3/21/08 Day 1, Part 3: Air Canada Jazz to Vancouver International Airport, Debit issues with Canada Budget

Friday, 21 March 2008 - Day 1, Part 3 - Vancouver, British Columbia
It’s been an interesting angle the last leg of my journey to Vancouver. I boarded the Air Canada Jass city hopper jet flight … which was only a 1/2 hour long. The plane was too small to dock with the terminal, so you had to walk down the steps out into the cold, meander your way around to the plane out on the runway. The typical roller/duffel bag carry-on wouldn’t fit in the overhead since the plane was too small. But there was a onflight-check cart before you climbed the metal stairs up to the aircraft. Cramped, yet comfortable (somehow), very friendly staff, and great service - it was a 1/2 hour flight, and even included beverages. Before long I was at the Vancouver International Airport which was high-tech in parts and Euro-style in others. Customs wasn’t bad going through, but had the all-too-familiar European style setup and processing into Canada. Staff was friendly and courtious as was the border agents. Luggage was extremely quick and efficient to receive. However, biggest issue I had with the Vancouver terminal, was finding car rentals. Seemed like I walked through quite a maze dragging my luggage up and around when it could have been a cross-the-hall kind of connection. Then my affordably booked reservation with Canada Budget Rent-a-car was blocked as they required Credit Cards. “Real” credit cards as they explained. They would not take American “debit cards with Visa or Mastercard logos” because they weren’t “real” credit cards. The only car rental agency according to them that would, was Alamo. Travellers I suggest you remember that with British Columbia. Apparently they claim, even though an American company, are a franchise and they utilize a different debit system. So I was unable to rent a car. Public transportation was easy however to get on the city bus, $3.75 from Airport to downtown. Quick and efficient. Friendly. In fact, I didn’t have exact Canadian change, and the bus driver gave me a free ride, saying “Merry Xmas”.

Air Canada Jazz Seattle, Washington to Vancouver, British Columbia
Operated by Air Canada, partnered with United Airlines. This plane is a small city-hopper jet and when I emphasize small, I mean small. Too small to dock with the terminal, so as the Air Canada flight arrived, I walked down the catwalk stairs, out onto the runway around the baggage carts and up the stairs to the Air Canada Jet, very small, my carry-on didn’t fit in the overhead, but was able to half-scrunch under the seat. It was tight, friendly, and like an airline out of the past. I haven’t been on one of these city-hoppers for ages. Even though it was only a 1/2 hour flight, they still served beverages. Crazy. Very pleasant staff anyhow. They were on top-of-it with the customs forms and gave them as you boarded the flight. Luggage arrived quickly and efficiently, fastest luggage delivery I’ve experienced in my travels, that was impressive. Even though it was cramped, I enjoyed the flight. Rating 3.75 stars out of 5 (for city-hopper jet experience) .. flown 3/21/08.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) * http://www.yvr.ca/ * Richmond / Vancouver, British Columbia
YVR is Canada’s second busiest airport, with some 16.9 million passengers (including same plane transit), approximately 222,900 tonnes of cargo and 270,000 take-offs and landings in 2006. It’s also currently being billed as Canada’s portal to the 2010 Olympics. One of the most state-of-the-art airports I’ve been to, its one of my favorites. I don’t care much for the location and handlings of the rental car agencies, and the fact that wifi isn’t free, but its comfortable, speedy, high-tech, and great service. International Customs is a breezeway - especially from Canada into the US. Very professional and making the whole process a smooth transition. Rating 5 stars out of 5. Visited 3/21/08; 3/31/08.

Greetings! 3-21-08 Travelogue: Denver to Vancouver, Day 1, Part 1 - United, DIA

Friday, 21 March 2008
Manitou Springs - Denver Colorado

Travelogue: Day 1 - Part I: Manitou Springs - Denver, Colorado

Greetings … I am the new Editor for Wanderwords as well as a frequent poster to this column from ages past. Every now and then, when I take trips, I’ll be posting a installment piece on my adventures to various places. This time, for the next 12 days, from Colorado to Vancouver, British Columbia; as I am enroute to the SAA’s Annual Conference (Society of American Archaeology) being held in Vancouver, B.C. from March 26-30th.

What a fast pace world we live in. Speeding from point to point, destination to destination. I enter the bee swarm today in the millions of travellers today who are escaping for what common man would call “Easter Weekend”, and others call “Equinox Weekend”. The differences is simply religious and astrological focus, and seldom do the holidays collide and fall on the exact same weekend. I usually get to mix mine with early Spring Breakers but today the holidays mix, which quite reasonably, share exact roots in origin and commonality, but have differences of focus in belief.

