Vancouver 2010 (Day 0): Welcome to Vancouver (Dial-up Warning)

[Tindalos]

(Question: Do these pictures look all right? Yesterday's post looked too dark on my mother's monitor. How do they look to you? Let me know what you think, ok?)



Wow, opening day of the Olympics. How Exciting! I hope you don't mind me posting a lot on this subject, but it's going to be a very busy month (Olympics, paraolympics, and lunar/Chinese new year). On re-reading, my previous post sounded a bit whinier than intended but we've been planning this party for 10+ years and hopefully you'll forgive me for being a little antsy. I woke up this morning from a dream about harbour seals practicing their back-flips off the end of my bed and suddenly I knew everything was going to be all right.






By the time I headed downtown, it was already getting dark and starting to rain but that didn't dampen the mood on the streets.





The Carnival Band was there to kick things off. If you've seen some of my earlier posts, you might recognize them. There's no party until the Carnival Band starts it.





Eyes in the sky






Members of the First Nations demonstrate their carving skills







Zippity zip on the zip line over Robson Square. It was raining so hard by now that the camera was acting up. (I think it's actually calling the mothership to save it from drowning.)











Watching the opening ceremonies on the jumbotron. This was taken a few minutes after they started and police had just closed off the road to traffic. I saw them blocking the road and ran in to take this photo before the hoards rushed in behind me. Then I got out and went to see what was going on while everyone else was distracted ...





... and more by luck than judgment ended up in the middle of the designated protest zone outside the opening ceremonies.








Blocking the end of the street between the protesters and the opening ceremonies was a sea of fluorescent vests. (sorry for the picture quality. My poor waterlogged camera was struggling with the darkness and my photoshopping skills are inadequate). Strangely the streets that run parallel either side of this were almost deserted, with barricades manned by only two or three cops. Everyone was playing very nicely by the rules.




The protesters were just packing up and left peacefully. They promised to be back tomorrow.




The camera's back home drying out as I watch the opening ceremonies replayed on tv. The cheering was so loud I could hear it from across town. What did you think? I'll be back out during the week, with a better lens, and checking out the various festivities. Stay tuned.


~Tin
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[Celebration]

1. the only thing missing

is the harbor seals doing backflips.

Great street scenes. It is so much fun having you there to document all this. And, I think I would rather look at your photos than actually stand out in the rain.

Nice work!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

5. This is the closest I'll get to the Olympics!

[Tindalos]

7. That's too bad

So close and yet so far.


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[Tindalos]

6. The weather's not too bad, for Vancouver

It's quite warm and the rain is coming down in showers with long dry(ish) spells between. The crowds are a bit overwhelming at times though.

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[hippywife]

2. They look perfect from here, Tin!

Great job of capturing the mood of the city. :hi:

[Tindalos]

8. Good to know

Thanks.

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[NV Whino]

3. Thanks for documenting this

I look forward to more.

[Tindalos]

9. Glad you're enjoying it

I'll try to keep posting, but I have to go back to work on Monday and won't be able to post as frequently.


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[Blue_In_AK]

4. A little off-topic, Tin,

but I thought you might like Mudflats' post this morning about Canadians:

There’s all sorts of news and information coming out of Canada tonight, most of it having to do with the Olympic Winter Games. Even though I’m over here in Alaska, I still feel a certain affinity for our cousins to the east. Did you know that you can actually SEE Canada from places in Alaska? Yup, we can see healthcare from our houses. We just can’t actually GET any of it.

A lesser watched bit of ‘Canadiana’ came to us from the CBC. Now if you’re in Alaska, you’ll immeditely be thinking “Corrupt Bastards Club.” But, in Canada, the CBC is the Canadian Broadcasting Company.

It seems that a “back bencher” in the parliament was accused of “unparliamentary behavior.” Just to show them his displeasure at this heinous accusation, and to prove them wrong, he did what any self-respecting “I’ll show you how parliamentary I am” politician would do. He flipped him the bird. Excuse me; birdS. He got a three day time out.

<video here>

I just love this. Not only is the guy’s name “LeBlanc,” but the anchor looks like he’s wearing the Canadian version of a Carhartt jacket. I’m guessing that if the Canadians ever made a stealth invasion down the Yukon, bringing their good beer and their health care; their bird-flippin’ legislators and their Carhartt-wearing anchormen, they might just be greeted as liberators.

PLEASE take us. Alaska has so much more in common with Canada than the rest of the US. :)

[Tindalos]

10. We'd welcome Alaska

I think you're already honourary Canadians.

Being a politician in Canada isn't as glamorous as it is in the US. They're just working schmo's like the rest of us. Our former Prime Minister Chretien was notorious for flipping the bird, swearing, and punching people on the streets if he didn't like their questions.

I wonder who the CBC anchor was? Probably Peter Mansbridge.

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[JeffR]

11. I really like the night shots here.

Hope your camera's all dried out now!