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.