We had decided already last night that I would visit UBC during the day and also join Vera’s class for the day, but I did not get up or leave with Fred & Vera as they left for work. Instead I waited a bit before getting up and getting ready. I also re-packed my bag to make sure everything would fit. Of course, that should not be a problem since I had not bought anything and had left the Kexchoklad stash with Vera. Later on I took the short walk down to UBC in a nice type of weather for Vancouver, a little bit on the chill side (above freezing) but sunny. I walked past the UBC golf course which looked nice and I got a little bit of an itch to try it. I walked through campus with a lot of apartment buildings which looked real nice. I got to the meeting place, Fred & Vera’s working place well in advance before Vera’s class so I got a coffee at Tim Horton’s and sat down to check my e-mail and other stuff. Here I decided to check in my flight for tomorrow and to make sure that I could check my luggage as well – since this could only be done on the airport or online 24 hours before the flight. To my surprise I needed my passport to check in… why? I don’t really know, but fortunately I had my passport information on other places since my passport was not with me for the day.
A little bit later I met up with Vera to join her class. This was interesting! Not only the class itself but also how kids behave nowadays in class. A lot of them were not paying attention and were chatting away on their laptops with all other stuff than the class. Fortunately Vera did a good job and some of the students were active and seemed like they wanted to learn. After the class we met up with Fred and I got to see their lab on 4th floor. Then we went for lunch at the Bean place (a coffee joint). A while later Vera and Fred left me and I sat down just surfing, doing stuff I had not been able to do for the last couple of days – no work though! 🙂
Me and Fred where to meet up and get back to the apartment since Vera had taken her bike (as usual) to work, so I went back to the Forestry department and waited a bit, but time took it’s toll and the weather was nice, so instead of waiting to take the bus I walked back to the apartment myself.
Later on we all three met and took the bus down to a very specific, a favourite of Fred & Vera, brewery – the 33 Acres Brewing Company. A real nice and small brewery tap room right in the centre of (whatever part of) town – 15 W 8th Ave, Vancouver. We all ordered their pizza which was produced in a food truck parked just outside the brewery, this was I think one of the best pizza’s I’ve ever had and it all had to do with the produce and specially the crust. I ordered a flight to be able to test as many brews as possible for the last night in Canada. At the end, we were all a little tired and drunk and headed home, me after having tasted Sunshine (Wit), Euphoria (Belgian triple), Nirvana (IPA), Ocean (West Coast Pale Ale), Echo (Session IPA), Onyx (Black IPA) and Cerise (Sour).
Before going back we headed for Whole Foods – for me to buy some fruits for the 6h long flight and for Fred to buy some coffee, as well for Vera to purchase some beverages on the liquor store close by. The Whole Foods was definitely a store that I would have used if I lived and worked in Canada – it was just awesome, even if a little bit pricey. Back in the apartment I fixed up the last couple of things for the early trip to Cancun.
I had an awesome time visiting Vera & Fred here in Vancouver and who knows, perhaps I’ll visit them again, late summer.