I was so not looking forward to yesterday's flight back to Vancouver mainly due to the 7 plus hour stop-over. As it turned out, it was not as bad as the last, automated entry would indicate. Coming from an International destination, after going through customs, one must pick up one's checked bags and re-submit them. After doing that, we just followed the signs for ground transport.
A few years back on a few week trip in Arizona and California, we noticed that work was underway in downtown Phoenix. Light rail was being built. We found out that the free airport shuttle will take one to the 44th Street / Washington Station. (We still noted construction on a rail replacement for the bus shuttles which looks quite complete and might open soon. It will allow a short walk over to the station in the future.)
We rode to downtown Phoenix. Even adding our $3.50 cost for 1-day tickets, we ate at a subway at substantial savings over what'd be available in the Sky Harbor airport. I love the yellow sun of Phoenix. The day couldn't have been better with temperatures of 78 degrees and a light breeze. We rode to both ends of the line but checked back in just an hour and a half before our 8:00 pm departure.
Still we didn't get in the apartment until 1:30 am here in New Westminster.
