This is the best shot I got of a light display over downtown during the closing ceremony of the Olympics.
Sunday 28 February 2010
Downtown Lights
This is the best shot I got of a light display over downtown during the closing ceremony of the Olympics.
Saturday 27 February 2010
More Olympics ... uh ... pics
With only two days left, I wanted to capture more of what's going on around town, so this morning I bused in and did a lot of roving. I was on my way back by noon, by which time the streets were slowly filling up with crowds again, so I missed most of the congestion.
I started at the waterfront to see the cauldron. There was a bit of local furor earlier because, initially, hardly anyone could see it as the fencing was covered with the same banners that all the other fencing uses. After an outcry, however, the banners were removed, and now there's a few inches of gap, right at head height, between the chain link fencing and a new plexiglass fence above it.
These rings are often green, turning to gold when Canada wins a gold medal.
A street hockey game on Granville Street.
Goal! (You can just make out the bright orange ball in the goal box.)
This was set up on a corner of Robson Street on the way to the stadium.
Artwork inside the Vancouver Public Library, part of the Code arts festival.
Queue barriers and security checkpoints in front of BC Place stadium.
Bicycle police on the Cambie Bridge. Some entry closures have lightened traffic.
The Olympic Village. Wouldn't you know that Canada got the best real estate. In a few weeks these revert to (very expensive) condos.
Posing with Mounties in front of the Quebec pavilion.
Russian fans sing in front of Russia House (the converted Science World).
And here's the countdown clock for the next Winter Olympics.
It was great to walk around and see all the visitors. Most everyone on the street was wearing their country's colours. Of course, most were Canadian, but there were many others. It gave me a big grin. It was like watching a parade.
And to think there's only two days left. Tomorrow is the climax. At 12:15 there's the men's hockey finals, USA vs Canada. What an intense game that will be. The stakes are so high.
If Canada wins, it will be amazing. We've had quite a winning streak and it's been such a boost to our self-effacing citizenry. If we win, it couldn't have been written as a better story. First we lose to USA, then we have a slow comeback, and finally triumph over the team that earlier defeated us. It will be the ultimate underdog story. Ron Howard will make a movie of it. And, being Canadians, we'll be back to our meek selves within a week.
If Canada loses, fans will riot in the streets and burn the city to the ground. As the lone Yank in our office, I'll get beat up. The loss, combined with our dreary weather, and the exodus of everything exciting that's been happening in our city, will create thousands of new alcoholics. No one will go to work Monday.
But then there's the other climax, the closing ceremonies. Afterwards I'll pop outside with some neighbours to watch the fireworks and laser shows (and perhaps the fires set by rioters) from a nearby hilltop park.
And then it will all be over ...
I started at the waterfront to see the cauldron. There was a bit of local furor earlier because, initially, hardly anyone could see it as the fencing was covered with the same banners that all the other fencing uses. After an outcry, however, the banners were removed, and now there's a few inches of gap, right at head height, between the chain link fencing and a new plexiglass fence above it.
These rings are often green, turning to gold when Canada wins a gold medal.
A street hockey game on Granville Street.
Goal! (You can just make out the bright orange ball in the goal box.)
This was set up on a corner of Robson Street on the way to the stadium.
Artwork inside the Vancouver Public Library, part of the Code arts festival.
Queue barriers and security checkpoints in front of BC Place stadium.
Bicycle police on the Cambie Bridge. Some entry closures have lightened traffic.
The Olympic Village. Wouldn't you know that Canada got the best real estate. In a few weeks these revert to (very expensive) condos.
Posing with Mounties in front of the Quebec pavilion.
Russian fans sing in front of Russia House (the converted Science World).
And here's the countdown clock for the next Winter Olympics.
It was great to walk around and see all the visitors. Most everyone on the street was wearing their country's colours. Of course, most were Canadian, but there were many others. It gave me a big grin. It was like watching a parade.
And to think there's only two days left. Tomorrow is the climax. At 12:15 there's the men's hockey finals, USA vs Canada. What an intense game that will be. The stakes are so high.
If Canada wins, it will be amazing. We've had quite a winning streak and it's been such a boost to our self-effacing citizenry. If we win, it couldn't have been written as a better story. First we lose to USA, then we have a slow comeback, and finally triumph over the team that earlier defeated us. It will be the ultimate underdog story. Ron Howard will make a movie of it. And, being Canadians, we'll be back to our meek selves within a week.
If Canada loses, fans will riot in the streets and burn the city to the ground. As the lone Yank in our office, I'll get beat up. The loss, combined with our dreary weather, and the exodus of everything exciting that's been happening in our city, will create thousands of new alcoholics. No one will go to work Monday.
