] BELIEVE it was the immortal Robert Burns who wrote
the poem including the line, ‘‘To see ourselves as other sec

us ”

Normally, we have to subscribe
to a foreign travel publication to
get some idea how the rest of the
world views Canada in general and
Vancouver in particular.

However, today we all get a
chance to see our home — unfor-
tunately, mine included — through
the eyes of a British journalist.

Kevin Hasler is a reporter for
the Southern Evening Echo,
Southampton’s daily newspaper.

Kevin is spending a week visiting
us and viewing ‘‘Canader’’ for the
first time..We assured hirn that a
few hours spent in Toronto a few
years back didn’t count.

The first thing I discovered is
that it’s impossible to ‘‘interview’’
a journalist..Unless you put a sheet
of paper into a typewriter, they

become incoherent. ‘At least, so it’

is with Kevin. .”

Being persistent, I sat him down,
rolled some paper in the machine
and here’s the result: A Brit’s Eye
View ‘of Canada, Vancouver and
the McCreadie Household, By
Kevin Hasler.

“ New town and a new country.
So what is the first thing a guy
does? He goes to a bar. Probably
ithe best way to meet the Mc-
Creadie clan, after all.

arbura warned me about them
in Dako (Note: I met this young
man on a writer’s tour in Dakota a
few months ago. Naturally, I bring
home every eligible bachelor | meet
as any mother of unmarried
daughters will confirm.) I take no
notice‘ and- come to meet them
anyway.

The first few hours in Van-
couver are spent in a drunken haze
and a severe excess of rye. (Note: I
made the fatal error of introducing
Kevin to the family in the bar of
the North Shore Winter Club. He
discovered the taste of Canadian
rye and voted for it enthusiastical-

ly).

travel
wise
Barbara McCreadie

Being a poor Brit, I have to fly
to some God-forsaken town called
Bellingham, just south of the

border.

This is where I° meet the
youngest of the famed three
daughters. She is on crutches.
Wonderful. They are also accident
prone.

_Friday moraing, downtown
Vancouver: First impressions:
Canada’s answer to San Francisco,
without the AIDS paranoia that
had been so obvious just days be-
fore when I was visiting friends
there.

Friday night: Into the swing of
the McCreadies. by now. Quickly
learning that you have to be tough

to survive in this house. (Transla--

tion: British and Canadian humor
were on a collision course.) They
‘will rip the hell out of you at the
slightest excuse.

Saturday morning: Oldest
daughter lives and breathes horses.
All I Know, is that a horse has a
head and tail, and I know which
end to steer clear of.

We go to mect her horses. |

should have known better. I don’t ~

just meet them, ! have to brush
them, feed them apples and then,
at risk to my personal safety I ride

attraction

opens in

Jamaica

* THE GARDENS OF Carinosa, a unique visitor attraction, have opened ,

in the verdant hills overlooking ‘the Jamaican resort town of Ocho Rios.

Carinosa’s many exotic gardens are situated in a natural river gorge
~ with numerous waterfalls, lagoons and a rainforest aflame with plant
life. The grounds feature a formal garden walk with 200 varieties of col-
-orful orchids, a.myriad of multi-color hibiscus plants and over 30 dif-
ferent types of ferns.

> Cacti, lilies and other radiant flowers, most native to Jamaica, flourish
in Carinosa’s exquisitely designed landscape.

Carinosa also boasts a large walk-in aviary with over 200 birds (most

“indigenous species to Jamaica) set in their. natural environment.and a
pond for water fowl. A seawater aquarium of coral reets with over 1,000
tropical fish opened in September.

Yet another feature is a Hall of Master Crafts which showcases native
Jamaican art, as well as the istand’s rich tradition of such handicrafts as
pottery, woodcarvings, straw weavings, leatherwork and jewelry.

Once visitors have completed their tour, they can relax in picturesque
dining ‘alcoves set in a pond. Here, they can enjoy Jamaica's diverse.cu-
linary specialities including natural fruit juices, tropical ice creams, spiced
meats and delicate sauces, and world-famous Jamaican Coffee.

Carinosa is only a few minutes from the heart of Ocho Rios and its

cruise ship piers, and promises to be an important addition to this already . |

well-known resort area which also boasts Dunn’s River Falls, Shaw Park
Gardens and Green Grotto as natural attractions.

Admission to Carinosa is U.S. $12.50 per person, half price for
children 12 and under. The price includes a walking and photo tour
(which lasts cver an hour) plus tropical drinks.

Visitors may stay after the tour to enjoy dining in the Gardens Restau-
vant of Carinosa. -

a pregnant mare, bareback. What
the hell, I'll try anything once.

Meanwhile, back in Britain,
we're having the worst storm in
300 years. Here, the sun is shining
and I’m having my freeloading in-
stincts pretty well catered to.
(Note: I had no idea just how
much a wiry Brit can demolish in
the way of food and drink!)

Sunday: Up to Whistler. This is
a beautiful country. Show me a
mountain and I am in heaven.
Vancouver is the first major city
{’ve visited where you can get from
the sea to the hills so quickly. That
includes every capital in Europe.

Just jump in the car and go.

Talking of cars, it is embarrass-
ing still when I go to get in the car
to drive off and am opening the
passenger door.

This is still the Commonwealth
so you would have thought they
could have followed the mother
country and driven on the proper
side of-the road.

I have yet to hit anyone so
things are looking A-OK, so far.
(Note: Since our young guest is
driving my eldest daughter’s car,
things better stay that way. She has
an awesome temper.)

Monday: Downtown. They
warned me about Granville Street,
the drug pushers and the hookers.
No one offered me anything ~— I
must be losing my touch or getting
more respectable in my -old age.
(Note: I question the respectability
of the writer. Assume his first idea
stands).

