Back to Business - Canadians Are Happy, but Cleaned Up Immediately

We were amazed how once the Closing Ceremonies were over on Sunday night, Canadians removed their red jackets and rolled up their sleeves -- time to clean up, take down exhibits, and get back to everyday life.

Visitors went to get night shots of the Olympic Caudron after the Closing Ceremonies, but the flame had been extinguished (gas turned off). "Live City" venues were closed and dark. No people wearing red -- no sign that the Olympics just ended!

Visit Vancouver!

Winter Olympic Art - Marc Ahr

Artist Marc Ahr attended many of the Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler over the 17 days of the Olympics, rapidly painting a total of 25 watercolor sketches of events. His goal was to complete his sketches in time with the race's winner to add their autograph. We first saw his work in a store window late one evening, then got a glimpse of the artist on the 18th day, when he stopped by Time Frame Gallery in Vancouver. He was exhausted!

We liked them all, but finally settled on a small version of the Closing Ceremonies. See thumbnails of his marathon on Marc's website. I suspect his sketch of the ice hockey game between Canada and Team USA will be most popular! Sketches are available in print and on T-shirts.

Wonder if he will be recuperated in time to paint the Paralympics, two weeks later.

Pins and Pin Trading at Winter Olympics

So many pins, but why not also have versions as ear rings or charm bracelet charms? As is, some are available as zipper pulls or key rings. I'm using a zipper pull charm for my school art projects on my flash drive.

My first Olympic pin trade happened on day #3, while in line for photos of the Olympic Rings in Whistler Village. A little girl and her mom came up to me and politely asked me if I'd like to trade a pin. She was well-prepared. I asked her if she saw a pin she liked on my jacket (where I displayed my duplicate pins), and she said she liked the mascot characters. She was very efficient and business-like, moving to the next person in line and asking permission to trade.

Later that day, an employee for Canada Lines (railroad) traded me a pin for a Canada Lines pin. At a chocolate shop, I was given a pin for their shop. Each time we used VISA credit cards for a meal or gift purchase, we were given several VISA Olympic pins - each featured a mascot character.

Vancouver, CANADA

Walking around Vancouver on the morning after the Winter Olympics' Closing Ceremonies, we thought about our first visit to the city. Here are some observations:

• Easy to get around, walking and on public transportation.
• Clean. Great variety in architecture.
• See-through glass awnings on many stores to provide shelter from the rain.
• Canadians are "friendly to a fault" and even the "out of service" buses say "SORRY".
• City shut down all bar service/liquor store sales at 2pm on two days to keep Canadian ice hockey fans from getting too rowdy.
• All city government and businesses used English and French on all signage.
  
• Tons of tall buildings with mostly glass to capture the fantastic views.
• Many Yellow Cab Toyota PRIUS cars.
• Vancouver is proud to be a "green" city and uses 3 types of recycling bins.
• Vancouver has bicycle lanes and indicates the bike-friendly streets on overhead street signs, including bicycle image.
  

Vancouver Airport (Day After Closing Ceremonies)

The Vancouver Airport braced for the anticipated huge crowd overwhelming the airport at the close of the Winter Olympics. The papers called for visitors to plan 5-4-3-2-1:

• 5 hours before your flight, check flight status
• 4 hours before your flight, head to airport (used train @ about $3 rather than $30 taxi)
  
• 3 hours before your flight, check baggage/go through security
• 2 hours before your flight, SHOP at the many airport stores
• 1 hour before your flight, be at the gate and be ready to board your plane
  

The crowd never materialized. All was calm and efficient. Passenger screening was the most thorough we've ever experienced. Security checkers examined each and every item including wallets -- for each and every passenger. Some lines also included the option of a body "pat down" or body scanner.