But then there's the other climax, the closing ceremonies. Afterwards I'll pop outside with some neighbours to watch the fireworks and laser shows (and perhaps the fires set by rioters) from a nearby hilltop park.
And then it will all be over ...
Friday 26 February 2010
Games
I've never been much of a sports fan but I've found myself getting into the games more than I would have thought. Whenever I see it - an hour at home in the evening, a few minutes on a screen in the store, a half hour over lunch at the pub - whatever is on is exciting.
At any time, you're seeing people's greatest moments happening, one after the other. I just watched Canada lose the gold to Sweden in women's curling by a single stone - they were perfectly tied. Every few minutes, someone's life is changed by a few millimeters, a couple of milliseconds. I'm surprised the the intensity - there's hardly ever a dull moment.
I'm also getting caught up in the spirit of the games. Especially watching them in a crowd. The energy is contagious.
It's also neat to see our city in this new light. To see live shots of crowds celebrating on familiar streets. To watch a game in an arena that's just down Hastings Street from our house. To see skiers and know that, if I went outside, I could see the same lights of Cypress. And our goalie is tending the latest games for Team Canada.
I recently read a neat analogy of how hosting the games is like Christmas. You dread its arrival and grumble about the preparations, but once it's on, you find yourself getting caught up in the spirit of it.
At any time, you're seeing people's greatest moments happening, one after the other. I just watched Canada lose the gold to Sweden in women's curling by a single stone - they were perfectly tied. Every few minutes, someone's life is changed by a few millimeters, a couple of milliseconds. I'm surprised the the intensity - there's hardly ever a dull moment.
I'm also getting caught up in the spirit of the games. Especially watching them in a crowd. The energy is contagious.
It's also neat to see our city in this new light. To see live shots of crowds celebrating on familiar streets. To watch a game in an arena that's just down Hastings Street from our house. To see skiers and know that, if I went outside, I could see the same lights of Cypress. And our goalie is tending the latest games for Team Canada.
I recently read a neat analogy of how hosting the games is like Christmas. You dread its arrival and grumble about the preparations, but once it's on, you find yourself getting caught up in the spirit of it.
Saturday 13 February 2010
Pictures from Downtown
Sarah and I went downtown to see some of the changes for the Olympics. There are lots of free shows and events being held around the city as part of the Cultural Olympiad.
Some of Granville Street was closed off to make space for artworks and activities.
These pieces have cutouts in the shapes of winter event athletes. Visitors are invited to fill the shapes by posing inside.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is temporary home to the Canada Pavilion. Many countries have set up hospitality houses around town, homes-away-from-home for visiting athletes, but also offering regional food and drink to the public.
Two ziplines were set up over Robson Square. Here two guys were squealing overhead with laughter.
The top floor of the Chapters bookstore offered a nice vantage.
From the SkyTrain ride back you can see temporary construction (white tents and a globe) to house festival events.
Science World has temporarily become "Russia House". Russia hosts the Winter Olympics in 2014.
Some of Granville Street was closed off to make space for artworks and activities.
These pieces have cutouts in the shapes of winter event athletes. Visitors are invited to fill the shapes by posing inside.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is temporary home to the Canada Pavilion. Many countries have set up hospitality houses around town, homes-away-from-home for visiting athletes, but also offering regional food and drink to the public.
Two ziplines were set up over Robson Square. Here two guys were squealing overhead with laughter.
The top floor of the Chapters bookstore offered a nice vantage.
From the SkyTrain ride back you can see temporary construction (white tents and a globe) to house festival events.
Science World has temporarily become "Russia House". Russia hosts the Winter Olympics in 2014.
Friday 12 February 2010
Ceremony
We're watching the Olympics opening ceremony. It's quite a spectacle.
There have been lots of adverts before the show, some quite cheesy, going on about Canada's quiet pride, that now is the time to be proud.
We're feeling quite a bit of pride. Though we're recent immigrants, we chose this country, and we're proud to be here.
Margo and Sarah were there in BC Place two nights ago watching the dress rehearsal, what we're now seeing on TV. So they're going on about what's happening next. Now and then I have to shush them. Apparently most (all?) of the participants were there, including Prime Minister Harper.
The aboriginal welcome was nice. I teared up a bit.
Now there's the country-by-country entrance. Time for a break.
Margo says the actual athletes weren't there two nights ago; VANOC volunteers took their place.
I'm having some Canadian beers tonight. I'm working through a "Fin du Monde" from Unibroue. A bit of a poot slipped out and Margo and Sarah have chastised me thoroughly.
