Downtown Olympic Sights

Now that the Closing Ceremony is behind us and there’s not the pressing need to keep an eye on TV coverage of a particular sporting event or prepare for the next hockey game – I can finally sit down and post some of the photos we’ve taken over the last couple of weeks.

At numerous locations throughout the Metro area they had set up ‘live’ sites which consisted of huge screens to watch events, seating and a stage for entertainment.  We had two on the North Shore one in Park Royal Mall and the other in Lynn Valley Mall.  All the live sites were free to enter and enjoy although the downtown locations were consistently full and you had to line-up to get in.  They offered a great opportunity for people to get out and enjoy the events with others while not spending much, or just to stop and take in a particular event while out running errands or shopping.

This was the live site in Lynn Valley.

Most of the concentration of the party however was downtown, so we headed there a few times – during the day, evening and to meet friends in the pub for a couple of events.

Many of the large buildings have been decorated with Olympic related wraps.

Many buildings were unrecognisable under their wraps, like this one with the Canada flag.

Day and night hoards of people celebrated in the downtown zone, particularly Robson St and Granville St where numerous pavilions and houses set up by sponsors provided entertainment and impromptu hockey matches and renditions of the national anthem O’Canada would spring up amongst the crowd.

Robson Square was the hub of free downtown activities.

One of the free activities is the zip-line they constructed which runs right across Robson Square.  There were long line-ups to get on the zipline in the last couple of weeks but they are keeping it open until the end of March so we hope to be able to try it out in the next week or two once the crowds have lessened.  This is the tower where you start the zipline.

The TD Canada Trust building with it’s wrap

The TV stations moved out of their newscast centres onto the street for all of their news presentations during the two weeks. A bit risky not knowing what a large over zealous crowd might do live on air but as far as I know it all went to plan for them.  This was the CTV News ‘studio’.

Down near the waterfront was some excellent topiary of a curler and a hockey player around the Vancouver 2010 sign.

Floating Olympic rings in the bay.

The new Convention Centre on the left with the grass roof offered a platform for viewing the Cauldron.

This however frequently had a long wait to get to – you can see the queue running horizontally along the lower level then back along the upper level.

However, without any queue at all you could get this perfectly good view from the street.

Not sure why eveybody waited for so long for the view from the platform ?

Throughout the city exhibits, entertainment and ‘pubs’ were built out of temporary structures in vacant spaces – a few open air carparks, open squares etc all got utilized to provide things to see and do for free.

One such temporary structure was this First Nations Pavillion.

  With a dancing guy out front to draw people in.

On another day we headed into town during the evening to see some of the activities and nightlife.

It was still ugly during the day but at night the Sears building was put to good use.

Granville St is a sea of partying people.

Robson Square illuminated.

The entrance to the UBC Robson Square campus had been transformed.  The entertainment included performers and an ice skating rink.

More views across the square.

This is the finish end of the zipline which ran well into the evening

The Olympic clock in front of the Art Gallery.

The Art Gallery

The new Convention Centre where many of the foreign media were based, together with the Olympic broadcasters for CTV. Most of the post-event interviews with athletes were in the studios here.

More downtown views

A decorated crane on a building site.

  The Cauldron by night.

 

David and I at the flame

The floating Olympic rings illuminated at night.  On days when Canada achieved a gold medal the rings turned gold.

We returned by seabus to Lonsdale Quay.  The view here back towards downtown.  The bright glow to the right of centre is the cauldron.

Two large cruise ships are moored, housing police and security personnel.

We were surprised how relatively easy it was to get out and enjoy the celebrations in the city and were glad that we had taken the time to do so.

Golden Olympics

We were not expecting much from the Winter Olympics; neither of us has ever really been into winter sports but the Olympic spirit here in Vancouver has gripped us.

Our friends Sig & Sharon even got to go to the opening ceremony. We did not get tickets to anything. We even contemplated getting out of town thinking it might be a hassle in town. Little did we know it would all go so well. We forgot we were in Canada as I’m sure it would have been worse in England. I guess we will see in 2012? It has been a high spirited 2 weeks and Vancouver has been a fantastic place to be for the Olympics. We have been busy about town and hooked watching at home as we urge the Canadian athletes on to achieve more & more.

Here Alexandre Bilodeau gets the first Gold ever taken on home soil.

Although we are not Canadian yet……Go Canada Go!

Flag wrapped Building Downtown.

1 Year Old Today!

Happy Birthday to you Mojo.

A homemade birthday cookie to celebrate Mojo's first Birthday.

XX

Happy Birthday Mojo.

Capilano Canyon, January 2010.

Today was bright and sunny so while we didn't have time for a long walk did manage to fit in a circuit at Capilano Canyon.

We took the same route we had walked with Mum and Dad back in September so no new photos here...... although it is refreshing to have some sunny photos to post !

Views of Capilano Lake and the Lions beyond.

Panorama of the lake and North Shore Mountains.

View of the mountains to the north of the lake including Crown Mountain with some snow on the left and Grouse on the right with none. The amount of visible snow on the mountaintops is equivilent to what you might expect in May or early June, not January.

Close-up of Grouse

However, the plentiful rainfall has kept the lake full and the dam in full flow

Looking back at the dam

Capilano Canyon upstream

Looking downstream past the fish hatchery

Finally a view further down the canyon.

Cypress Falls Park

Last week we had a day that was actually dry so we headed out to Cypress Falls Park for a change of scenery.

This was my first visit to the park since coming here with Tracy & Paul while visiting them in June 2004.

There are two falls, upper and lower. The lower are quick and easy to get to from the carpark.

This panorama video taken of the Lower falls.

This view from the top of the Lower falls looking down them.

This video from the top of the Lower Falls.

Views upstream from the top of the Lower falls.

Then a steep uphill trail eventually brings you to the Upper falls which are actually more impressive but less easy to get to.

Mojo posing in front of the Upper falls.

Panorama view from the Upper falls.

Views around the river canyon


Mojo testing out the creek.

An old fallen tree is cut to clear the trailway. While much of the North Shore is second generation forest, there are still large pockets of Cypress Falls Park which contain some old growth, probably 250-300 years old.

Mojo demonstrating the size of the trunk of this fallen old growth tree.

First Walk of 2010

2010 has started mild and wet this year. Quite different from the cold & snow we had this time last year.

Our first outing therefore wasn't particularly exciting. Infact we decided to leave the car at home and just do a walk from the house.

We headed up Princess Avenue. The whole neighbourhood shrouded in cloud.

Heading onto the trail network on the edge of Mt Fromme from Braemar Road, around behind the tennis courts on Boundary Trail.

Entering the forest

Boundary Trail climbs the hillside with Hastings Creek in the ravine down to the left.

Climbing up into the dark wet forest

A quick look around the forest from Boundary Trail where we join Digger Trail continue up the side.

Most of the trails on Mr Fromme are designed for mountain bikers.

The wet weather made for some soggy obstacles.

Eventually the trail meets the Baden Powell hiking trail. Here it crosses the creek.

View from the bridge on the Baden Powell trail over Hastings Creek.

We then headed down the well defined Baden Powell trail

After descending another trail back to Braemar we took the power line trail down to Princess Park.

We then completed a loop in Princess Park and called that our first walk of 2010. Not very exciting but mostly under a good tree canopy which made the rain more bearable ! We hope to have some much more interesting walks over the course of the year.