olympic spirit

The crowds at this year's winter olympics in Vancouver (and Whistler) are insane. Sochi World (aka Science World), pictured above, has line-ups so long that it takes up to two hours to enter this Russian exhibit promoting the next winter games in Sochi, Russia one the Black Sea in 2014. The line-up here is short. Friday it was an "S" shape winding around a couple of times. Some venues have waits of four or more hours, so the wait to enter Sochi World seems short. The olympic village is at the top left where you see the flags of the various participants flying. Below is a closer look at the front entrance to the Russian exhibit.

In front of the steps to the Main Street SkyTrain station the crowds are constant. More people come as trains unload. The olympic village and the stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies are nearby adding to the numbers of people entering the area. They're in the same olympic spirit below where the Vancity Centre has mounted a "Go Canada Go" banner above their main entrance. Meantime, its a constant stream throughout the day. More to come later! - V.

winter olympics

We are halfway through the month of January now that 2010 is well underway. Its also less that a month away from the start of the winter olympics here in Vancouver (and Whistler) and after a week or so of steady rain, the snow in the mountain venues has been melting fast. I believe Cypress Bowl lost about a meter (39 inches) of snow and after I had a look at the long range forecast, there doesn't seem to be an end to the wet stuff, atleast for the moment.

The sky started clearing some this afternoon (Friday) and the sun began to show its face after being largely absent for most of the month. The sun though poses other problems: yet warmer temperatures! Man would appear to have little control over these events. Mother Nature is in control and anything is possible, but what is most certain is more rain and least certain, some colder temperatures and snow! We will see what transpires.

So, Brad, when you do come, and its just before the start of the games, bring along some of that cold, frosty Atlantic air and enough snow to satisfy a winter olympian! We could use some!!!

Meantime, in preparation for the start of the games the road closures and detours have started. I believe the aim last week was to reduce traffic but the results were about 2.5 percent, about half the projected figure. Now its hoped to reduce the traffic in the downtown by 10 percent. I say good luck because it'll be a challenge. So where are the extra trains and buses to pick up those that have left their vehicles at home? The olympic village has been sealed off from the public and the street closures have started. This will be an interesting lesson for everyone! - V.

False Creek on a Saturday

Yesterday (Saturday), I decided to take a walk along False Creek starting at the winter olympic village currently still under construction but well advanced. From there I took the seaside walk on the north side ending at 2nd beach in Stanley Park (the walkway continues, I just decided to end the walk there!). These are some of the photos I took along the way. The first two photos were taken from a higher vantage point. As you can see by the clarity of the pics, it can get rather humid in these parts. This area is part of the temperate rainforest for good reason!

A couple of barges were brought in a while ago to bring construction material closer to where the work was being carried out. The top pic shows the olympic village in the background and the lower photo has ScienceWorld and highrise condos in the background.

At the winter olympic village (2010) still under construction many of the plantings have been completed. These plantings are suited to dry conditions as you can see.

Since it was a Saturday, some work was going on (see above). Thats Yaletown in the background in the photo below with another interesting planting in the foreground. There is another view below that of Yaletown as seen from the village.

Plenty of people were out walking, running or cycling. Above is a cyclist checking out what I was photographing with a closer view of the cyclist below. I'm looking at getting a bike myself, probably next year. Its been years since I rode one but I still know how. Its not been that long ago!

On the north side of False Creek you can get another excellent vantage point to view the village.

The seaside walk on the north side of False Creek had plenty of activity too and it was the first time on that route for me. I've taken plenty of walks along the southern route. Thats another scene of Yaletown in the photo above and those below.

I followed along behind this hot dude above (and pic below) for a bit before I continued on along the seaside route. Should we be in shape, yes, and can we be devilishly handsome, yes to that as well!

Above is another view along the walk in Yaletown. To my right off the photo, a wedding party was being photographed, a beautiful day for both a wedding and taking photos! In hindsight I should have taken atleast one photo of the photographer at work. What do you think?

The last photo, take a close look at what appears below the railing. There's a whole string under the railing that I haven't photographed but I plan to next time and post the results. As I approached Sunset Beach while continuing along the route westward, I noticed a guy taking photos from just behind a planting along the walk. He wasn't taking photos of the plants but was taking pics of the scene on the north side of the walk: people in various stages of dress! Some were even nude! One guy was wearing a bow around his penis and not much else. Some had tattoos, etc., but there was nothing particularly interesting to take photos of, for me at any rate. As I mentioned at the beginning, I ended my walk at the 2nd beach (I was getting tired by that point!) and so continued on off that walk and along the west side of Lost Lagoon and then back into town to complete my last errand before heading home on the SkyTrain. I hope you've enjoyed this little tour and the photos! More to come!!! - V.

False Creek - South Shore

Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day, so while I was in Vancouver I took the opportunity to take a walk along the south shore of False Creek from Science World to the Burrard Street bridge via Granville Island and then into town. Of several dozen photos I took, these are just a few to whet your interest. If you look carefully, signs of spring are everywhere. The photo above shows a weathervane/artwork at Science World and then a better view of Science World below with the row of highrise condos behind.

The work on the Winter Olympic Village is progressing as the next few photos will indicate. The last time I took images of the scene was last autumn. The photo above shows the False Creek looking west. The village is on the left and Yaletown on the right. Then there are further images showing the work that has been done at the site of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Then the photo above was taken from the Cambie Street bridge and shows Yaletown in the background. The image below looks up a small hill near the water with a forsythia shrub in bloom about halfway up.

Then there is a view of a small hill on the eastern end of Granville Island and a street scene below.

Plantings of spring flowers are present to delight the soul and there are reminders of the forthcoming cherry festival coming to Vancouver. Check out the two images below. I hope you've enjoyed this little diversion from the thoughts of winter, especially if you've still got snow on the ground where you are!

An autumn walk along False Creek

The weather was better on Sunday than it was Saturday but the cloud did start moving in as a friend and I arrived at Granville Island. We met at Science World at the eastern end of False Creek, not really a creek and more like an inlet into English Bay. There are high-rise condos and Science World at this end plus the nearby Winter Olympic Village currently under construction.

Below are a series of shots of the olympic village under construction. I've been taking photos of this venue about every month or as there is some significant progress in the work. Of course, sunny skies help!

The boat in the photo above looks like a converted fishing trawler, don't you think? Then below, someone is taking some dogs, Afghan Hounds, for a walk as we approach Granville Island. You saw this pic in yesterday's post.

Then there is a series of photos taken on Granville Island. The autumn colour is evident!

So, the day started off well enough with plenty of sunshine but as the cloud rolled in, it got cooler. We stopped at the Granville Market to have a bite to eat. I had wanted a sausage roll but then decided on a salmon roll instead, at $3.75 a roll, washing all that down with a carbonated drink (orange-mango). Then it was back outside to enjoy the view despite the cloud. Hope you've enjoyed these pics! - Volker