A lot of those in any position just get plain comfortable in the job that they are performing, and feel that they have "paid their dues" to be lazy (incl. discourteous) and not give it their all. This should push a few people to put their best foot forward and hopefully give Vancouver an entirely positive light.
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I think it's needed because I do believe that Vancouverites and BCers have the capacity to be rude to strangers and tourists. Add in top of the typical West Coast negativity (how did we ever get called Lotusland?!?!) and you have a situation that's ready to blow.
Some people just need the wake up call that ruining the games will bring its consequences for EVERYONE in the province - since they can't be stopped, they better start cheering......or at the very least, just be nice about opposition. (flame back in 3......2......1......) |
It's from being hardened by the panhandlers asking you for change everytime you set foot on the sidewalk.
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From G&M:
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Has anything beyond a 5 day forecast in winter ever been accurate in Vancouver?
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^^ EL Nino years are usually accurate - november and december can be the most snowy but the rest is usually warm and rainy
---- some pics of the swiss house... pics by me - looks like they are setting up a TV studio there http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1719/dsc07142l.jpg http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7573/dsc07143.jpg http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/92/dsc07144.jpg http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5886/dsc07145f.jpg http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5825/dsc07146.jpg http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6899/dsc07147o.jpg |
Seattle Times
Your nitty-gritty guide to Vancouver — for the Games, or just for the party By Story by Kristin Jackson; Photos by Erika Schultz Seattle Times travel staff; Seattle Times staff photographer PREV 1 of 7 NEXT ERIKA SCHULTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABP...2010852834.jpg An AquaBus prepares to cast off from Granville Island to cross False Creek to downtown Vancouver, B.C. Mini-ferries are one of many ways to get around Vancouver for the Olympic Games -- and just for fun. If you're headed to next month's Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. — or considering a last-minute trip, even just a day trip to join the fun — you don't need to hemorrhage money or get stuck in huge lineups. Here are ways to cut Olympic hassles and costs, plus places to party and watch events even if you don't have tickets for the Feb. 12-28 Games. Getting there Driving could be painful as there will be congestion at the U.S.-Canada border; very tight restrictions on driving and parking in Vancouver; limited daytime access to the highway to Whistler; and no parking around any of the Olympic venues (and restricted resident-only parking on nearby streets). To go car-free, Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) has two daily round-trip trains from Seattle to Vancouver. As of Wed- nesday, tickets were available on most trains during the Olympics. Fares vary; $114 round-trip is typical for the period. For a day trip, an early-morning train to Vancouver and evening train or bus back will give you five to six hours in the city. Or, if you're energetic and can stay up all night, the city's clubs and bars will be hopping and Grouse Mountain, just north of the city, even has 24-hour skiing during the Games. You'll avoid the $500-plus per night that Vancouver hotels are charging for an Olympics stay — yes, rooms are still available at some hotels — and you can sleep on the train or bus home the next morning. Both Greyhound (www.greyhound.com) and Quick Shuttle (www.quickcoach.com) offer frequent daily buses between Seattle and Vancouver, and special lanes at the border help speed buses through. A Greyhound round trip starts around $40 with advance purchase. Or Alaska Airlines and Air Canada have frequent Seattle-Vancouver flights. Border and ID While Canadian entry requirements are less stringent, U.S. citizens need a passport or other approved ID (such as Washington's enhanced driver's license) to return across the U.S.-Canada border; see www.getyouhome.gov. If you're driving, get border information, both northbound and southbound, at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/border/. U.S. customs officials don't expect delays to exceed 90 minutes at peak times since some inspection lanes have been added at major crossings. Signs near the border show delays at the Peace Arch crossing at Interstate 5 and the "truck crossing" on Pacific Highway about a half-mile east (open to all vehicles, despite the name), helping you choose the quickest one. Travelers also can cross farther east at Lynden (Aldergrove on the B.C. side). Celebration sites Don't have Olympics tickets? Head to Vancouver's two free LiveCity downtown sites to celebrate with a crowd of thousands. LiveCity Downtown has a massive screen, concert stages, a beer garden and tented pavilions with interactive exhibits (including Canada's national pavilion and corporate sponsors' pavilions). It's at Georgia and Cambie streets and is open daily starting Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. until 12:30 a.m. (closes at 4 p.m. on Feb. 28). LiveCity Yaletown will host nightly concerts by big-name Canadian and international musicians, and big screens will show Olympic highlights. