The day with a lot of travel and time shifts

 Thursday 6th Feb 2025

So... finally off to the Invictus games in Vancouver. The bit of flying I hate is the build up before getting on the plane. Nerves set in, and headaches start to build, even though I know when on the plane all will be fine. I don't dislike flying, the take off and landing is the best bit, its the actual flight itself that's boring. A bit like a long drive, you just want to get there.
I'm heading first to Amsterdam. I'm getting lazy in my older age and travelling to London for a direct flight no longer appeals much. So a quick trip along the motorway to Southampton Airport, flight to Amsterdam and then on from there.

Of course the plane is delayed, what else do I expect. I have a tight turnaround at Amsterdam so fingers crossed all works out OK to get me to my connecting flight in time.

After my last minute packing I always hope I've remembered everything. I guess as long as I have my passport and some money, the rest is sortable.

So the next adventure in the list begins.
My 3rd Invictus Games, this time in Vancouver, with winter sports for the first time being included at Whistler. Hoping I can get up there to see some of it, or even just to experience the atmosphere.

A quick snack of an oatmeal cookie and  glass of water, while taking advantage of in flight charging for my phone. Only a short hop, but every little helps, as they say.
Looking out of the window it's a very alien landscape being above the clouds. I wonder what the underside of these very fluffy, pillowy looking clouds is like.

Landed at Amsterdam and had a long bus ride from the plane round the edge of the terminal buildings to get to where we needed to be. A long walk from there to find the departure gate for the next section of the flight to Vancouver.  

The Netherlands Invictus team with family and coaches was waiting to get on the same flight. As I got on the plane I spoke to a lady who was travelling with her husband who was competing in some of the winter sports, for the first time. What an experience for a first go at snow sports.

We took off a little later than scheduled and with a 9 hr 15min flight ahead we set off. Not long after we were treated to a bottle of water, a refreshing towel and some earphones for the in flight entertainment.
Then food arrived, chicken ratatouille with rice and some tapas bits (stuffed tomato, what looked like taramasalata and some pickled onions) with a roll and a chunk of cheese. Washed down with my first beer of the trip, a Heineken zero (which I managed to spill over me when I knocked the tray, doh!!!)

According to my phone its now 3.30pm at home and 7.30 am in Vancouver so we're in limbo. They've dimmed the lights and people are sleeping. Not sure whether to join in or not, there's still 6 hours to go and while I'm tired, I'd rather not sleep and upset my sleeping pattern so early on. So, games and writing it is.
I did watch my first movie "Juror number 2", had seen it advertised a lot. Quite a thought provoking film.

Sat next to a girl from Tel Aviv, who is studying in Vancouver, she says it's a lovely place to visit but living there I think she finds it, much like most other places, that people are so busy working they forget to enjoy life.

People starting to stir, so must mean food's imminent, yup a sarnie (not quite sure what's in it, seems like a cross between pesto and falafel), and a bottle of water. Looking out the window, there are no clouds and below it's either snow or a mass of sea ice. The map says we are over Greenland and still have 4 1/2 hours to go. Spoke too soon, back into the clouds again.

Couldn't decide on a 2nd film to watch so have gone for a bit of music, can't beat a bit of George Michael 😀

OK so decided to watch Barbie, just to pass some time, weird film.

We then got served more food, pizza, choc mousse. Think I'm all fooded out now.

After they cleared the trays away, I realise my reading glasses were missing. Bugger, so one of the crew went through the bin for me to check. Didn't find anything. No idea where else they would have been, so I guess first stop is to find some ready readers. 😞 at least it wasn't my expensive prescription glasses. Though at least I can wear those and take them off to read. Unlike my contact lenses where I definitely need reading glasses. Now why didnt I think about bringing spares just in case? Doh!!
Reminds me of when I went to Rio paralympics and the only glasses I took were tinted readers. I managed to find some readers in the lost property box that kept me going while I was there as tinted readers were a little dark to use indoors. If only I was better prepared eh?

So arriving in Vancouver, decided to stay on the plane after most had left to check again if the glasses were on the floor. My very lovely seating companion found them where they must have fallen out of my pocket and gone under the panelling at the side of the plane. So hurrah! All was saved.

Once off the plane, headed through passport control, all on consoles, do-it-yourself, answer the questions and get a ticket to present. No passport stamping. Already had an e-visa linked to my passport, so they know I'm legal.  😀 

Collected the case and went through to arrivals where I signed up for the "lyft" travel app and booked a ride to the "suite" where I was to be staying. Lovely man with a Tesla, very smooth ride and all paid through the app via card so no money changes hands.

Arriving at the "hotel" I realised it's actually an apartment ( though I'm sure I knew that) For the 11 nights I'm here it'll be home sweet home. Kitchen (with fridge freezer, dishwasher, microwave and washing machine), seating area, bedroom, walk in shower, great views as I'm on the 20th floor. They're doing some work to help improve the place, so it was a bit noisy until they clocked off. Thankfully I'll be out during the day.
There's complimentary tea and coffee and toiletries with a housekeeping service if I want it, but it's on request.

Made myself a cup of tea and had a few crisps from the stash of food I brought with me, then charged my phone with a very sensible, universal, USB charging point. No need for travel adaptors with those.

My brain is a bit fried, I've a headache, but I'm thinking, maybe I should go and find a supermarket to get some bits to put in the fridge for breakfast. It'll stop me falling asleep at least.
Handily there's a "shoppers drug mart" just across the road and going out into the cold air certainly woke me up. There's a lot of snow on the ground but the pavements are mostly clear, so no slip worries. Didn't plan to go far, so passed a couple of eateries and drinking places, then headed into the mart to buy some bread, butter, cheese, ham, raspberries and cherry tomatoes, plus some jalapeño crisps. Stuff to keep me going for breakfast for a few days. Of course here, no beer for sale except in a "liquor store" so no sneaky beer for me tonight. It's fine, I'll cope 😉 I may though venture out tomorrow after my shift.

I'm not sure if  having been automatically given a "seniors discount" on some of the items is something i should grumble about or be pleased to have saved some money. I think I'll go with the latter.

It's 6.20pm here now (2.20am in the UK) I'm definitely going to be in bed by 9pm (5am)) here, but not planning to go earlier, should then be OK and on Vancouver time by morning when i need to collect my uniform ready for my first shift in the afternoon.
It's been a long day 😴  nice view though😉