Georgia gets a standing ovation. Very honourable.
Great Britain. Our last home. Hmmm, who do we cheer for?
Margo is ogling the Italian men. Hmmm.
If there were an Olympics for bothering your dad, I'd say Sarah would get at least a bronze. I mentioned this, and Sarah said she'd go for gold.
An athlete from Japan is on her mobile. "I'm sorry, I can't talk right now. I'm in the Olympics."
Russia has 178 athletes! I think that's the biggest number yet.
Now the US with 216. Joe Biden too.
Canada last. The music changes. 206.
There's been dancers dancing this whole time. They must be tired.
Sarah's wearing our scarf. The same one the Canadian athletes are wearing.
Margo says Harper has plastic hair. "Devo hair."
Everyone in the audience has a drum.
Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado. Margo says they were there Wednesday. Those people are still dancing.
The arms are going down. The totems are going down too.
Now the "cultural" part. "Hymn to the North".
"Dude. They're on the Tundra. How'd they do that?" Margo: "Lights. Watch this." Constellations being projected onto the audience.
A bear! A Spirit Bear puppet. The audience has flashlights. The ice is cracking. The peoples separate. The water calms. Orca whales spout. Becoming schools of salmon. Totems. "The Sacred Grove." Margo keeps telling me: "Watch this." And then there's Sarah Maclachlan.
This is Sarah writing:Hi reporter Sarah speaking nice lights song coming on soon
maybe K.D lang
Me: Barber's Adagio now
Sarah: Japanese person on the moon now playing Irish music
Me: Sounds Celtic now. French? Lots of fiddlers. Margo says there were Fall leaves falling all over the stadium. Punk fiddler in mohawk and leather trousers. Turkey in the Straw. Lots of kilts.
Tap dancing. On lots of maple leaves. "Devil in the Kitchen." Dancers with shoes on fire.
"Who Has Seen the Wind?" Narration: I'm guessing it's got to be Donald Sutherland.
Joni Mitchell singing now. "Clouds". Both Sides Now. Girl in a harness flying around the stadium. Wheat fields erupt from the water wherever she lands.
An electrical storm turning into a blizzard. "A mountain is being born." "Peaks of "Endeavour." Skiers in red descending.
Sarah and Margo: "Get ready".
Skiers ascending. Video projections onto mountain. Ice skaters at base. They're skating. Where the totems rose. How did they do that?
Now, some slam poetry. Sarah: "Here it comes."
"We Are More." "We are the True North, strong and free. We didn't just say it, we made it be."
"Dad, this is the good part. See? And these are all people."
Jean Furlong. Nodar Kumaritashatvi.
Sarah: You Bo-Zo you copied everything I said.PS don't delete this.
Ignore Sarah.
Sarah: curse you!
The torch relay ends soon.
Sarah: yeah and your still a Bo-Zo!
Right. And. The president of the International Olympic Committee. Now the address is in French. Margo thinks it's a plea to the world to cease war during the Olympic games.
Sarah wants to write again: I can't believe you actully agreed that your a Bo-Zo oh
by the way your a booger brain.
Now it's k.d. Yes, I used lowercase. Margo tipped me off Wednesday. "Short hair. Big suit. Hallelujiah." Little candles in the audience. She's barefoot.
Sarah is a spanking head. She is a stinky butt. There. I am retoring her petty claims.
The flag is carried by Betty Fox, mother of Terry Fox. And Donald Sutherland. And Anne Murray. Bobby Orr. The Olympic Hymn. The RCMP hoists the Olympic flag.
Sarah claims the opera singing is like burping.
Margo: Yes, it involves air.
Sarah: You can see her armpits. They're quite hairy.
Margo: They're just shadows.
One minute silence.
The Olympic Oath. "A Little Higher. A Little Further."
The Olmpic flame. And who is the last runner? Rick Hansen. Sarah met him. And next, Catriona Le May Doan. Then ... Steve Nash. Then, Nancy Greene. Next ... Wayne Gretzky. He's now holding still. Where's the cauldron? "A problem with the hydraulic system." Maybe only three of four expected pillars? They're lit.
Fireworks outside.
Wayne Gretzky runs to light the cauldron. He's outside. Being transported. Police escort. Toward ... Canada Place? They just crossed Hastings. Now running. Now lighting something. At waterfront? Diagonal pillars alight. Looks like Superman's Fortress of Solitude.
Fireworks. Good night.
There have been lots of adverts before the show, some quite cheesy, going on about Canada's quiet pride, that now is the time to be proud.
We're feeling quite a bit of pride. Though we're recent immigrants, we chose this country, and we're proud to be here.
