OUR siblings’ (7 of us) two-week Vancouver Sojourn to celebrate our Nanay’s 94th birthday brought us to interesting destinations from the city to the rivers and to the mountains. We were welcomed by Vancouver City a-bloom with white and pink cherry blossoms when we arrived. These trees were gifts from the Japanese government and blooms in spring for a few weeks. And we were lucky to enjoy the elusive sun. Rains and extremely cold weather slowed us down as the days progressed. But we were determined to have fun. Except for the summer months of July and August, the rest of the year is rainy in Vancouver.
My brother, Max, prepared a very organized daily itinerary. We started with downtown Vancouver. This included historic places like the Gastown or the original settlement, Chinatown, the totem poles in Stanley Park and the Canada Place—Canada’s national icon, and hub of activities, which also houses Vancouver Convention Centre. The picturesque white sails of the building have made it a prominent landmark of the city. Connecting to the centre of the West Building is Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is the largest luxury hotel management company in North America. This Canadian brand of hospitality has several Fairmont Hotels in Vancouver and my brother, Max Arambulo, who holds a key position in this luxurious hotel group, pointed out the iconic properties while we were doing a road tour of Vancouver. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is a century old building dominating the downtown skyline while Fairmont Hotel Waterfront and Fairmont Hotel Pacific Rim are located close to the Vancouver Convention Centre at the Canada Place overlooking a beautiful harbor where a Seabus ferries passengers to the Northern side of Vancouver. The harbor reminded us so much of Hongkong’s fragrant harbor where the Star Ferry transports passengers from Kowloon to Hongkong side.
Max promised us that Brunch in Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel was in our itinerary. Our group was personally welcomed by no less than the Hotel Manager, Mr. Rudolf Gimmi, who gave us a very extensive tour of the this luxurious 5-star hotel before a much anticipated brunch at the hotel’s Oru that serves food of the Pacific Northwest with flavors of the Pacific Rim. Brunch is popular on weekends so diners can indulge without the weekday rush. I must have checked out the buffet layout twice, taking in all the delightful array of breakfast fare. The choices for breads and pastries were all enticing. I carefully chose what appealed to me most and shared them. I loved the Sugar Bun filled with velvety, light cream, Almond Croissant, Raisin Scones, Assorted Fruit Tarts, Pain au Chocolat and Muffins. A small blackboard had scribbled choices for “Eggs Any Style”, “Build Your Own Omellete” and “Create Your Own Benedict”. I skipped all the sausages and hot dishes and went for the Eggs Benedict. The young food attendant moved with ease as he assembled the Eggs Benedict. He starts toasting half an English muffin, choice of topping (smoked salmon, Canadian bacon, crab with avocado or crispy pork belly), poached egg (I preferred mine medium with egg yolk half-cooked) and covers this with Hollandaise sauce. I must have refilled my cup with brewed coffee three times to wash down the delicious benedicts.
With our senses filled with awe and our appetites satisfied, we were all ready for another walking tour of the city that ended at the magnificent Cathedral of our Lady of the Holy Rosary for our anticipated Sunday Mass.