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the Olympics (shorter hours on the opening and closing days, Feb. 12 and 28). It's on the north shore of False Creek, at David Lam Park (Pacific Boulevard at Drake Street). See www.livecityvancouver.ca. In the heart of downtown, Robson Square is another official celebration site. It will have big-screen Olympic broadcasts; free live entertainment; exhibits about British Columbia at the official B.C. pavilion (in the adjoining Vancouver Art Gallery) and free ice-skating at a newly refurbished public rink. Richmond and Whistler also will have free public celebration sites: Suburban Richmond, the host of speedskating at the Olympic Oval, offers the Richmond O Zone. Spread through public plazas, community buildings and a park, it will host free concerts, big-screen viewing of live Olympic events; virtual-reality games; food; fireworks and more. See www.richmondozone.ca. Richmond's O Zone includes Holland Heineken House, the Dutch national pavilion known from past Olympics for some of the liveliest parties. Its main hall will hold 4,000 people and offer big screens, entertainment and food. In the Whistler ski resort, Whistler Live! will bring free concerts, art exhibits, theater and big-screen Olympics viewing at six sites scattered along Whistler Village Stroll, the resort's main pedestrian-only thoroughfare. See a map and calendar of concerts and events at http://whistler2010.com/whistler-live. Get maps of on-mountain venues and more at www.whistlerblackcomb.com. Other Vancouver street fun Some downtown Vancouver streets will be pedestrian-only during the Games from noon to midnight daily, including in the trendy Yaletown neighborhood, which links the two LiveCity sites. Yaletown's renovated warehouses have been turned into restaurants, bars and condos. Granville Island will be a party site with a French Canadian flavor. The four-block square islet, which houses a popular farmers' market, boutiques and galleries, will become "Place de la Francophonie" during the Olympics, with more than 100 free events, from mime artists to nightly concerts by musicians from Quebec and beyond; big-screen live Olympic broadcasts in French; and the Olympics-themed Club Adrenaline bar. See http://placefranco2010.ca. Around the city, provincial governments and corporate sponsors' free pavilions will showcase their areas and offer entertainment; see links at www.tourismvancouver.com (click on 2010 Winter Games-related Events). The Aboriginal Pavilion (next to LiveCity Downtown) will highlight the native cultures of Canada. For something completely different, Molson Canadian Hockey House will be a pay-to-party, hockey-mad place with entertainment, gourmet food, veteran hockey stars and, of course, Olympic hockey games on big HD screens. Or make your own mark on Vancouver through a light show celebrating the Olympics. Called Vectorial Elevation, it's one of the world's biggest interactive artworks with 20 powerful searchlights stationed on the shores of English Bay to create patterns in the night sky Feb. 4-28. Individuals from around the world can program light patterns online starting Feb. 4 (or perhaps a few days earlier in a test version) at www.vectorialvancouver.net. Getting around Locals and visitors are being urged to take public transit, walk and bike since the Vancouver area will be jammed with an estimated 350,000 extra people during the Olympics. Some downtown streets will be pedestrian-only; some lanes will be bus-only; and streets around Olympic venues will be closed for security. The SkyTrain (including its new Canada Line) is a light-rail system connecting downtown, suburbs (including Richmond, home to Olympic speed skating) and the Vancouver airport. It's fast once aboard, but officials anticipate hour or longer delays to board after major events such as the Games' opening and closing ceremonies. Transit info: http://travelsmart2010.caOn the south side of False Creek, the new 1.6-mile Olympic Line Streetcar will run for a two-month free demonstration. It links Granville Island to the Olympic Village station of the Canada Line (at Cambie Street and West Second Avenue). See http://olympichostcity.vancouver.ca/...Ticket-holders to Olympic events can use the Olympic Bus Network, especially useful for getting to events at Cypress Mountain, on the outskirts of Vancouver, and to Whistler, about 80 miles north. No private vehicles are allowed on Cypress. To take a private vehicle to Whistler, drivers must show permits confirming they have parking (hotels provide permits to guests) in Whistler. There will be a checkpoint on the highway just north of Squamish, with travel on Highway 99 (the Sea to Sky Highway) restricted northbound beyond that point to permit holders from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 11-28. Book Olympic bus tickets in advance and get details on the Whistler highway permits at http://travelsmart2010.ca (click on "Mountain Venues"). Private buses and shuttles also go between Vancouver and Whistler, including Greyhound Canada (www.greyhound.ca), Pacific Coach Lines (www.pacificcoach.com) and Ridebooker (www.ridebooker.com). Get instructions on reaching each venue by public transit at the official Olympics site, www.vancouver2010.com. Click on "Spectator Guide," then "Venues." Much of the Olympics action will be around False Creek, a narrow inlet on the south edge of downtown. On its shores are BC Place (the 55,000-seat stadium where opening and closing ceremonies and nightly medal ceremonies will be held); Canada Hockey Place (ice hockey competition); the Olympic Village, temporary home to 2,700 athletes; and the popular Granville Island neighborhood. False Creek Ferries and the AquaBus run dozen-passenger mini-ferries that will shuttle almost constantly across the narrow False Creek from Granville Island to the downtown side. See www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca and www.theaquabus.com. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABP...2010867371.jpg The new Canada Line rapid-transit route links downtown Vancouver and the airport. Kurn Bains, 21, rides the train after snowboarding near the city. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABP...2010889297.gif ... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...tml?cmpid=2628 |
