Our Day Trip to Vancouver and the 2010 Olympic Attractions
March 1, 2010
Our day trip to Downtown Vancouver and the Olympic Attractions was a wonderful experience which will be remembered for a lifetime.
Getting to Downtown Vancouver from one of the Best Places in the Pacific Northwest, Dancing Firs – Retreat, Executive Suites and B&B, in White Rock, BC was very easy. We walked about 4 short blocks to the 351 Bus, which took us to the Canada Line Sky Train, Bridgeport Station (35 min). At the Canada Line Station we squeezed in with hundreds of others to go to the Waterfront terminus (22 min). The Sky Train station brought us to Coal Harbour, Historic Gas Town, Canada Place and the New Convention Centre.
From the Station it was a 5 minute walk to the Olympic Caldron.
The Convention Centre design with its tilted-out glass looms over the seawall resembling the hull of a Sailing Ship. For the 2010 Olympics the Convention Centre is surrounded by a huge Tent City where over 9,000 accredited journalists from around the World are calling home.
The Olympic Flame was surrounded by thousands of visitors eagerly getting as close as possible to have their pictures taken in front of the Olympic Flame to record this bit of history.
The whole of downtown Vancouver is dotted with art and sculpture pieces from BC Artists. The Spirit Eagles are on every corner and the favourite Spirit Eagle for picture taking was the Red Leaf wings on Burrard Street. Thousands of people moved freely from the Olympic Flame to Robson Street to Yaletown because many streets were blocked off from automobile traffic. That was such a pleasant walk and it seemed as if every 100 steps there was something new to see. Live entertainment on just about every corner, we heard Bag Pipes, Pan Flutes, Caribbean Music, Christian Music, Reggae, Comedy and even an Australian Kangaroo talking to the little kiddies.
At Robson Square, which is Arthur Erickson’s masterpiece, and is slowly being recognized as the Western equivalent of Rockefeller Plaza, there were people skating on the newly refurbished skating rink. The local Art Gallery is home to the BC/Canada Pavilion, showcasing the very best of British Columbia. Outside were huge floral mortifies from a Chinese Artist. The square was filled with colourful outfits of young and old. We saw so many different Families, Ethnic Groups, First Nations, Kids Faces painted with red maple leafs and Teenagers with the Canadian Flags draped over their shoulders. Everyone was in the Olympic Spirit supporting our Athletes unconditionally. On Robson Street, during the Gold Medal Ceremonies for Men’s Curling, the whole crowd burst into our favourite song for this Olympic Games, “Oh Canada.” It was really emotional! Even our USA Visitor were surprised at the spontaneity.
Each evening Robson Square came even more alive with a Laser and Flame Show and snow boarding and skiing athletes riding the zip line high above the crowd.
The only sad note for us was the Olympic Clock which was counting down the time remaining for the Olympic Games. We heard comments like “look, oh no, there is only 25 hrs left before the games close, I don’t want this to end” And yes, that was how a lots of us felt when we looked at the countdown clock – we do not want this joy to end.
In the 3 block radius of Robson Square and the Famous Robson Street Shopping area there are dozens if restaurants featuring every type of Cuisine. We chose the Kobe Steak House for our dinner. We met a lot of people around our table and a lovely couple from Ottawa who came to the Olympic Games for their honeymoon. The sake was warm, the food was delicious and the company was lively.
After dinner we ventured to Yaletown to hear more live entertainment and catch the nightly fireworks show. As it came apparent that we would be overcrowded around the Roundhouse Community Centre, we took a short walk, to view the Show from the Cambie Street Bridge, very near the Athlete’s Village. The Fire Works were spectacular with one return performance after another.
Shortly after 11:00pm, our Olympic day trip ended with a short walk to the Canada Line and the Bus back to White Rock and Dancing Firs Bed and Breakfast. We agreed, that it was an experience of a life time. And that Vanoc, the City of Vancouver really know how to throw a Party.
Thank You, British Columbia, Vancouver, all the Athletes, the Volunteers, and employees of Vanoc.
Mary and Pamela
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