Great Escapes 2019: Day 1 - Vancouver … with a side of cold and drizzle

Great Escape 2019 started today.  Best three weeks of our year.  The first destination was a day of scavenges in the beautiful city of Vancouver (who did not put her best foot forward, until mid-afternoon, when the cold spitting rain finally stopped and the sun peaked out.  Which was the reason for my “happy dance”).

For those of you who are new to this annual event: Rainey and I have done this trip every year for the past 12 years…YIKES… we really are getting old!!  Here are the competition rules of in summary form: Teams of two will compete for the next three weeks in an around-the-world scavenger hunt: picking up points for doing crazy stuff in 10 countries as we circumnavigate the globe. The kicker:  the competitors have no idea where we are going next until 4 hours before our flight.  It is a true Blind Date with the World!! When we land in a new country, each team gets a booklet of dozens and dozens of possible things to do, puzzles to decipher, clues to follow and adventures to be had.  The skill is in picking the best combination of scavenges to accomplish in the short time you are in that country, to get the most points, and win that leg. And all electronics are banned… no Google-ing, no internet research, can’t even talk to the concierge at the hotel… you must walk out and stop strangers on the street and ask for help. The competition raises money for charity, so you have the time of your life while also doing good.

The 2019 event started last night with a Bon Voyage party and then today we scavenged in Vancouver.  Rainey and I walked 8.5 miles and finished 18 different scavenges…. So here are just the highlights:

Photograph safari of street art… my favorite piece

Had to visit a funky shoe shop to find the most expensive pair… $1,000 for these black and gold boots – YIKES – Has Canada not heard of Payless?

Steam clock in Gastown which really does work solely by steam (from underground). I was fascinated. 

Chinatown to visit the Chinese gardens… serene … even in the rain and cold.

Had to find our Chinese Zodiac signs... only to be sternly informed that the Horse (me) is completely incompatible with the Rat (Rainey).  Time to call it quits then?? .....But Booth is so cute.

Went out to Granville island to the Public Market. I love markets and this one is exceptionally nice... bustling, odd assortment of booths, that unique mix of smells (from stinky fish to pickle juice to freshly baked brownies)

Olympic cauldron from 2010 Winter games … which must have been impressive when all of the columns were lit up with the Olympic flame.

Weird eats for today: Japadog.  That’s right: the best of the Far East smeared onto a hot dog.  That’s seaweed and wasabi mayonnaise.  Actually, sort of YUM!

Observation #1:  You know you need a hobby when you have the spare time in your life to shop for, buy - and then put on - tiny rain shoes onto each foot of your dog. Really?

Observation #2:  Shrines found below a bridge … Vancouver homeless have a lot of more talent and creativity than Houston homeless, that's for sure. Creepy in some ways, but compelling and mesmerizing in others. 

And last, the line-up of our fellow travelers, so you know who we are traveling with.  As you can see, this event is highly addictive.  More than half the teams are repeat offenders.  I don't blame them. There is nothing like it. 

SLO Folks: Tom and Paula – The worthy winners from last year.  They are a fun couple from San Luis Obispo and we’ve enjoyed being with them on two prior events. 

The Retired Traveling Chicks - Kim and Maria - are back!!  This is their third time, so it was great to see them again.  They are both retired - and ardent travelers - with the best stories from amazing places around the world (Kim is a retired police detective and Maria was an interpreter).  They just finished up a Habitat for Humanity build in Uganda (I know.... very cool).

Ying 2.0:  Alan and his daughter Emory.  Alan competed (and won) two years ago with his eldest, Sidney.  He is back this year with his other daughter to show her the world. I have known Alan for forever. Fun fact… Alan worked for me when he was in college and I had just opened my own law firm. Unlike me, Alan has not aged a day since then.

The Fillies: Barbara is another repeater (her third time) and she is with a long-time friend this time.  Barbara teamed up with my Mom one year ... so she knows the ropes.

Margo Polos:  The last repeat competitor – Margo –  is back with someone she never met before.  Karen is a travel writer and journalist.

Order and Chaos: Sal and Vivian.  They are both doctors (head & neck surgeon and ER doctor) from the California Bay area. I'm betting they are going to be a tough team to beat.

Transformed Goddesses:  Two strangers: one from Washington, DC and  the other from Alabama (could there be any two more different areas in the country?) meet for the first time and set off around the world: Meet Tamara and Amy.

Nexus:  Michael and Ali from Kingston, Canada.  Ali is an urban planner for the city.

Team Lazy Monday: Eric and Kathryn.  Another California team, this time from Palo Alto. Eric is in the tech field (naturally).

NEXT DESTINATION:  We just found out... we are heading to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. So 20+ hours of travel from now... we will be in Saigon.  Stay tuned.