Sad News

 We have some beary sad news. Gramma passed away and we are all beary sad. She was the best Gramma to this little bear. She always stocked salmon, baked yummy treats, sewed me excellent outfits (and knitted this sweater!) and welcomed any and all stuffie pals. RIP Gramma.

Exploring Tsawwassen

 Alright... we are in Tsawwassen... prounounced Sawassen... Not T-sawassen... and it's beary hard to spell too... Anyhow... we are in that bit just north of Point Roberts (which is in WA state) - a little nubbin of USA territory just south of the 49th parallel... We came here... to the southern tip of English Bluff Road because... the border is right here. The longest undefended border in the world. A border between friendly nations (or so we thought).

Those people walking are Americans. We are Canadians...

Yep.... that road over there is in the USA... their border patrol people drive by occasionally.

This orange sign says Canada on the right and USA on the left... but the actual physical border is just a bit more over to the left.

See that stone monument? That sits smack dab on the border... So we could scooch along the hedge and still be in Canada but we were a bit freaked out that we would cross the border and alarms would ring soooo we stayed safely in Canada.

See that grey box... there's a trail camera in there... in case we get too close... we waved... but no one came.

This was all on Boxing Day 2024... how times have changed.

And no... not the 51st anything. Hmph.

Anyhow... we are burning off some time while we wait to catch the ferry...

See... it's over there! The Tsawwassen ferry terminal...

We learned that there is a huge cable that goes under the Salish Sea from here... cool.

It supplies electricity to the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. Nifty!

When we left this park, we drove to the ferry but got stuck in Boxing Day traffic around the huge outlet mall... ugh!!!! We thought we had plenty of buffer time but it go sucked up by traffic. Luckily, we made our ferry!

Christmas in Vancouver

Merry Christmas!!! This was a weird Christmas... we celebrated it in a hotel in Vancouver, the day after arriving back from Mexico... 

The hotel had a fancy Christmas display... but no Santa!

It also had... **gasp** a Starbucks in the lobby!!! That, of course, played absolutely no role in choosing this particular hotel (heh-heh).

I should have brought my Santa outfit... I could have been Santa!

Ah well... I am also a bit under-dressed but...

It's only fake snow here!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas...

Relaxing in Mexico

 Ahhh... this is so nice! 

But it's a hard job relaxing by the pool, drinking pina coladas and reading books!

So I wandered around... the Christmas tree has turtle decorations! Akumal means "Bay of Turtles"... and they are out there in the sea grass!

The iguanas are out in full force...

The food is yummy too... that's a crepe with Nutella!! We took the picture to show Rose...

But then... we got some sad news. Gramma had been admitted to the hospital! She was in for a few days and then came out and then... two days later, fell at home and was readmitted. Luckily Auntie Pam went up after the first admission so was there when Gramma fell... So most of the vacation was spent close to wifi so we could stay in touch... I was able to request lots of hot chocolate (with Baileys for Mama)...

Our flight back left on December 24, so we enjoyed the time we had...

It's beary pretty here...

And we would love to come back again...

I didn't even get to try the fondue thingie!!!

Of course, the requisite sombrero picture at the airport...

And a late arrival into Vancouver!

Arriving in Mexico

 Alrightee!! We were up at 3:30 am or something ridiculous... to drive to the long-term parking at the airport to catch a shuttle to then get checked in at 5 am... ugh! This little bear is beary tired.

But there's our plane!

We are boarding soon... I am going to sleep the entire way I think!

And... here we are on the shuttle in Cancun!!

But we are sitting waiting... for some other people...

It's about a 2 hr shuttle ride...  I might nap the whole way!

But... we made it!! Dropped the bags and headed for the buffet...

Saying "Hello" to the little resort mascot cat along the way...

And finally... a comfy bed!

It's decorated for Christmas down here! 

And I am ready to work on my suntan!

Although it is a tad cloudy today...

Still... beautiful and the sun does come out every once in a while..

The next day... it was sunnier and we found a sand turtle!

With a beautiful view of the sunrise...

Today is definitely a suntan day!

And a cerveza day...

It's so relaxing here... and the moon is so bright!

Time for bed...

Mexico Bound!

 Hullo!!! Guess what... we are going on vacation!! Yep...

To Mexico!!! And yes... in December...

Lots has been going on... we'll talk later...

Alright... first... get packed...

And... we are driving over to Vancouver!!!

Taking the ferry!! This is exciting!!!

I can literally count on two paws the number of times we have taken the car on the ferry to the mainland.

Right... and we are on the ferry... now we just need to remember... what deck and what staircase...

Hah! We saw this sign and thought... yep.. that's us!

Although it is sunny... it is still December and a bit brisk! Especially on the shady side of the ferry...

Let's go around to the sunny side...

That's a bit better!

Bye!!!

OK... now this was a weird thing... an upside down Christmas tree... stuck to the ceiling? I guess it won't tip over if it gets choppy but... it's a bit weird!

We are getting close to Horseshoe Bay!!

Can you guess who we might see in Vancouver??

Yep... it's Rose!!!

Their tree is a stuffie dream!

Lot's of little wildlife animals on the tree... a racoon...

An otter...

A mouse...

A bear! Of course...

A squirrel...

A fox...

And a rabbit... to name, just a few!

Oh, Hi kitties!!! 

Luna is friendly... Phoenix less so...

But we didn't stay at Rose's... but headed for a hotel near the airport because we have a beary early start tomorrow!