November 19, 2001
The Ugly Swan

Location: Vancouver, BC

So again I have woken up early.

Yesterday: woke up, lay about in the room a bit, then Mena suggested a bike ride through Stanley Park, as the weather was clear (though cold). So we walked over to Denman St, first eating some Mongolian BBQ so we wouldn't be hungry, then rented bikes at Bayshore Bicycles. Followed Alberni St into the park, then started riding around the seawall.

We stopped at the totem poles for some pictures etc. then continued on. Some annoying little kid was going really slowly on his bike and he got in Mena's way and she almost fell. These four people, of which this kid (about 11 years old) was one, were like our shadows the entire way round the park.

We continued on past Lions Gate bridge and over to Third Beach, where we stopped and bought some ice cream. Hot chocolate might have been a better choice, as it was very cold, particularly on our hands as we rode.

While stopped the annoying little kid rode up on his bike, along with his little crew. He started whining and crying about something or other, and he kept saying something in some other language that sounded like "Bagobile". Whatever that means. He said it like 100 times. It was kind of pathetic.

There was an Augie-like seagull standing by us while we ate our ice cream; twice he made this horrible seagull sound to scare us away. But he failed.

There was also a Golden Retriever retrieving a stick from the water, and a funny little dog in a sweater.

We continued on our bikes past Second Beach and rode along the beach at English Bay, almost to Burrard Bridge. Then turned around and headed past Lost Lagoon, where we stopped to look at the ducks and marvel at the swans. Where I made known my feelings about swans, which is that I think they're kind of ugly--sure, they're graceful from afar, but close up they have a weird bump above their beaks (these did, at least) and also big out-of-proportion feet. I prefer ducks.

Then we rode back to the bike shop, dropped off our bikes, and walked back to our hotel (very tired). Watched Empire Strikes Back.

We had dinner at Zin in the hotel (had a coupon). Prawn fritters with coleslaw and chipotle ketchup, pan-seared salmon with potatoes and dill and a beet vinaigrette (me), mushroom canneloni (Mena), and a side of sweet potato fries. For dessert, banana spring rolls with coconut ice cream and guava puree.

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