It’s a beautiful day today … skies are clear and the moon was full. I awoke at 4 am, last minute packing of my frame backback, travel bag, and laptop bag - and out into the chilly and desolate streets of Manitou Springs, Colorado. I work full time as an Archaeologist for the Government and on the side, I have a little gift boutique in Manitou Springs. I travel alot. This is one of the reasons I was offered editorship for this blog.

I do like leaving this early as the work traffic is not yet on the roads and traffic is next to non-existent. A smooth drive to Denver awaited me. Of course just as I started to enter Denver, i was met with commuters, so I took the Toll road to the airport - $6 sucks in toll fees, but it cut out traffic and the roads were bare again. Parked and boarded the parking shuttle to the terminal. It was jam-packed with sleepy-headed yet eager tourists. Dropped off at the DIA terminal that looks like a series of white teepees inter-connected, i made my way up to the United Airlines check-in kiosks. There was a humongous line, but only lasted 15 - 20 minutes for check-in. For some reason, I couldn’t e-check last night on my computer, as there was some issue with the ticket. Same thing happened at the kiosk - it had me call a representative, and that rep was clue-less, everything seemed fine. Still had to track down an agent for a manual check-in. Goddess knows, I hope my luggage gets to Canada. Making my way to the gate, I had a little time to chill for breakfast and a quick internet check. I’m on my way to Vancouver! A city I adore, that I consider home, and is the heart of where my friends and family reside on this planet. It’s been too long since my last visit.

It dawned on me how many people lug-around big bulky suitcases. You rarely see backpacks. What’s up with that. If you really want hands free travel, get a frame-backpack and use that for your check-in. Have a small roller duffel bag that converts from Duffel to roller for your carry-on. With how often there is luggage delays and lost luggage these days, especially with the fact that they take the time to inspect everyone’s luggage, there is always delays. I couldn’t advise more to travellers to carry at least 2 changes of clothes in your carry-on just in case.

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Washington DC Conference Center

Washington Convention Center (Washington, D.C.)
801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W. • Washington, DC 20001 * phone: 1-800-368-9000 / 202-249-3000 * http://www.dcconvention.com/
Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, inbetween the historic museums, the White House, and Chinatown, its surrounded by many restaurants, entertainment, and attractions. Has well over 2.3 million square feet of space, equipped with the latest technology, and home to nationally branded dining outlets such as Wolfgang Puck’s, Quiznos and Starbucks, its a multi-floored, multi-roomed convention center ready to meet any conference needs. I attended this plush conference center during the ESRI Federal User’s GIS conferences in 2007 and 2008. Rating : 5 stars out of 5. Visited 01/09-11/2007. 02/20-22/2008.

Renaissance Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Renaissance Hotel
Original Review: http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=60
999 9th Street, NW, Washington DC 20001-4427 * 202-289-0947 *
http://www.renaissancehotels.com
In the heart of Washington D.C. - between the White House and the Capital, opposite the Washington Convention Center, near Chinatown, Smithsonian, Museum of Modern Art - stands the Renaissance Hotel, a contemporary, 16-story hotel with over 800 guest rooms, 13 suites, and 156 rooms in a dedicated Renaissance Club Tower. 10,000 sq ft fitness center, indoor swimming/lap pool, state of the art exercise equipment, steam room, aerobics classes, massage. Florentine restaurant, Presidents Sports Bar, Lobby Bar, Starbucks in hotel lobby. Meeting and Banquet facilities. Very elegant hotel, nice comfortable rooms, and a bed so comfortable it’ll coaxe you to sleep. At $188/night, this hotel is curtailed to the rich - they charge $9.99 for internet service (noon to noon, not 24 hours unless you start the service at noon), no complimentary breakfast or amenities (unless you are a premiere tower club member), and you pay for everything extra. In my opinion, hotels like that are a rip-off. But if your rich, and are looking for places to throw your money away at, here’s your place - its comfy, elegant, friendly staff, clean rooms, and a place for the elite. Rating: 3 stars out of 5. (unless you’re wealthy with $$ to blow, then 5 out of 5) Visited 1/8-11/2007. Re-visited 2/20-23/2008 (They also charge a deposit of $100 for incidentals. What incidentals? the $5.00 bottled water on the table? the pay-per-view movies? Geez. ) Location is good however. Great views from the upper floors.

