Today was a day running around in circles trying to get a SIM card for Richard's ipad apparently only Canadian residence not overseas tourists can get prepaid SIM cards something to do with the different wavebands. Next resort was buying a GPS so we could find our way around Canada instead of using the 10 thousand maps we were given from CAA.

The young shop assistants in Vancouver are so helpful and courteous if they didn't know they went straight onto Google and gave us directions.

Did the rounds of the big Spencers Mall, London Drug Store and ended up at Futures for the GPS young Jarret advised us to get the Garmin 2555 series with livetime maps. He made it look so easy in the shop but when we tried to understand it at the hotel we got lost. Might understand it when we get to Halifax!!!

With my mobile seeing the battery was flat (you would be if you had been turned off since 24 July) we couldn't get a Canadian prepaid SIM card. Will try tomorrow, as we need a phone for emergencies and making reservations.

Seeing the laptop and I are not communicating with each other I thought it best to buy a Microsoft Windows 8 & Office 2013 for Dummies from this gorgeous young guy at Chapters (what a lovely name for a Bookshop).

Had a turkey sandwich, apple (which are in supply at Reception and no need to buy) and coffee in our hotel unit before we ventured out again down Davie Street. It's a couple of streets away and this is where the locals do all their shopping. Davie Street goes all the way down to English Bay Beach where there will be a big Fireworks night on Wednesday starting at 10pm. It is the start of the Gay Festival and the Mardi Gras Parade we will miss as it is on Saturday. What a pity seeing there were a lot of gorgeous looking guys in Davie Street.

Time has flown and the day is nearly ending. We found Leah's Safeway where she shops joined the Saveway Club to get the discounts on items we bought. All these clubs are great to join saving us a lot of money on food and the stores are all over Canada.

Checked out the Laundromat (only one washing machine and dryer) at the hotel and met the lovely Maintenance Man (old hippie from the 60's). He calls me the microwave lady, as I am the only tourist he has met that cooks meals in the microwave. I have it down to a pat now with the times for breakfast and dinner.

Time to register the GPS on the laptop and download the map updates. Wish me luck hope the laptop is in a good mood and I do it right.