Some Olympic-related pics I snapped earlier tonight:
Info boards have popped up very suddenly all over downtown, this one is at Robson & Thurlow... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/...091d66ec_b.jpg The new garbage bag system appears to be in use... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/...46c5119a_b.jpg This sign was on a street pole on the south side of Robson, between Thurlow & Burrard. Haven't yet noticed any others like it anywhere else. I know a few other forumers would know better than me but I believe this says welcome in Japanese... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/...c5058c83_b.jpg Not sure when it happened but the info booth outside the VAG on Robson is different now, with an interesting wood exterior... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/...207f9db9_b.jpg The former info booth... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/...56959c43_b.jpg Zip line tower... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/...169f01d2_b.jpg Sears power washing ongoing... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/...9f763e9c_b.jpg McDonald's advertising on Granville... http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/...5f05232c_b.jpg That's all. |
there is one of those olympics signs near the VAG i think its in dutch it say velkommen i think... its by the stairs to the rink...
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here's a closer look at the new lighting at canada place.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/...0079500af5.jpg photo by Canada Place on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/35156139@N05/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/...72fdabd8d3.jpg photo by Canada Place on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/35156139@N05/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/...bc16c9d1c1.jpg photo by Canada Place on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/35156139@N05/ village canoe http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2797/...3e471f03a8.jpg ^From February 12-28, the lobby of the Pan Pacific Hotel will be transformed into an Aboriginal village called “Kla-how-ya”, a word recognized by Aboriginal Nations meaning “welcome”. A partnership between the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC (AtBC), the Pan Pacific Hotel and Terasen Gas, the stunning 16-day showcase of Aboriginal art, performances, culture is free to residents and visitors during the upcoming 2010 Games. |
those signs are up all along Robson down the whole pedestrian corridor area with welcome in different languages
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The Canada Pavilion - an unimaginative $10-million glorified tent?
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/a...g-much-support |
The new Canada Place lighting is really cool and I imagine they can very easily, and quickly, update the projected images to practically anything! :banana:
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$10 MILLION for a tent? And according to the Globe and Mail, there is not much happening in it! So how is it even possible to blow that much money on a tent?! The contract was awarded in November 2009 - talk about last minute. So they probably got bilked because they were in a crunch and had no plan in place. Funny, since we've known about the Olympics since 2004, how come the Canada Pavilion planning didn't start back then?! |
it won't open before the Olympics either not till the day after they start - way to blow it Canaduh
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They should shroud the zip line tower scaffolding in an olympic related wrap, or maybe I'm just jumping the gun that is all part of the plan.
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Vancouver city
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Forgive me if this was posted before...
Australia's Winter Olympic Promo #1 #2 #3 NBC NBC (extended) NHK Japanese 2010 Winter Olympic Theme Song!! I'm trying to find a lot of them on Youtube from all over the World. I quite like the Japanese theme song. |
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And yes, the tent is lame, especially in light of what was done in Turin and Beijing. |
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Stadium roof deteriorated
Let's pray that BC Place's roof can last till after the Olympic game is finished.:(
Source: News article at 24 Hours Vancouver http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local.../12655161.html BC Place roof document: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local...28/bcplace.pdf Quote:
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:) Spring / Summer can't come soon enough for BC Place. Let's just hope it can survive those rather vital 17 days.
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We can't prove towerguy right and have the roof burst can we?
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It's unbelievably incompetent of Pavco and the province that they didn't do anything about BC Place much earlier. |
Looks like Clara Hughes will be named our Flagbearer. Excellent choice.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/b...er-report.aspx |
And it seems like no Cheerios color for Canada Post. 24 and Metro have pictures of staff at the building unfurling the huge Canadian flag. Yay!!!
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awww
lol |
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Stands for the floodlights on the south side of the entrance to False Creek near Vanier Park have been erected. They should be installed soon. Not sure about the north side.
