My Winter Mo’lympics - Go Canada Go!
February 23rd, 2010
I know not everyone is as nuts about the Olympics as I am (or Laurie or Carol), so I warn you…. if 16 days of international love, peace, happiness and sports is not your thing… this is a very long post. My sons, hubby and I are koo-koo for Olympic Cocoa Puffs. When we learned 7 years ago that the 2010 Winter Olympics were going to be in Vancouver, BC… we said WE HAVE TO GO, whether we had event tickets or not. Or not is how it turned out. Seven years is not long enough for me to plan - I was too late to buy tickets. So we just went to be there. The world was going to be in Vancouver, and by golly we wanted to meet the world. Hello world. I love you. 
Peace Arch
It was all very iffy when we were going and for how long. Lodging was one thing I was able to secure. So as it turns out, DH2’s school schedule changed. He was going, then wasn’t going… and then he was going - and that left us with leaving on Friday night and returning Saturday night. In the big picture of things, 5+ hours driving to get there is no biggie. Seriously. Live on a Hawaiian Island for six years - where a road trip means pulling out of your driveway, driving in a big circle… and ending up where you started. Roads trips like driving up to Vancouver are still very welcome - even after having left Oahu 10 years ago.
Check Point Charlie-DudleyDoRight
Entering Canada, we were greeted with beautiful Canadian border buildings and super friendly border agents who seemed genuinely happy to have us visiting. I think I found the Nordstrom of border crossings. Beautiful British Columbia lets us know where to find Hope if we need it.
As we get closer to Vancouver, the landscape is dotted with what’s to come… a beautiful international pot pie. Vancouver has beautiful flavor!
Go Canada Go on the freeway. The first one of THOUSANDS of flagged cars we’ll see.
The freeway suddenly turns into a city street. Poof. Just like that. My Californian brain can’t conceptualize that we can get anywhere without a freeway… but look… there it is, we made it to downtown Vancouver on a city STREET! No fuss no muss… and everyone was driving so friendly.
Along the way into downtown, I spot this condo complex. I have a thing for roof lines and pitches. Roof-utopia.
Further down the street, this building reminded me of Germany. My parents immigrated to the US from Germany via Toronto - and settled in California right before I was born. I consider myself to be an Almost Canadian. Go Almost Canada Go!
Go Canada Go at the Vancouver Police Department.
Gonad go! Oh Canada, you’re awesome.
Oh. All. Right.
Vancouver’s Chinatown. OH THE COLOR!!! I cracked up at the SHARE THE ROAD signs. I SWEAR it’s Wayne driving the ‘76 AMC Pacer and Garth riding a bike. Hmm… Mike Meyer’s IS Canadian. Go Wayne Go Garth Go!
A fire station in Chinatown. I have a thing for doors too. I danno about firehouse… this screams quilt studio to me.
This ramp ended in a road block. But worth it. Oh the colors colours! Go Colour Go!
A happy discovery… Vancouver’s Gastown District.
Charm, pride, history… I love the Gastown District. 
I think I’m going to start having a thing for awnings too.
Million dollar (CAD and USD) view from where we parked our car. Yeeze… we could have had a picnic in our car with a view like this.
A steam clock on Water Street.
Crosswalk on Water Street. Go Crosswalk Go!
In a souvenir shop, DS2 does a shout-out for our family. Oi Oi Oi Team JoJoJo and Team OmiItoMarco!
My do-something-nice opportunity. Some thug punk a-wipe turned the flag upside down into the planter. I dusted off the dirt and replaced it properly.
I used to collect Olympic pins. Before they were readily available like this (or on the internet). I used to have to buy them through a broker with this thing called an envelope and this sticky thing we used to lick called a stamp.
Go Bus Go!
At Canada Place. More colour, colour, colour!
The International Broadcast Centre on the left. BOB COSTAS & STEPHEN COLBERT… I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE!
Canada Place overlooking Coal Harbour.
The Welcome Centre at Canada Place. Because I love typing like a Canadian… centre, harbour, colour. Downtown was peppered with volunteers - answering questions, giving directions, saying hello and welcoming visitors. What wonderful ambassadors they were to Vancouver and Canada. Thank you volunteers for making us so welcome in your home.
