Vancouver - Day 2

 23 July, 2026

A full and wonderful day!

We started out in search of breakfast. Who would have thought a Thursday morning would have been so busy? The first couple of places we tried quoted extensive waits and no options for coffee while we waited. Our ultimate destination was still highly recommended, and there was a coffee shop just around the corner, so we could begin our morning caffeination ritual while we waited for our table.

The weather was spectacular - especially after suffering through 90+ degree days with humidity levels you could slice with a knife in North Carolina. We were having a nice chat on the patio, enjoying our coffees, when a fire alarm activated. Suddenly our quiet and cozy wait was joined by a couple of hundred office workers, unceremoniously ejected from their desks by a cacophony of sirens and buzzers.

Cafe Medina

After checking our watches, and realizing we hadn't received a notice that our table was ready (long after it should have been) we packed up and made our way back to the restaurant. Investigation with the hostess revealed that another "Jeff" with a party of four had claimed our spot in the queue, walking up just as our slot became available. The hostess apologized profusely and we were seated immediately.

Café Medina (neither funky nor cold) is a bustling venue, considered the "original" Vancouver brunch destination, and renowned for their Belgian Waffles. The menu borders on the eclectic, but modifications are happily managed (I can't speak for substitutions, as we tend to avoid them unless they're offered, or mandated by a dietary restriction.) Service was on-par with our expectations, and the food was spectacular. Our table covered everything from waffles (have to try the specialty) and avocado toast to the Cassoulet. There were a couple of cocktails consumed, and, of course, plenty of coffee. We didn't linger over our table, as a healthy waiting list was standing by and we had places to go and things to see.

Our first destination was Granville Island, which has a variety of what can be generally described as "everything." Food, specialty boutiques, produce markets, craft stores, instrument makers, art galleries, and street vendors are all well represented. The ever-present trinket shops are available, but if you want to get a more useful souvenir there are plentiful options to choose from. We strolled along from shop to shop, ultimately headed for donuts (because brunch was at least an hour prior, and we had to get in some pre-cruise conditioning.) After small purchases at a yarn shop (or two) and a music store filled with local hand-made items, we paused to listen to a street musician and do a bit of people-watching. We arrived at Lee's Donuts and found a bit of a queue, which appeared to be fast-moving. If you're looking for the same donuts you'll find at your local chain establishment then you may be headed for disappointment. Lee's leans heavily on local and regional influences, with the base being a honey glaze as opposed to the typical simple-sugar glaze found in franchise shops. Filled variations on offer tend to be cyclical, specialty recipes - targeted by many customers - seem to be more consistent. Regardless of your choice, prepare for  deliciousness. We each chose a donut, and since a half-dozen made more economic sense than four singles, Jeff and I selected two. (We're walking it off, after all!) After we polished off our donuts we browsed a bit more before grabbing another Uber to head over to Stanley Park.

Stanley Park is the home of a collection of Pacific Northwest Totem Poles which are the most frequently visited tourist site in British Columbia. The collection began in 1920, with the purchase of poles from different areas. Over the years many original poles have been returned to their origins and what we see on display are replicas. The authentic poles have been carefully preserved and maintained over the years.

If you're visiting on your own, keep an eye out for tour buses, and try to be flexible. Buses will show up, purge their contents onto the park, and almost as quickly, disappear.  Your patience will be rewarded with better photo opportunities and easier access to the restrooms and gift shop. The area benefits from pleasant breezes, thanks to being on a point that projects into Vancouver Harbor. Seaplane traffic is plentiful, as are steady helicopter transits to the outlying islands - any aviation buff can be entertained well beyond the attention span of their companions.

Having logged more than our allocated steps for the day, we summoned yet another Uber for a ride back to our AirBnB. After unloading our purchases we worked on re-packing suitcases in anticipation of our move to the ship the next morning. This proved to be perfectly manageable, leaving a bit of time for relaxation and recharging before our dinner reservation.

Tonight our reservation is three blocks south of where we ate last night. Spoiler alert - I'd stay in this neighborhood again just to be close to these restaurants. Blue Water Cafe is an excellent choice if you're looking for good seafood. Service was spectacular, with one caveat - when the check was paid our server quickly adopted the attitude of "You're done - now leave." This was communicated without nuance or apology. After spending $100 per person on an amazing dinner, this was a bit abrupt and enough to avoid this server should I ever return. Our cocktails were innovative, delicate in flavor, and delicious. The selection of appetizer specials approached overwhelming - I opted for the trio of bluefin tuna nigiri, one portion each of Akami, Chutoro, and Otoro - and I don't regret my choice at all. The three cuts were simultaneously complimentary and contrasting, forming a culinary delight. For an entree two of us selected the Arctic Char, one chose steak and the other scallops. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their entrees without a single point of complaint.