Russians Not Rushing

It seems the Russian delegation is the group most commonly seen on the streets and at the venues. They're learning all they can for their turn to host the Winter Olympic games in Sochi in 4 years. One of the most popular exhibits is Sochi House where you can sample Russian dance, native costumes, music, and flavoured vodka. They say they want to match the fun and friendliness of the crowds here. Good luck with that!

An added attraction is the Russian tall ship Kruzenshtern anchored very visibly near the SeaBus terminal. A fully-uniformed rosy-cheeked young Russian sailor hands out flyers urging a must-see visit. OK, I'm interested. As you approach, the vessel is magnificent. The largest "bark" in the world at 80 metres or about 250 feet long. Built in 1926, with 34 sails and 150 crew. Impressive. But if you want to have a look on board, the price is $18. (All other nation's exhibits in town are free!). And even if you want to pay for this 30-minute guided-only tour ---- it's not open today. It looks like they've got this capitalism thing figured out, but is this a good way to prepare visitors for Sochi?

That's Worth a Mint!

At 6 or 7 hours, the lineup to get into the Royal Canadian Mint is the second-longest in town. Normally a dull afterthought, the Mint is suddenly golden. Reason? The Mint created the high-profile Olympic medals:

"The radically undulating face of the medals invokes the sea and mountains...and they establish several milestones.."

1. Heaviest medals in games history, at 500 to 576 grams each (more than 4 Quarter-Pounders!)

2. No two medals are alike (all totally different designs...)

3. ...because laser etching was used to flawlessly reproduce a unique First Nations design on the medal face.

The design was matrixed into 615 Olympic medals and 399 Paralympic medals. A winning athlete can look up his or her medal on the matrix, and the number and text on each is unique.

There's all the other details of casting, milling, pressing and cladding (good to -20C!). But those people that lineup for 7 hours just want to touch a medal.

Back out on the street the buskers and the Mounties at my favourite province are winning medals of their own --- is that worth a mint??

Hockey in Canada: We're #1 or Delusion of Grandeur?

There's no doubt that these Canadian Olympics are heavily focused on Ice Hockey. We were able to get tickets to a preliminary game, but tickets to the Gold Medal Men's Final are being offered on the street for over $2000 each! The game between Canada and USA was the most watched sport event in Canadian TV history, and the biggest U.S. hockey audience in 37 years. If Canada gets into the final who knows what that ticket will cost? As of today Canada is in a precarious position, having to win the next 4 games to get gold. Wanna bet??

Just Pix

Anywhere you look there are images and visions to store on your memory's hard drive. How many hundreds of millions of pixels have been recorded on the countless cameras constantly clicking? A big portion of those go to the very visible entourage promoting the next winter games in Sochi Russia (even the Russian sailors are out posing!). Here are a few pictures from the scene.

What Spring Looks like

Now that the events at snow-deprived Cypress are almost over, sure enough --- snow is forecast up there in the next few days! But down in the city there's very little talk about the missing winter weather. Instead, locals and visitors alike are experiencing and enjoying spring in Vancouver. The massive crowds and lineups at every restaurant, bar, attraction, and event have been boosted by short-sleeve top-down days. If it's still winter where you're reading this, here's what spring looks like.

True Colours

The streets are alive with a rainbow of national colours, flags, and gimmicks. You've heard about the bold colours of the Norwegian men's curling pants? Trumping them at all events and street scenes are gaudy Canadian red and white jerseys, flags, pom poms, mittens, and touques. Is this "painting the town red"?? But there are all the other nations on display in vivid details, too...

Even the Line-Up is Awesome

Long lines for events, nation's "House Tents", and an unobstructed photo of the flame cauldron keep getting longer but amazingly there's good humour and friendliness everywhere. The lineup to get into the Olympic Store (just to buy Hudson Bay official merchandise) is now so long that for the first time in history the store will be open 24 hours.

Pat went to the impressive Aboriginal Pavilion and couldn't wait the 1 1/2 hours to get in, but took these photos of the entertainment provided while people wait outside (in the sunshine!). International visitors especially are gobsmacked by the colours and the dances of local First Nations. They have even carved native images into that familiar bottle of the big Olympic sponsor. Pop art, anyone??

Street Stroll

Stepping out into the street in front of our building is like doing a bellyflop into a river of people. Or how about: like swimming against hordes of Pacific salmon going the other way?? The sunny days and nearby Olympic Flame create a natural Party Central. Vancouver harbour itself is stunning to so many because of its backdrop of mountains, sea vessels, floatplanes, and those 5 rings. The atmosphere is upbeat and you never know what or who you'll see...

Like Moths To A Flame

Finally there is better access to the Olympic cauldron that has been drawing huge throngs. The fence that had trapped the flame like a caged animal has been moved closer and a gap has been left for cameras to get a picture without chain link obstruction. Particularly gratifying is that insiders no longer can roam at will and flaunt their ability to approach, touch, and pose with the flame up close. Best of all, an adjacent rooftop has been made into a viewing platform with no chain link at all. Predictably there is now another long lineup, but the continuing record warmth and sunshine has kept the crowds festive and friendly.

Chained Gang

The wildly successful cross-Canada Olympic Torch Run brought out cheering crowds in whatever town it passed. The flame was like a glowing people-magnet! But now that it's burning 24/7 at Vancouver's waterfront it has been sealed off from visitors behind a menacing chain-link fence. It is a huge complaint among otherwise Games-happy throngs. Even the IOC is unhappy with how its iconic symbol is out-of-reach. Insiders have easy access to the cauldron and to many it is really unfair ---- open to all, or open to none!

The IOC is working with Security Officials to come up with a solution to what has become a major public relations nightmare. Suggestion ---- run the Urban Zip Line over it and let people feel the real heat of the Games!

Men's and Women's: 200-metre Lining Up Event

Street violence by self-proclaimed anarchists was big news for a day or so, but locals have turned against these demonstrations. The feeling is that the real damage has been done to any support the demonstrators may have had.

Instead, visitors are thronging the attractions and party spots in huge numbers. "Lining Up To Get Into Something" is a universal sport. The wait times are about 5 hours to get on the urban zip line, 3 hours for the DaVinci exhibit at the Art Gallery, 2 hours for a chance to win tickets to the Men's Final Hockey Game, and even an hour to get into the Official Olympic Store to buy --- what else --- the red mittens. They had hoped to sell a million pairs, but the number now looks like THREE million!