“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” ~ St. Augustine

I was so excited!  It was my first real trip and I had to have a passport!  Granted it was only to Canada for a day but hey it counted.  I was getting to go with my boyfriend (who would soon become my fiancé) and his maternal family on a cruise to Alaska up the Inside Passage.  We spent a lovely day being shown about the city, seeing historical sights, doing a little shopping, and eating at Granville Island.  I was surprised at how modern the city was and delighted to discover totem poles along the heavily forested Stanley Park.  We would spend the night at The Pan Pacific Hotel before boarding our ship the next day.  A beautiful hotel overlooking the harbor, our dinner was magical, surrounded by a glassed in bird’s eye view of it all.  The next morning we got to dine outside while the gulls’ eyes prettily begged for pickings.  As someone who has grown up landlocked, I found them fascinating to watch as they gracefully swooped down to catch crumbs.  Vancouver’s cruise ship port was impressive — even a novice like me could tell.  And so we would embark on one of the best trips I have had the good fortune to take.  We were ready to set sail!