Nearly every year since 1995, Anne and I visit Vancouver, always staying at The Westin Bayshore Hotel. I believe this was our 18th visit and we had a wonderful time, one of our best.
One of the aspects we enjoy the most is that since about 1997, we have been close to Rossette Escalambre, the Executive Assistant to the General Manager and she always takes wonderful care of us. GM's come and go but Rossette is always with us and effectively she runs that hotel.
Rossette has also taken great care of Uncle Gene and Aunt El and selected the bridal suite for our son Kevin when he and Melody arrived for their honeymoon in 2001.
One former GM, Mark Andrew, we have also remained close to over the years. He is very capable and personable and now runs a major Washington, DC area hotel.
And we have gotten to know by first name some of the hotel staff and they have gotten to know us. One of those people is Te Yeo, a Vietnam Boat Person whose dramatic escape and survival I had the honor of publishing a few years ago on Sane Ramblings. Te has been at The Bayshore for over 33 years and we always get together with her to catch up on each other's lives.
Anne and I do a variety of activities from walking in Stanley Park and on the Sea Wall, to a harbor boat excursion, to shopping on Robson Street (in my case to buy the foods I like from Whole Foods and Safeway).
Rossette also has the chef prepare vegetarian dishes I enjoy and Anne and I have dinner each night in our room overlooking the dramatic views that are a part of Vancouver and of ships, boats, little sea planes and of rowers coming and going.
But what I most enjoy are the people.
One of the highlights for us each year is getting together with Rossette for a breakfast in the beautiful hotel dining room, courtesy of the hotel through Rossette. We then catch up on family activities and share stories, which we thoroughly enjoy.
With so much joy, those five days passed quickly and as we do almost every year, we plan to visit again next year.
Dick
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