November 3, 2016. Strolling the Fraser River

LOCATION:  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada WEATHER:  Happily, the weatherman was wrong.  Rain had been predicted, but it was nice and sunny.  Highs about 50   We heard from our homeowner in Mexico that our housesit there in December was canceled, due to health issues.  Luckily, I found an even better housesit in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.  We skyped with the homeowner there and confirmed the assignment.  Yeah!  Then, we spent the morning booking our flight.  After a bad experience using Spirit Airlines, we had vowed to never use them again.  However, since they gave us a $100 coupon due do delays on the last trip, we were forced to use them again.  Booking took hours, but now we are set, and are excited about the opportunity!   We took a shuttle around New Westminster, a suburb on the east side of Vancouver, where we are staying.  Here is George at the shuttle stop, checking out the lap dancing special tonight.

We disembarked from the shuttle near New Westminster's esplanade on the Fraser River.  We strolled along, I, gazing at the beautiful condos, and George talking with the Chinese fishermen.  The Fraser is full of salmon.  We watched a seal swimming along, then diving for a salmon snack. 

I wonder how much these cost.....

 

 

They are all beautifully kept. This one has a beautiful Japanese maple in full autumn glory...  

 

Beautiful flower beds, this one with flowering kale....

 

At the end of the esplanade, there are shops and restaurants.  This is supposedly the world's tallest tin soldier. 

This W stands for New Westminster.  It is made from shipping containers.  The bridge in the background is for cars and the Sky Train..

Lots of tugboats and barges go up and down the river.  

For dinner, we went to a nearby Greek taverna. We sat at a window seat overlooking the Fraser.   We ordered an assortment of delicious appetizers...dolmades, Greek salad, a caviar dip, olives, and stuffed peppers.  Too much food!