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Well Hallo.
Sorry to the loyal readers that i have not been able to post for a bit, but with family and work obligations there has been little 'me' time as of late.
Most recently I have been traveling a bit. The first trip was to Vancouver for a board meeting that I hold a volunteer position with through my work. I was pretty pumped to get the opportunity to travel to the left coast as I have never been before. And although i hate all the rigamarole that goes along with traveling by plane anywhere the excitement to check out another part of Canada took precedent over my typical travel crankiness.
Even though there would not be a ton of time to do some sight seeing, i would at least get a chance to maybe meet up with a friend or two and try some food that does not exist in the Nish.
So Monday of last week my journey started.
I drove up to Halifax and stayed the night at a hotel close to the airport as i had a rediculously early flight on Tuesday morning and the thought of having to drive 2 hours before even getting on a plane was not giving me the happy feels.
This was an excellent decision and one that I would do again as it really simplified my usual level of stress with traveling. Understand I am not a nervous flier, far from it, i hate all the crap you have to go through with kiosks, baggage people, security machines, gate people, cramped seats, over head storage, getting to connections or baggage claim/baggage roulette, taxis, hotel room readiness, and really the list goes on.
So a quick pop over to the baggage check in, a little issue with the reader on the self deposit baggage thingy, but not a biggie.
Of course i got dinged to go into the circular xray thingy, but i prefer that to the pat down and fondle.
Up the stairs, short wait and off we went.
Flight to TO was uneventful aside from the disaster that Jurassic World was that Chris Pratt couldnt even save it from itself.
So far so good, short wait in Toronto and then off to Vancouver.
So a couple things. I am a big dude. So i get the exit row when i book flights. On this particular flight the exit row was massive, which is great for leg room, but the wall of the plane pouffed in, in a weird way and was pushing me into the chair beside me. So this guy and I were fighting over pole position on the arm rest for 4 hours. Brutal.
I know I know, #thirdworldprobs but he didnt speak any english and would give me these hateful looks everytime i shifted on the arm rest and would try to take up more territory. It was like the yakuza vs. the irish mafia fighting over turf. Luckily we hit some turbulence and he slid off so the Irish moved in for the win.
Landed safe and off the plane, baggage was a little slow, 45minutes before a bag came down the shoot, but mine was there so BINGO!
At this point it is 11am in Vancouver but it feels like 3pm for me and i have been up for 12 hours so far.
Hope in a cab and off to the hotel, ride in was uneventful aside from the huge homes and cloud covered mountains.
First impression, Vancouver is awesome.
First impression of the hotel, this would have been awesome in the 80's. Not that it is old or dirty or anything like that, it is just a little dated in terms of the architecture.
Greeted by a happy hotel staffer, plus, unfortunately the room isnt ready, which was a blessing in disguise. I am trying to keep awake so i dont get too effed up with the time change.
So off for a walk of the neighbourhood. Couple liquor stores handy, two or three cigar shops - NIOCE - and pretty much any ethic food you would ever want. I am in my happy place.
Get back to the hotel, and BINGO, my room is ready.
It is now around 2pm ( 6pm for me and 15 hours awake).
Off to the pool to keep this party going.
Now the pool, well, its a little creepy.
It is in the lower parking garage, and the walls are painted a dark purple and black so it feels cave-ish.
There is one dude doing a water check dressed all in grey, who does not say hello or look up when i give a ' how she goin'.
Did the math on the shorter length of the pool and a 1500m swim will be 100 lengths. So away I go.
The week ended up like this:
Monday: 5km run
Tuesday: 1500m swim
Wednesday: 5km run and 5km bike ride
Thursday: 1500m swim
Friday: off
Saturday: a lot of walking
Sunday: off
This dude would also scare the crap outta me on Tuesday morning as there was no one in the pool area one minute, then the next breath he was standing over where i was swimming. I did a short scream under water and then started to swim in the middle of the pool, if this dude was going to SwimFan me, then he was going to have to get wet to do it.
Monday night, met up with the gang for a taste sensation: the Legendary Noodle House. This place was so freaking awesome. All the dishes we had looked amazing and were so GUD.
Sorry to the loyal readers that i have not been able to post for a bit, but with family and work obligations there has been little 'me' time as of late.
Most recently I have been traveling a bit. The first trip was to Vancouver for a board meeting that I hold a volunteer position with through my work. I was pretty pumped to get the opportunity to travel to the left coast as I have never been before. And although i hate all the rigamarole that goes along with traveling by plane anywhere the excitement to check out another part of Canada took precedent over my typical travel crankiness.
Even though there would not be a ton of time to do some sight seeing, i would at least get a chance to maybe meet up with a friend or two and try some food that does not exist in the Nish.
So Monday of last week my journey started.