Margo and Sarah were there in BC Place two nights ago watching the dress rehearsal, what we're now seeing on TV. So they're going on about what's happening next. Now and then I have to shush them. Apparently most (all?) of the participants were there, including Prime Minister Harper.
The aboriginal welcome was nice. I teared up a bit.
Now there's the country-by-country entrance. Time for a break.
Margo says the actual athletes weren't there two nights ago; VANOC volunteers took their place.
I'm having some Canadian beers tonight. I'm working through a "Fin du Monde" from Unibroue. A bit of a poot slipped out and Margo and Sarah have chastised me thoroughly.
Georgia gets a standing ovation. Very honourable.
Great Britain. Our last home. Hmmm, who do we cheer for?
Margo is ogling the Italian men. Hmmm.
If there were an Olympics for bothering your dad, I'd say Sarah would get at least a bronze. I mentioned this, and Sarah said she'd go for gold.
An athlete from Japan is on her mobile. "I'm sorry, I can't talk right now. I'm in the Olympics."
Russia has 178 athletes! I think that's the biggest number yet.
Now the US with 216. Joe Biden too.
Canada last. The music changes. 206.
There's been dancers dancing this whole time. They must be tired.
Sarah's wearing our scarf. The same one the Canadian athletes are wearing.
Margo says Harper has plastic hair. "Devo hair."
Everyone in the audience has a drum.
Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado. Margo says they were there Wednesday. Those people are still dancing.
The arms are going down. The totems are going down too.
Now the "cultural" part. "Hymn to the North".
"Dude. They're on the Tundra. How'd they do that?" Margo: "Lights. Watch this." Constellations being projected onto the audience.
A bear! A Spirit Bear puppet. The audience has flashlights. The ice is cracking. The peoples separate. The water calms. Orca whales spout. Becoming schools of salmon. Totems. "The Sacred Grove." Margo keeps telling me: "Watch this." And then there's Sarah Maclachlan.
This is Sarah writing:Hi reporter Sarah speaking nice lights song coming on soon
maybe K.D lang
Me: Barber's Adagio now
Sarah: Japanese person on the moon now playing Irish music
Me: Sounds Celtic now. French? Lots of fiddlers. Margo says there were Fall leaves falling all over the stadium. Punk fiddler in mohawk and leather trousers. Turkey in the Straw. Lots of kilts.
Tap dancing. On lots of maple leaves. "Devil in the Kitchen." Dancers with shoes on fire.
"Who Has Seen the Wind?" Narration: I'm guessing it's got to be Donald Sutherland.
Joni Mitchell singing now. "Clouds". Both Sides Now. Girl in a harness flying around the stadium. Wheat fields erupt from the water wherever she lands.
An electrical storm turning into a blizzard. "A mountain is being born." "Peaks of "Endeavour." Skiers in red descending.
Sarah and Margo: "Get ready".
Skiers ascending. Video projections onto mountain. Ice skaters at base. They're skating. Where the totems rose. How did they do that?
Now, some slam poetry. Sarah: "Here it comes."
"We Are More." "We are the True North, strong and free. We didn't just say it, we made it be."
"Dad, this is the good part. See? And these are all people."
Jean Furlong. Nodar Kumaritashatvi.
Sarah: You Bo-Zo you copied everything I said.PS don't delete this.
Ignore Sarah.
Sarah: curse you!
The torch relay ends soon.
Sarah: yeah and your still a Bo-Zo!
Right. And. The president of the International Olympic Committee. Now the address is in French. Margo thinks it's a plea to the world to cease war during the Olympic games.
Sarah wants to write again: I can't believe you actully agreed that your a Bo-Zo oh
by the way your a booger brain.
Now it's k.d. Yes, I used lowercase. Margo tipped me off Wednesday. "Short hair. Big suit. Hallelujiah." Little candles in the audience. She's barefoot.
Sarah is a spanking head. She is a stinky butt. There. I am retoring her petty claims.
The flag is carried by Betty Fox, mother of Terry Fox. And Donald Sutherland. And Anne Murray. Bobby Orr. The Olympic Hymn. The RCMP hoists the Olympic flag.
Sarah claims the opera singing is like burping.
Margo: Yes, it involves air.
Sarah: You can see her armpits. They're quite hairy.
Margo: They're just shadows.
One minute silence.
The Olympic Oath. "A Little Higher. A Little Further."
The Olmpic flame. And who is the last runner? Rick Hansen. Sarah met him. And next, Catriona Le May Doan. Then ... Steve Nash. Then, Nancy Greene. Next ... Wayne Gretzky. He's now holding still. Where's the cauldron? "A problem with the hydraulic system." Maybe only three of four expected pillars? They're lit.
