After breakfast we get our bags packed up and head out to find our way up to Canada. We are hoping that the border crossing will not be too lengthy. The times we have crossed into Canada, it has been quite expeditious. It is usually getting back into the U.S. that is time-consuming.
But not today. Times for getting into Canada are posted some miles before the crossing. If we continue on I-5 the wait is half an hour, if we use an alternate, it is 10 minutes. Wisely, or so we think, we choose the shorter wait time. It takes more than an hour and we are questioned and a dog comes around to sniff our car. The only drugs we are likely to have with us might be to ease our creaky joints from sitting in the car for an extra hour!
After finding our way to Vancouver and negotiating the myriad roads closed for repaving or repair, we get to our digs for tonight and the next two nights, the West Coast Suites at University of British Columbia. We have opted for another apartment type set up and the University is a great setting. It is situated on a peninsula southwest of downtown and there is easy access to lots of great neighborhoods and parks.
Only downside is that there is no air conditioning! What, were they not expecting Americans to visit? And there are no screens. Amazingly the only problem we run into during our three night stay is the noise of wild animals attacking prey. It is lovely and cool and nary a bug flies into our room.
We decide to take some time to get ourselves sorted out and do some wash. We also want to investigate someplace to eat. While I am looking around the internet I find a restaurant that has won Vancouver Magazine’s 2016 restaurant of the year as well as many other accolades, Maenum, serving Thai cuisine. I love Thai cuisine! Since we have skipped lunch we make a reservation on the earlyish side .
amazing food night after night; transforming Vancouver’s dining scene
– Vancouver Magazine, Restaurant of the Year
Parking is an adventure. It is a combination of internet and phone. We call the number on the meter and we go through an extensive menu of punching in our license plate number and credit card so we can park. Then we walk the couple of blocks to Maenum and are only 10 minutes late. (I hate to be late.) But all is well and we are set for a culinary adventure.
We select the chef’s menu which consists of at least 6 small plates. It is only $45 Canadian and the wine pairing is $30 C. Wow, what a deal! And it is spectacular. Here is what we dine on –
There was also a coconut panna cotta which was also delicious but in my hurry to eat it I forget to take a picture. This was really a five star dinner. I am afraid that wherever we eat next will not be able to even come close.