Off we went to Vancouver this morning, in our car! I guess we shouldn’t do that but we did and found it to be a traffic jam free ride and easy to park the car – in the Sears parking lot! If the word gets out it will make matters change in a hurry, so mum’s the word, eh :0).
We started off with a short walk to McCarthy Tetrault’s, to sign some papers, and then back up the hill to Robson’s Square, a quick peek at what was going on and then onward to the new Convention Center once again – this time there were still lots of happy visitors milling around but we found a super spot to photograph the Flame – gain :0).
The Cherry Blossoms are Blooming in Vancouver
A "salesman" sleeping on the job in Robson Square!
Five hour line-up for Zip Line ride at Robson Square
Just another Flame picture 
The new Convention Center - another iconic structure for Vancouver!
Shot taken from Pan Pacific hotel showing part of Vancouver's dockland
We had decided to check out the German Pavilion, and to get a bite to eat there, so we headed off in that direction. On the way, from out of the crowd popped Brian Gunn, a friend of ours and the President of the Wilderness Tourism Association; Brian told us he was delivering a letter to the King of Norway and asked us if we would like to join him! We of course accepted and thanked him for the invitation and off we went, in the opposite direction to the German Pavilion, to see Brian in the presence of Royalty.
And that folks is how easy it is to unknowingly become part of a group of protestors; in reality Brian was meeting a representative of the King, on the street, to give him a letter concerning fish farming and how it is affecting the salmon stocks in the Pacific Ocean! Brian is doing a super job and our thanks should go out to him, I took some pictures and then we got back on track with our mission of visiting the German Pavilion.
We never did get to meet the King of Norway's representative but it was fun to see Brian and his group in action
We joined a line up to get into the G.P. and once inside it felt like we was in a German beer garden, a big open space with lots of chairs around long tables with beer and food being served at one end. The place is open to the public until the wee hours of the morning and with a live band playing from 8:00PM onwards, beer being guzzled and people in high spirits, by 10:00PM latest this place must be hopping!
From the G.P. we headed towards Gastown, listened to some buskers, took photos of the steam clock then started our walk back to the car.
Lots of neat characters in Gastown, we purchased a piece from this Native (Cree) wood carver
A Native artist
I really feel for this man, from his face you can tell he has had a hard life and still living that hard life; he has a lot of talent!!!
The Steam Clock in Gastown is quite well known and here it is blowing steam whistles to announce that it is 2:00PM
Beautiful Nan standing by a beautiful clock
On the way back we saw a line up outside the Canada Northern building, joined it and went on in. We were glad we did, lots of great art from Nunavut and a demonstration of a “stick” game. I am heading to Grise Fiord this summer and hope to be able to purchase some Inuit are directly from an Inuit artist while I am in that vicinity.
Yes indeed! Lots of very impressive art on display which has inspired me even more, if that is possible, to fly my small plane to Grise Fiord, NU, this summer!!
OK, now back to the car, we now want to go and see the Oval in Richmond. Well, we saw the Oval as we drove across the bridge over the Fraser River, it looked great! – but the roads are blocked to prevent non ticket holders to get any closer than that :0(
Tags: 2010 Winter Olympics, Canada Northern Pavilion, Gastown, German Pavilion, Olympic Flame, Pan Pacific hotel, Vancouver, Vancouver Convention Center
February 17, 2010 at 10:23 am |
WOW!!! Sounds like so much is going on, so much to see and do.! It also sounds like you and Nan are really enjoying yourselves. Thanks for sharing and enabling me to feel some of the “Canadian Spirit” of the 2010 Olympics.
February 19, 2010 at 4:58 am |
As Alway’s Norm Amazing Insight to The Wonder of The Winter Olympic Games 2010. You have this Ability (Like Aslie,) to Let me Close My Eyes and Imagine I am There. Carry On Enjoying and Blogging.It is Great to Read xx