Washington Dulles Airport (Washington, D.C)

Washington Dulles Airport
just outside Washington, D.C.
Dulles International Airport
Washington, DC 20041 * (703) 661-8357 * http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/
History and Development: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Dulles_International_Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD, ICAO: KIAD, FAA LID: IAD) is one of Washington D.C.’s international airports. It is named after John Foster Dulles the former U.S. Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower and was built in 1962. It is located 25 miles from downtown D.C. Dulles hosts between 1,800-2,000 flights a day and is the second busiest trans-Atlantic gateway on the Eastern Seaboard. Clean and beautifully styled, it is one of the nation’s nicest and cleanest airports. The airport takes up 11,000 acres and is on the border between Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia. The airport sits atop the former unincorporated community of Willard which was torn down in 1958 to make room for Dulles. Roads, stores, and schools were demolished for the building of the runways. Dulles is the home to the famous airplane crashes of TWA Flight 514 that crashed into Mount Weather in December 1974; A 1994 crash of a Mexican air carrier TAESA; and the infamous flight from Dulles - American Airlines Flight 77 that was crashed into the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks. It is also the setting of several movies such as the 1964 film Seven Days in May and Die Hard 2: Die Harder as well as the films Airport 1975, Airport ‘77, The Concorde: Airport ‘79, The Hunt for Red October, and various X-Files episodes, an episode of The Simpsons, and Need for Speed: Underground 2. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

The Orient Land Trust, Villa Grove, Colorado

The Orient Land Trust a.k.a. “Valley View Hot Springs”
info@olt.org, olt.org * PO Box 65, Villa Grove, CO 81155-0065 * 719.256.4315 * 9 am - 10 pm. Open to the public 7 days a week - closed December 1st - 28th.
This fantastic Land trust is dedicated to the preservation of natural resources, wildlife habitat, open space, historic and geologic features of the northern San Luis Valley for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The OLT protects a humongous bat colony, hot springs, alternative energy use, and is well known for its high altitude dark skies for astronomy, exposed active geological fault, limestone caves, numerous trails, historic buildings, town sites at an abandoned iron mine, and a working ranch. The OLT is a naturist community (clothing optional) with 24 hour access to the hotsprings when camping or renting their rustic lodging cabins. They limit the number of visitors based on space availability and environmental impact. For current pictures and views … visit their web site, linked above. The entire grounds are clothing optional - while the majority of the guests tend to swim and soak without swimsuits, there is no pressure either way. The OLT welcomes a diverse clientele of couples, singles, and families from all walks of life - children are always welcome, though require supervision. They offer camping and cabins, their indoor lodging have heat and electricity, though there are no telephones, clocks, radios, or tvs in any of the rooms. All of the ponds and pools are outdoors - there are no private pools or hot tubs - there are four natural ponds with temperatures ranging in the 90’s, an 80′ long spring-fed swimming pool (no chlorine) in the high 80’s, and a heated hot pool around 105 degrees. Our visit to this fantastic resort was over the weekend of 11/10-11/11. A must visit for any hot springs or naturalist enthusiast. Rating 5 stars out of 5.

Salsarita’s Fresh Catina, Austin, Texas

Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina
504B Trinity St. Austin, TX 78701 * (512) 436-2739 tel
A relatively new Tex-Mex Chipotle’s-like fresh, organic, and healthy alternative cafeteria near 6th street in downtown Austin. Selections from tacos, large burritos, Fajitas, and salads are available … with options even for grilled shrimp and getting a ‘wet’ burrito. Mmmm mmmm good. Free wireless for computer geeks too. 4 stars out of 5.

Nosh (Berlin, Germany)

Nosh - Berlin
Pappelallee 77, 10437 Berlin, Germany * 030/44040397 * http://www.nosh-berlin.de/
A quaint outdoor/indoor cafe/restaurant/bar along Pappelallee. Full service bar, restaurant, and menu. Me and my friend stopped by one sunny afternoon, enjoying the sun, the drinks, and the food - as well as their free wifi - giving us an edge on finding our way around the city and contacting friends we were meeting up with. Good drinks, good food. I tried their Pad Thai. Quite nice. It’s definitely a place to relax, chat, and chill when walking along Pappelallee. Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Lette’me Sleep Hostel (Berlin, Germany)

Lette’m Sleep Hostel Right in the heart of the Prenzlauer Berg artistic section of Berlin, where cafes, restaurants, dives, clubs, and bars preside, is a typical bakpacker hostel with very spacious welcoming rooms furnished in light woods; a bright comfortable common room with cooking facilities and internet access; and two-bed rooms that even have living rooms and kitchenettes. Most rooms sleep up to six people. Baths and toilets are along the corridor, except the two-bed rooms which have their own. Central to just about everything, and a friendly staff. However, make sure you leave by check-out time, or they’ll get hasty with your departure. Lettestrasse 7, Berlin, Germany. Prenzlauer Allee stop. www.backpackers.de. 030-44-73-36-23. Rating 5 stars out of 5.

Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington

Pioneer Square
http://www.pioneersquare.org/. The heart of the city, where it all began. Thriving in history and many tales of times passed. This historic section of Seattle will enrich your spirit just from strolling past the historically preserved architecture that looms above you. There is over 20 blocks of Victorian Romanesque architecture, over 30 fine art galleries, and over 200 unique shoppes. In addition to coffee houses and restaurants, its also a section of Seattle’s thriving nightclubs - bringing entertainment to the city from the city’s birth. Rating: 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Visited 12/27/06.

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