Alaska Cruise Day 8: Leaving the Noordam in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Travel Date: Sunday, May 8th 2016

I wake up. 

In two hours we will have to leave the cruiseline. I am actually ready to go. I am not ready for the vacation to end, but ready to go! We begin to approach Vancouver, British Columbia.

We are getting closer.

We arrive, and dock on One Canada Place.

Ah, the Vancouver skyline early in the morning!

Mark and Bonny swing by and say one final goodbye. And before we leave we say goodbye to Marcy.

After mom and I get our passports, we leave. Time to get off this ship!

Some of the crew wish us well as we leave.

We walk into security.

Get our bags.

And head back to the Vancouver Marriott Airport Hotel in Richmond, British Columbia via the Vancouver Metro system.

My sis has a high school friend in the area, so we meet up with Mario.

And we look for authentic Chinese restaurants to go to for lunch.

Kirin is filled up with reservations.

We try the Shanghai River Restaurant near our hotel. It is also packed and they have an hour wait. Apparently everyone in Chinatown is eating out for mothers day. We walk around to a near by restaurant.

We walk further away from the hotel, and finally find an opening with a shorter wait: Parklane Chinese Restaurant.

We wait and wait, and talk to the non-Chinese people. It is definitely an authentic Chinese restaurant.

Finally! We get to sit down.

There is no question it is authentic. Just look at the menu!

Annica understands Chinese very well. Actually there are small subtitles in English.

Cheers!

We order:

Steamed BBQ Pork Bun
Steamed Spare Rib & Chinese Sausage on Rice

(no pics unfortunately)

Pan Fried Chiu Chow Rice Noodle Strip w/ Beef

Deep Fried Prawn Spring Roll

Deep Fried Prawn Ball (Special)

Deep Fried Squid

Steamed Prawn Rice Roll

Happy Mothers Day Mom!

After lunch, we head back to the hotel. We share some tearful goodbyes with each other. Mom and sis leave to hang out with Mario and see more of Vancouver. I have to pack and head out to the airport.

Reflections:

It was great to have the opportunity to say goodbye to Mark, Marcy, and Bonny before we left. It was great to meet Mario, and celebrate Mothers Day with mom eating authentic Chinese food. It was hard to say goodbye to mom and sis. Hint: I am a big cry baby :-). 

I resolve to make more money, and block more time, to go on more traveling adventures with them.

Expenses in US$: $256.91

$17.80: Port Taxes (Ms Noordam)

$37.50: Hotel Service Charge: Day 1 ($12.50 per person for 3, Ms. Noordam)

$201.61: Marriott - Vancouver Airport (Mom and Sis to stay overnight)

Lunch: My sister and Mario took care of.