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Pictures of the COC Olympic logo made of cranberries floating in the Fraser and the container inukshuk:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richmondozone/4314304816/ The COC logo is going to be massive. o_O Still, I wish they wouldn't be using food when millions out there are starving. The inukshuk was a bit overhyped, disappointing to say the least. |
Two weeks to go!!
I'm rather disappointed by the container inukshuk as well.. |
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It's not the best... PR, I guess. Cool idea. But, really? :frog: You all know I'm not really a bleeding heart, but, I think anyone can see how this can be twisted and turned politically :P |
SFU Harbour Centre is in the midst of being converted into German House today. New hardwood floor being laid over the tiles, and the classroom names are being taken down./covered
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Don't know if this was posted, but a map from December saying which country/house is where and whether it is public or private:
http://www.downtownvancouver.net/cat...20Dec%2015.pdf Looks like that Harbour Centre German House will be private only. |
I'm thinking their definition of private may not be the real definition of private. Example, Swiss house is definitely not private. But, they mark it as private.
Same with Canada House, and countless others. Also, a big LOL at China house being at a CASINO. Way to play up that stereotype. |
Well at least its a map of the locations in downtown.
Btw, anybody notice the huge number of completely white buses from the US? Apparently most of the charter buses will come from US companies even though there are plenty available locally. |
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I wonder how are new refurbished 98 B-Lines look like now... |
has anybody heard what celebrities are coming for the games?
the peak was listing off a long list of them yesterday adn the only ones I can remember are George Clooney, Nicole Kidman and Sean Puffy Combs |
From NW:
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Of course, naturally. How could it have been anyone else?
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I hope that if that is true that Betty at least hands the torch to Wayne with some sort of acknowledgment of Terry Fox.
We have seen those CTV Do you believe ads for awhile now. Apparently this is the song that defines the campaign. Could this be the Olympic anthem so to speak for Vancouver? I believe in the power that comes From a world brought together as one I believe together we'll fly I believe in the power of you and I This is the moment We have dreamed of all our lives We'll be the change we wish from others Will stand tall for what is right And in my heart there'll be no doubt The arms of the world will come reaching out And embrace me to be all I can be No, nothing can stop me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIyUB...eature=related |
Betty Fox would be a joke........people would enter the Stadium walking past the PIECE OF SHIT Terry Fox memorial on Robson and Beatty........that thing is a JOKE.
here we are wanting to show respect to Terry Fox by having his mom light the thing...sure I hear ya and even agree........BUT IF WE TRULY RESPECT TERRY WHAT THE F**K ABOUT THE MEMORIAL? that thing is such a POS it makes me cringe......it's an embarrassment..... |
^Completely agree. They should bulldoze it and build something that is worthy of a Terry Fox memorial, not an 80s pomo clusterfuck.
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I don't like the choice of Wayne Gretzky. What, exactly has he accomplished on an International stage, aside from losing in 1998? But it's better than the alternative of Fox.
Just don't see what at all Terry Fox has to do with the Winter Olympics. He's not really relevant (and his mother is REALLY not relevant), and I've been getting Terry Fox saturation every single year since I was in grade school. Did I just commit some cardinal sin of Canadian "culture" :P? |
yes you did. haha.
the nature of our nation does not allow for an easy choice. every candidate will have their naysayers. makes things very difficult. would you rather see someone that best represents BC or best represents Canada? |
It should probably be someone who best represents Canadian (winter) sport. So, an argument could be made for Wayne Gretzky as he is the best representative of *the* Canadian sport.
He's a big name, I guess. When it comes down to it, who will people in every other Country have at least heard of before? Even an American can equate him with Michael Jordan :P But, I don't like him personally lol |
He's pretty well-known around the world for his accomplishments in playing hockey. Most americans, at least, if they don't know anything about hockey whatsoever will be able to name Wayne Gretzky..
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The reason why the Fox family is "relevant" to the Olympics is stated in your last post. Every school in Canada I am sure does Terry Fox Runs in Canada and they happen in many other countries as well. His dream is still alive and he will continue to inspire others. He is a household name for most Canadians who have grown up learning about his story. At least a reference to him will give a platform for the world to learn about his story which raises so much money for cancer research. We are breaking all the rules anyway by being the first indoor Olympic opening ceremony. Why not piggyback on Beijing and have an effigy of Terry run around the circumference of the roof.
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That doesn't make him relevant to the Winter Olympics.
Pan-Am games in Toronto, sure, why not :P |
maybe they should use anne of green gables
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