Vancouver is completely dif-
ferent to the big city towers of
Toronto. The combination of sea
and mountains with big-city
benefits to boot makes this a
special place.

If I were offered a job here |
would jump at, it. The way they
have ‘been launching into our
beloved Mrs. Thatcher the
newspapers is just wonderful to
read.

, Helen’ S Tours
‘n'- Travel

“| 838-8687
‘988-1882
deave name & phone number)
p “BC, TRAVEL At REG. M1443 &
A Everyone Welcome. We specialize §
‘ ’ in Seniors & Group Tours }

November 14
SEATTLE DAY TRIP
"Includes Old Ci
underground tour 00

December 12-13-20
CHRISTMAS LIGHT TOUR
3 ~=s Includes buffet dinner. Fantasy §
f Garden's Tow. Christmas Yard
A displays. All of above for $27.00 pp. g
y Yes, ! will be having our annual &
“MAS LI TOUR
with dinner included.
At Chateau Victoria Hotel
4 Day Christmas Package
: Dec, 23rd thru Dec. 26th :
DAY 1 Welcome Pasty & Dinner in Panot E

R House

W DAY 2 Special Attactions Passes Chef's

i Special Breaktast & Dinner and

enjoy Christmas Festivities |

N DAY 3 Christmas Day ~ Dec. 25 :

i -Surprise trom Sania. Brunch and Full #

in Scale Sumptuous Christmas Dinner. §

iy DAY 4 Farewell Breaktast belore retuming #f

, home on BC. Ferry. S

ALL THIS FERRY AND BUS INCLUSIVE
$350 PER PERS. DBL. OCC

B $425 PER PERS. SIN OCC

& Book soon as these fours sell out early #

NORTH VANCOUVER:
Pickup Point: Bus-stop at
INTERNATIONAL
PLAZA HOTEL

@ PHHOSOHOTFSHSHHSSSHHHDSHSHSHAOIASEHOIOOSSHSOFSOHOOPOEHOHOSOHOOSHOSHOCHCOH9EOC8009208800O098E90 880000006

3t - Sunday, October 25, 1987 - North Shore News

ARE YOU PLANNING
A VACATION TO THE
SOUTH PACIFIC?

Our Travel Consultant Ms.
Susan Scott recently
completed an extensive
training program in the:
South Pacific. She will be.
pleased to help you plan
your trip to the South
Pacific, including World
Expo 88 in Australia.

Anyhow, they feed the sharks at
Stanley Park in two hours so it’s
off to brave the traffic, wrong side
and all, and just hope to God they
don’t feed them Brit tourists for
breakfast.

Perhaps Kevin's visit to Canader
is a bit different to the average
British tourist. 1 can only hope he
doesn’t go home writing travel
pieces on our poor country, based
on a week with the McCreadies.

Careers in Travel
We can open the door to the
exciting world of travel for YOU

DAY AND EVENING COURSES

conducted by Industry professionals
In

TRAVEL COUNSELLING
SALES & MARKETING
RESERVEC COMPUTERS

with on-site installations

TRAVEL TRAINING CENTRE

St. 2.1583 Pamberton Ave.
North Vancouver, 938-2221

Ms Susan Scott
Lynn Valley Centre
Phone

984-4545

9009000600006 000005 00002006 9900090000

are’s more ple

©
9
©
es.
2
9

réair Holidays| chage

What have we got that's going to give you so much pleasure this fail and -
winter?.., We've got holiday packsges wrapped up with everything you could hope
for under the sun, including great value.

Waroair Houpays now brirgs you a wider sange of exciting new destinations;
quality hotels, always hand-picked: a Wanpair Crass™ flight aboard wide-bodied
jets: helpful Warnain Houipays representatives at all destinations plus any holidays
come wrapped up with “Added Value” bonus offers.

You'll get more pleasure out of a Waroain Houorys package because we doa lot”

mare to please you.
Mazatlan S550
5679

Aa NTS
from

$499 =

4ANts
from

$569 =

TNS
trom

TAS
from

Svevocbscocccsccocescvceecceccces

6Nts
from

4SNTS
from

4GNtS
from

S6NtS
from

OUTRIGGER HOBRON
Ni
Barbados fom
_ _ PRICES ARE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE .
OCCUPANCY. DEPARTURES FROM VANCOUVER, .

BLUEHORIZON..........
THE SMALL PRINT —F5 Warder Peghts 28 747 OC-10.0 Ad00 Prices and departure dates shower arp those weliecton

LAS PALMAS HOTEL
Puerto Vallarta
PLAYADEORO....
iLebe AS NS
Waikiki, Oahu $625 « from {789
ons .
Puerto Plata ism " $G QO tc 1099
VILLAS DORADAS... .
is ants
ands onatt® AAG * $4529
IMERICANA OCHO RIOS. .
date of pubscstian and ate subyect ta change unthout note Prices of land protucts muy vary dependt.2 an due of Iravel dutaon end
hotel selected and ate pet perion bated on double aceupaney and in Canadun dollars Alot weciuded i the price are hotel taxes ang
Matece charge, suport tarestsetvace chasges where apphcable. meats gratutees and other ptrvonal expenses SOME FLIGHTS OR
HOTELS (£1C ) MAY BE SOLD OUT Coriult your (rave sgent and sppkcable brochure lor Aeght svaatekty and complete (erm ac
condita The Charterer Warder Holdays Inc a an athhated company of Warden Canada inc

Wardair Holidays

6008960066006

ROSEWAY TRAVEL,

#106-100 Park Royal South, West Vancouver

Maln Plaza, Black Tower

- 926-4344

909 OO SHOGSCRETCHOHOHNEHOSCOBHOOGS soccccecovessose

$ 0000000000000000800000 600060000000 00 8 ceneccoucoeescoeosecoes