Vancouver, BC

Around the corner from the Airbnb is The Breaka Cafe.  A 24 hour bakery serving all the treats you could want for breakfast.  We picked up some items for a to go breakfast, including a much desired sausage roll, on our way to our walk a mile down the road to the Hyatt.

Here, we caught the free shuttle up to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.  I have been here before and successfully crossed the bridge in 2007, but my fear of heights wouldn't allow me to do it today.  Yet I watched the rest of the family cross with no problems whatsoever.  The park itself is beautiful.  The canyon is so green with trees and the Capilano River flows freely underneath.  On the other side of the bridge are elevated walkways through the forest.  I know this from the last trip here.  But today I got about 15 feet onto the bridge and turned back.  I really hate this fear of heights.  It's so irrational, and once I'm away from it, I can normalize everything that should and does happen.  But then there is a part of my brain that will physically stop me moving.  I literally cannot move forward any further.  While I wanted to push through, my immediate thought was what if I made it to the other side, but couldn't get back.  So I stayed while the other 3 spent their time on the other side.  The park has World Cup fever with soccer themed photo ops and flags of all the countries playing in Vancouver.  When they returned they did help me do the Cliffside Walk.  This was not here last time and harrowing 10 minute experience which I enjoyed only in hindsight.

DLB&M, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver, BC

A quick Uber down the hill got us to The Shipyards in North Vancouver.  A had read there was a World Cup watch party there, and with Canada playing in Toronto today, we thought it would be a good spot to watch the hosts play Bosnia and Herzegovina.  We were right!  Under the cover of a large roof, the giant outdoor screen area was packed with Canadians, and the atmosphere was electric.  You couldn't help but want them to win.  While Bosnia went ahead early, Canada did come back to draw the match at 1-1.  By the time the game was ending, it was well past lunch time, so we went and ate at Nook, right behind the big screen.  Pasta, pizza, a salad and a sandwich was well enjoyed by the family.

A 5 minute walk takes us to the ferry terminal, and we arrived only moments before the next one left, so we jumped aboard and enjoyed the 20 minute ride across the harbour.  The boys and I walked the couple of blocks to Harbour Tower, while A went for a quick walk on her own.  The boys rode the glass elevator to the observation deck, while I relaxed outside.  When the came back from their adventures, A was already back, and I was given my early Father's Day gift.  A had found an Aussie jersey in a sports store and bought it for me to wear tomorrow night.  Obviously I love it and can't wait to be one of the many tomorrow night to be cheering on the Soccerooos.

The Shipyards Crowd for Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Vancouver, BC

We went into Gastown, to see the clock.  I also picked up a Vancouver shirt for myself at a tourist shop.  Afterwards we headed back towards the Airbnb, via Granville Street again.  Now the Aussies are out in force.  They are everywhere!  This is going to be a big turnout tomorrow.  Every minute closer gets better and better.  We stop at the FIFA store (or was it basically a Ronaldo shirt store) and L picked himself up a bucket hat.

Me & A, Outside Vancouver Art Museum, Vancouver, BC

It was important for the family to watch the USA tonight (obviously), so went looking for somewhere to watch it.  Unable to stay at the The Fountainhead because the boys are too young, we stopped and sat outside at Cazba, an awesome Persian restaurant that had a tv out on its patio.  The food here was amazing.  we shared a hummus to start that was to die for, and I ate the best steak sandwich I'd had for a long time.  The boys both had chicken dishes and stews, which were just as good, and A's salad with shrimp was a hit.  We sat here, on a beautiful night and watched the US cruise to a 4-1 win over Paraguay.  Day 2 was possibly bigger than day 1.