Early, Early Morning Arrivederci Vancouver Blues: Wednesday, April 30th

A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -Chinese Proverb 

Hi Giorgio!

You and Raymondo will certainly need to gird your loins on today's outing, given your stated riding predilections! See you at Maple Syrup over a Kale Sundae at 9:30 am! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Forgot to send this! Up at 1:05 am to do final packing. Had a great sleep from 10:30 pm till now. Took laptop to Admiral Barnacle. You are right, I might never see it again! More later! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Last night!

Hopped out of bed to find Cora Lee asleep on top of blow-up she'd readied for Grog in her study. Closed the door and made for the kitchen. No sign of Chloë so am glad my alarm did the trick. Zapped a mug of java and emptied dish washer before returning to our bedroom to finish packing. I had many of my clothes already in suitcase and knew which others I planned to take so didn't take too long before I had the bag to be checked-in ready to go. Cora Lee had asked me to wake her at 3:00 am but she woke of her own accord at 2:40 am and jumped in the shower. She had finished packing before going to sleep so she very little to do after she was dressed. 

While I took a quick shower, she made herself some tuna sandwiches on GF buns and then started worrying about Chloë! It was 3:20 am by this time and cab driver had phoned to say he was waiting outside. I had just put my laptop and other peripherals in the knapsack I was taking when she walked in the door. She had loaded her bags into taxi on way in, after parking “her” car so she helped her Mom with her bags and we were off!

Very pleasant driver and we had a quite a few laughs as we sped along almost deserted streets to YVR. Were at Departures by about 3:50 am and then we had to wait a considerable time in the line-up to use automated check-in kiosks. 

Chatted with a very interesting lady ahead of us who was from Columbia, before she came to live in Vancouver, seventeen years ago, when her two sons were attending university. Once they graduated they returned to Columbia but she stayed. She was returning to see her grandchildren and had been dropped off by her husband. We learned that he was a naval architect as well as a merchant marine captain, having sailed the largest of the large oil tankers most everywhere on the globe. He is now a port consultant and much in demand, given his impressive credentials. Apparently he was simply too busy running his eight businesses to be able to accompany her. 

He phoned while we were still waiting and she told us that he had said that he had started to miss her already and didn't know how he would be able to cope with her month's absence. Coriandre and Chloë liked him immediately, of course! Although I didn't voice it, the thought crossed my mind that he might be placing the call from his girlfriend's apartment. However, this undoubtedly says more about me than him, Dear Reader!

Once we dropped off our bags we went through Security and there was hardly any waiting. In fact, Chloë and I were through screening, (and I was wanded due to my hip insert), before Coriandre was through Nexus! (Learned later that she had to take off all her jewellery so that this slowed her down. As well there were quite few people not entitled to use Nexus in wrong queue so that impeded progress even more. Customs was almost as quick although our female officer kept grilling us about whether we were bringing in more than $10,000US as well as if we had any foodstuffs. 

Since I had packed a size-able lunch of overlefts I lied as I knew I wanted to enjoy my picnic en route. Chloë knew that I had carrots and cheese but she didn't realize that I had salad, (Thanks Coramandel!), and strawberries, (Thanks Joanne!), as well! Nevertheless, I was waved through and then headed for the Duty Free shops. Found out that we were each allowed to bring in three litres of hootch to Mexico! Dearly wish that the same was true for Canada! Ended up buying three malts: Abunadh, Jura and Lasanta. Will wait and see what malt situation is at resort. If we don't need any I'll bring them back.

Once we found our departure gate, Goils headed off to bathroom and I tucked into my salad. When they were back I strolled around for a few minutes and then it was time to board. 

Chloe Alexis Dunn with Corinne Durston and Patrick James Dunn at Vancouver International Airport

Yesterday at 04:05 · Richmond ·

Heading with the folks to a wedding in Mexico!!! Here we come!!!

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  Colleen Teahan Waldron Hasta de la vista baby 

  Patrick James Dunn Greetings from the Sunset Princess in Playa! Arrived around 4:30 pm. We were delayed at airport , (Some mix-up regarding transportation), so didn't reach resort until about 6:20 pm, and missed the Welcome Dinner planned by Nicole. It was a set menu and had already started so we just went to our rooms add unpacked/showered. Met the rest of the gang later in the Sports Bar so caught up with everyone there. Off to Playa tomorrow afternoon for Marivn's stag. We were supposed to have gone fishing but wind is too strong. Don't mind inasmuch as I want to explore Playa anyway. Cheers!

We were not sitting together. Chloë was a few rows ahead of us and Cora Lee and I were with a chap who had the window seat. I was in the middle and over the course of the flight we chatted. He retired from the US Army after twenty years of service. Now divorced, with grown children, he is currently living in Belize and cannot speak highly enough of country. Also learned that his girlfriend is Canadian and lives on Quadra Island! On their last visit they met in Cancun and after not sleeping much the last night together, she fell asleep immediately on finding her plane seat, headed back to Canada, he to Belize. When the crew could not wake her the plane, which was already taxiing to the runway, turned back to the terminal and she was escorted off! 

She was obviously “flagged” as on all subsequent flights since she has been scrutinized to the extent that all her belongings have been gone through in back rooms of the airports she happens to be travelling through! Ironically, most of the passengers were asleep on the first leg of our flight. I was myself as, after hearing the story, I asked if there had been the usual safety spiel. Of course I had missed it as I was fast asleep, as I assume, was Chloë. Guess we are just too, too trustworthy!

Muchas graphias: Dinner last evening was a wonderful treat. Great food. Great friends.  Great conversation.  So nice to meet Joanne. You are friends to cherish. I look forward to your summer visit. I hope you are enjoying Mexico.  Stay safe. Travel well. Much love to you both from both me and Jan.  

thanks Patrick;from vernasa on the banks of mother india.40 degrees ahee'from matt

Hello gentlemen! For those of you that don't know me, I'm Marvin's friend from high school and also one of the groomsmen at the wedding. I've been given the task of organizing the stag so here's my idea...

A Deep sea fishing charter that will include the following:
- All Fishing Equipment, License, and Bait
- Our Famous Catch-A-Fish GUARANTEE
- Expert English-Speaking Crew
- Free Beer, Soft Drinks, and Water
- Free Cleaning and Filleting
- Free Beach Club - Use of All Facilities

- Special Bonus - Cook Your Catch (some parts of the site say it's free some say it's $9) hummmm???

The cost will be around $100 each but I think it will be a great experience for everyone. Please add anyone else that isn't on this list. The more people that come the cheaper it will be.