Arrived in Vancouver very early tuesday morning about 4am local time. The plane had been delayed an hour and it was full of toddlers screaming for much of the 6 hour flight. Arrived at the lovely Barclay Hotel (it comes highly recommended by errr no one!! ala scarborough 70's guest house styleee!!) Got woken up by workmen outside the window at about 7.30 am need I carry on... We went up the Skytower first to get great views across the city and more impressively of the harbour and across the bay to the mountains all around, oh yeah and the blue sky again, dont worry its alot cooler this side of the country. We then wandered along the harbour front having had a chinese for breakfast ok it was 12 noon. Made our way past all the cruise ships,yachts and all the seaplanes landing and taking off in the harbour. The water was cystal clear where you could star fish, crabs and other sea creatures on the rocks. Loads of flash appartment blocks looking out over towards the mountains. It really has the wow factor hear, you can see why its the no.1 place to emigrate. Headed across the island towards the beaches on the south side, yes beaches!! I said its got it all here!! Relaxed and looked out to sea. Went back to the room, no its still as dody as when we left. We headed back out, had fish and chips for tea then back up the skytower to sea the city by night. Not quite as impressive as NY but ok all the same. Rang round a load of hotels to try and get a normal bed for the night. No luck everywhere is full with the crusie ships having docked.