Special Rates, Things to do in Vancouver Rain & Eastern Europe!

What's happening at the Bee & Thistle? Well, we're into our eighth month of operating our guest house and are finally going to hand our little fledgling business over to a very reliable Innkeeper to manage for a month while we cram a few things into a backpack or suitcase and head off to Eastern Europe (we're excited!). That was the whole point of quitting our "regular" jobs and moving into a fun business like innkeeping, after all! We did picture ourselves meeting charming people, cooking wonderful food and having lots of time to explore our wonderful city and spend quality time with our children & grandchildren. Well, NOT (except for the charming people, of course - they are the best part!!)! We were warned ahead that this is a 24/7 kind of business but no one really knows how all consuming it is until they actually do it for a few weeks. However, it's still great fun and we wouldn't change it for the world! But we do need a rest and therefore are looking forward to a few weeks of R&R. We do feel, however, that the guest house is impossible for one person to manage single-handed and still provide our rather substantial breakfasts so, in our absence, we will be offering a simple breakfast of yummy fresh-out-of-the-oven, and of course home made, scones or muffins, plus tea or coffee. In exchange for the light breakfast, we have reduced our rates for the period. If you're looking for cheap accommodation in Vancouver, this is your opportunity! Our Florence & Molly Rooms will be $125 per night, the Ivy Room will be $150 per night, and the Lions' Loft $175 per night, all plus tax and based on double occupancy. Fall is coming and it has been known to rain in Vancouver during the Fall season (oh, really!?), but there are still lots of great reasons to come to Vancouver in the Fall and no end of things to do, even in the rain! Check out Tourism's website for some great ideas: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/things_to_do/events/calendar_of_events. For sports fans, the BC Lions football season doesn't end until November, and the Vancouver Canucks hockey season is gearing up for the first game on October 9th. Check out the hockey schedule @http://canucks.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm. Or for a cultural experience, Bard on the Beach at Vanier Park is a wonderful afternoon or evening out and performances continue until September 25th. See http://www.bardonthebeach.org/ for the schedule. And, of course, dining is always a favorite pass time in Vancouver. There are lots of websites with restaurant and food suggestions, but here is one to get you started: http://www.foodvancouver.com/.
Finally, we have been very busy meeting wonderful guests from around the world and have had no time to plan our vacation, other than a flight that puts us in to Prague in the middle of September and another that brings us back out of Budapest in October. If anyone has any suggestions for "must see" sights (especially out of the way, less touristy), or a great itinerary that includes Croatia and Slovenia, we would love to hear them! Also, hotel and restaurant recommendations will be gladly received.