged ourselves in a detailed and well-prepared guide of the Vancouver city tour by another Japanese lady, from Chine Town to Gas Town, Stanley Park, and Lion's Gate Bridge.

We walked deep inside the Stanley Park, hopeing to see racoons. Maybe because they were not in a good mood, they did not show up.

We had lunch at the cafeteria in Eaton's department Store. We couldn't believe the price for an extra large lunch. It was only C$ 3.50 (400YEN) including tax.

And, we wer excited to know that the dinner tonight was scheduled a gorgeous Lobster feast.



We then, stayed at the Vancouver Renaissance Hotel.

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We woke up later on the final day of the tour, and looked up and smiled at the blue sky, radiant with the golwing sun. We," the two senior women with a youthful heart ", ventured out to downtown Vancouver with map in hand but without any sense of direction. A young Japanese man whom we met near the Kirin Chinese restaurant kindly took us to the OK Gift Shop.

After having spent hours of shopping and shopping, we suddenly felt hungry as it was late afternoon. We looked for restaurant after another only to find closed signs.Disappointed, we vacantly looked at the menue of one of the restaunts, Sushi, Sukiyaki, Tempura, Shabu-shabu... Still, we didn't give up and finally found a restaurant to console our crying stomacks. A full course of the Chineses lunch of sweek and sour pork, steamed rice, miso-soup with everything, salad and dessert was only C$ 5 (650YEN) including tax.

Trodding toward the hotel in the near darkness, we suddenly heard a clear and resonant voice of a man from behind. We stood frozen for a moment, thinking, " Are we in trouble?

Are we going to be kidnapped? ".

This caucasian man said in Japanese, " My wife is a our Japanese, her name is Sumiko". " Please come to apartment ". Without waiting for our answer, he grabbed our shopped bags and started to walk.

Going up to their apartment on the third floor, we opened the door and then, there she was, Sumiko-san. " My husband is a habitual kidnapper, " she said laughing. We were not the first victims of his.

This couple had a pet, hamster -- actually it was a ferret. It was running and jumping around us with a joy of seeing and smelling of the guests. They have been in Vancouver for 4 years.

And they assured us that they would help us if come back. This confirmed our long cherished dream of living abroad. We promised to meet again next year and left their apartment in the shower of his good-bye kisses.

We went back to the hotel by taxi in the night fall.



And, we spent the night of the tour at the Vancouver Renaissance Hotel.

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Departure time - 11:15 AM

We enjoyed the last day of the tour the most.The price tag for this off-the-season but very unique and eventful tour was C$ 900 (98,000 YEN).

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Arriving at Narita Airport at 14:15

We were resolved to prepare ourselves mentally and physically for our first attempt to live abroad next year. The energy, positive attitude and ambition of these two retired woman to fulfill their " life time " dream of living abroad deserves admiration.

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This small town of Vancouver is very cozy and quite, and has less automobile traffics in downtown area, probably because of absence of taxi services which occur so often on the roads in Japanese major cities.

Every smile on the face of the people we meet and see either on the street, at the corner street or at the department stores makes you feel that you are a Vancouverite.

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