Many of you know that I am a member of a world wide women’s group.  Each year we have get togethers, or “gatherings” in different parts of the world. This year I was fortunate enough to attend one of these gatherings in Vancouver, Canada.

What a party!!

There were 25 of us from 10 different countries, plus of course the local ladies from Vancouver, travelling from Sea to Sky and seeing and loving it all. The YWCA in downtown Vancouver was a perfect location and hotel for us to stay in as it had such a homely welcoming feel.  We had fantastic welcome and good bye parties where we had the best fun including one evening with a delightful Royal Mounted Canadian Police lady.

We walked across suspension bridges and enjoyed several gondola rides; we visited huge waterfalls and glorious gardens.  And spent time in a mine museum, toured Vancouver city, went on boat rides around the magnificent harbour, and learned about their First National people and their cultures and enjoyed a picnic lunch of their traditional food in Stanley Park.

We had a night and day in Whistler Mountain where we had the most fabulous night, walking to 6 different restaurants for a progressive dinner.

We had dinner in Stanley Park and then enjoyed Theatre of the Stars performance of “Mama Mia”.  We had a fantastic night at Nat Bailey Stadium where we watched a real baseball game and enjoyed traditional ball game bbq for dinner which was followed by fireworks which were far beyond our expectations.

Judy Lam, a local historian gave us a great Tour of Chinatown followed by a dim sum lunch. We were invited into little back rooms behind “secret doors” where the locals meet up and play mahjong

We explored Granville Island Public Markets which hands down was one of my favourite places in Vancouver.

Our grand finale night was “Celebration of Light” Dinner Cruise which included a buffet dinner, an amazing fireworks show on the harbour and lots of dancing. It was very apparent that the rest of the cruise guests who were sitting and watching the 5W ladies up dancing, laughing and loving life, were wishing that they were a 5W member.

All of this was thanks to the local ladies who live in Vancouver who worked for at least a year to put on this most fabulous gathering.    

I had the time of my life.