I drove up to Halifax and stayed the night at a hotel close to the airport as i had a rediculously early flight on Tuesday morning and the thought of having to drive 2 hours before even getting on a plane was not giving me the happy feels.
This was an excellent decision and one that I would do again as it really simplified my usual level of stress with traveling. Understand I am not a nervous flier, far from it, i hate all the crap you have to go through with kiosks, baggage people, security machines, gate people, cramped seats, over head storage, getting to connections or baggage claim/baggage roulette, taxis, hotel room readiness, and really the list goes on.
So a quick pop over to the baggage check in, a little issue with the reader on the self deposit baggage thingy, but not a biggie.
Of course i got dinged to go into the circular xray thingy, but i prefer that to the pat down and fondle.
Up the stairs, short wait and off we went.
Flight to TO was uneventful aside from the disaster that Jurassic World was that Chris Pratt couldnt even save it from itself.
So far so good, short wait in Toronto and then off to Vancouver.
So a couple things. I am a big dude. So i get the exit row when i book flights. On this particular flight the exit row was massive, which is great for leg room, but the wall of the plane pouffed in, in a weird way and was pushing me into the chair beside me. So this guy and I were fighting over pole position on the arm rest for 4 hours. Brutal.
I know I know, #thirdworldprobs but he didnt speak any english and would give me these hateful looks everytime i shifted on the arm rest and would try to take up more territory. It was like the yakuza vs. the irish mafia fighting over turf. Luckily we hit some turbulence and he slid off so the Irish moved in for the win.
Landed safe and off the plane, baggage was a little slow, 45minutes before a bag came down the shoot, but mine was there so BINGO!
At this point it is 11am in Vancouver but it feels like 3pm for me and i have been up for 12 hours so far.
Hope in a cab and off to the hotel, ride in was uneventful aside from the huge homes and cloud covered mountains.
First impression, Vancouver is awesome.
First impression of the hotel, this would have been awesome in the 80's. Not that it is old or dirty or anything like that, it is just a little dated in terms of the architecture.
Greeted by a happy hotel staffer, plus, unfortunately the room isnt ready, which was a blessing in disguise. I am trying to keep awake so i dont get too effed up with the time change.
So off for a walk of the neighbourhood. Couple liquor stores handy, two or three cigar shops - NIOCE - and pretty much any ethic food you would ever want. I am in my happy place.
Get back to the hotel, and BINGO, my room is ready.
It is now around 2pm ( 6pm for me and 15 hours awake).
Off to the pool to keep this party going.
Now the pool, well, its a little creepy.
It is in the lower parking garage, and the walls are painted a dark purple and black so it feels cave-ish.
There is one dude doing a water check dressed all in grey, who does not say hello or look up when i give a ' how she goin'.
Did the math on the shorter length of the pool and a 1500m swim will be 100 lengths. So away I go.
The week ended up like this:
Monday: 5km run
Tuesday: 1500m swim
Wednesday: 5km run and 5km bike ride
Thursday: 1500m swim
Friday: off
Saturday: a lot of walking
Sunday: off
This dude would also scare the crap outta me on Tuesday morning as there was no one in the pool area one minute, then the next breath he was standing over where i was swimming. I did a short scream under water and then started to swim in the middle of the pool, if this dude was going to SwimFan me, then he was going to have to get wet to do it.
Monday night, met up with the gang for a taste sensation: the Legendary Noodle House. This place was so freaking awesome. All the dishes we had looked amazing and were so GUD.
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I mean look at those dumpling, noodles, peashoot goodness. I cannot wait to go back here in May.
So we finish dinner and its 9pm so 1am for me and 22 hours awake.
I say my goodnights and I am off to my bed. I had a serious awesome sleep which is rare for me in a hotel, but was so ready for it.
The rest of the week was filled with more great restaurants, a meet up with a former friend and coworker as pictured above. We had some awesome catch up chats about our fellow former coworkers and some great laughs about some of the shananigans from back then.
My meetings also went really well and a lot of work got done, so YAY Team!
It was time for me to get back headed East for my next adventure, but a #cigarSunday was earned and I couldnt wait to have it in a really special, new to me location. But more on that in the #cigarSunday post soon to come.
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan
So we finish dinner and its 9pm so 1am for me and 22 hours awake.
I say my goodnights and I am off to my bed. I had a serious awesome sleep which is rare for me in a hotel, but was so ready for it.
The rest of the week was filled with more great restaurants, a meet up with a former friend and coworker as pictured above. We had some awesome catch up chats about our fellow former coworkers and some great laughs about some of the shananigans from back then.
My meetings also went really well and a lot of work got done, so YAY Team!
It was time for me to get back headed East for my next adventure, but a #cigarSunday was earned and I couldnt wait to have it in a really special, new to me location. But more on that in the #cigarSunday post soon to come.
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan
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