Fireworks outside.
Wayne Gretzky runs to light the cauldron. He's outside. Being transported. Police escort. Toward ... Canada Place? They just crossed Hastings. Now running. Now lighting something. At waterfront? Diagonal pillars alight. Looks like Superman's Fortress of Solitude.
Fireworks. Good night.
Tuesday 9 February 2010
The O Word
I haven't written much about the Olympics. Mostly because, while there's been lots of discussion - like the cost overruns, the road closures, the concern over warm winter temperatures on Cypress Mountain - it's still been some vague thing in the future.
Today it became more real for me when the Olympic Torch was carried past my office building this morning. Many of us went up on the roof to get a better view. Tomorrow Sarah's class goes out to watch it pass their school. And Margo scored some tickets for tomorrow night's dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremonies, courtesy of a volunteer friend of the family.
But there have been lots of other things happening recently. Seeing sky-blue jacketed Olympics volunteers on transit and in the streets. The Convention Centre and some of the waterfront gated off. The white hospitality tents erected near the base of False Creek. Buses having their reader boards flash "WELCOME 2 CANADA".
Today it became more real for me when the Olympic Torch was carried past my office building this morning. Many of us went up on the roof to get a better view. Tomorrow Sarah's class goes out to watch it pass their school. And Margo scored some tickets for tomorrow night's dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremonies, courtesy of a volunteer friend of the family.
But there have been lots of other things happening recently. Seeing sky-blue jacketed Olympics volunteers on transit and in the streets. The Convention Centre and some of the waterfront gated off. The white hospitality tents erected near the base of False Creek. Buses having their reader boards flash "WELCOME 2 CANADA".
Monday 8 February 2010
Sunday 7 February 2010
Weekend in Nanaimo
We just returned from three days on Vancouver Island, in and around Nanaimo. We took the ferry over, and Margo reserved a car for us in town. We did some touring to the north and south of the city as well.
Highlights for me included visits to some new pubs. We visited the Crow and Gate in Cedar, an authentic English country pub. Unfortunately kids weren't served so we couldn't stay, but I did pop in: to the smell of roast chicken, I spied three UK taps and a very comforting interior of thick ceiling beams and a roaring fireplace. We enjoyed a nice meal at the Longwood Brewpub, where I sampled several of their premises-brewed ales, including a seasonal Harvest Ale made with local apples. I got quality time shopping for used CDs at Fascinating Rhythm (I wish I knew of a shop with such great selection and prices on the Mainland). And I enjoyed coffees and pastries at Mon Petit Choux, Serious Coffee and Cafe Bocca.
And now for pictures. This is from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal; the sun was staying on just the one island for quite a while.
On our journey over, we were visited by porpoises. They jumped in a flash and were hard to capture; this is the best one I got.
Sarah put me in a nice wig.
A walk along the waterfront ...
An artist stacks found objects.
We watched fishers on the pier setting crab traps.
The sunny waterfront on our return trip.
And on the way back we stopped at a shopping centre for lunch and groceries and I fulfilled a wish to get into the local Olympic spirit a bit with some souvenir clothing, so here's Sarah and I showing them off. (Though we just missed catching today's Stanley Cup game on TV ...)
Highlights for me included visits to some new pubs. We visited the Crow and Gate in Cedar, an authentic English country pub. Unfortunately kids weren't served so we couldn't stay, but I did pop in: to the smell of roast chicken, I spied three UK taps and a very comforting interior of thick ceiling beams and a roaring fireplace. We enjoyed a nice meal at the Longwood Brewpub, where I sampled several of their premises-brewed ales, including a seasonal Harvest Ale made with local apples. I got quality time shopping for used CDs at Fascinating Rhythm (I wish I knew of a shop with such great selection and prices on the Mainland). And I enjoyed coffees and pastries at Mon Petit Choux, Serious Coffee and Cafe Bocca.
And now for pictures. This is from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal; the sun was staying on just the one island for quite a while.
On our journey over, we were visited by porpoises. They jumped in a flash and were hard to capture; this is the best one I got.
Sarah put me in a nice wig.
A walk along the waterfront ...
An artist stacks found objects.
We watched fishers on the pier setting crab traps.
The sunny waterfront on our return trip.
And on the way back we stopped at a shopping centre for lunch and groceries and I fulfilled a wish to get into the local Olympic spirit a bit with some souvenir clothing, so here's Sarah and I showing them off. (Though we just missed catching today's Stanley Cup game on TV ...)
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