The Olympic Flame in all it’s glory. Like Cinderella’s Castle in Disneyland… it looks much bigger on tv. Much controversy about the cauldron - it’s surrounded by fencing. The fencing was moved closer before we got there, but still bah hum bug over it. I think it looks like a captured alien being interrogated. FREE THE CAULDRON! FREE THE CAULDRON! Go Cauldron Go!
One of the improvements made was to set a “viewing area” atop this balcony. Hey, let’s go up there! BTW, that’s me in the pink hoodie. EVERYWHERE you see EVERYONE with “iPhone arm”.
Ha. I guess we won’t be going up to the viewing balcony. Oh sure, we can wait in the queue with 20,000 of our new best friends. I think the end of the line was at the entrance of Stanley Park. Back to the chain link fence we went. But it was fun. SOOOO many people speaking so many languages and everyone was so happy and festive. It was an amazing experience I’ll never forget. It really did feel like the center of the world there. I say this EVERY Olympics… I wish the world lived in the same peace of the 16 days of glory - but doin’ it 365 days a year.
Go Canadian Doggies Go!
“Mom. Mom… where are you going? Mom!” - I was zombian’ over to the red and aqua container. I don’t know what it was… just that it was red and aqua and it caught my eye. Wink. 
More red. And a wish list for my yard.
On our way back to the Gastown. The sweet smells of Germany taunted us. The line was huge. HUGE.
As we headed back to the garage, we came upon an Old Spaghetti Factory on Water Street in Gastown. We really wanted to go, but we decided we weren’t going to come all the way up to Canada and eat at an OSF when we can do that in our Vancouver (Washington). BOY do I regret it. They had beautiful outdoor seating and a huge Euro vibe about it. I almost wept. And the weather was 100% al fresco dining weather to boot (as you can see by my Winter Spring Olympic footwear). It was packed, the final reason we nixed it. Look at this photo I found on flickr. Yeah. We passed that up - but we had a consolation… we found an all you can eat sushi place and WENT. TO. TOWN. We’re going back to Vancouver and we’re having dinner at OSP on Water Street. No ifs ands or buts.
I don’t know how it happened, but I became a Russian athlete/coach stalker - in hopes of befriending them and they’ll hand over their adorable red and white jackets/hat. Laurie has a great post about the US athletes attire at the opening ceremony. While I love the Ralph Lauren outfits… I gasped when the Russian team walked into the stadium with the red/white swirliques on their hats and jackets.
I see Redwork.
I see felt.
Team Russia is using a German car with their red swirliques. I take this to be a sign. Swirliques and an Audi… this should be my car.
Why, hello Russia.
I go to a mall about once every 2 years. I had no choice but to visit one in Vancouver - I had to go to The Bay if my life depended on it. But it was fruitful and worth it. Oh so worth it.
Coffee and dessert the Canadian way. Go Timbits Go!
The flip side of the Peach Arch as we head back into the US. The border agent asked us the standard crossing questions. He then asked us, “Oh please don’t tell me you drove from Oregon just to spend one day in Vancouver?” Um. Well. Now my brain is thinking that clearly no matter what our answer is - is that we’re gonna look like Cocoa Puffs and the next thing you know our truck is being torn apart and inspected. I did volunteer my apples for ag surrender. Maybe that did the trick. Doing the right thing is always best. Plus the last time we crossed from Victoria I smuggled a few Cuban cigars into the US and I’ve been carrying the guilt. In case the border patrol is reading this… I just made that up about the Cuban’s. BTW… Dear US Government: Safety and security is job one and we’re grateful for the US Border Patrol’s service and dedication. But have you seen how pretty Canadian’s crossing is? Our border agents look like they’re working out of 3rd world outpost and it’s not looking too welcoming to our visitors. I think we can still kick ass and look good at the same time - just saying.
A sure sign we’re back in the USA. Deep fired delicacies on wheels. We are home. And I miss Vancouver oh so much. At least I can watch from afar via Carol’s blog and flickr. Go Carol Go! 
Thank you, Vancouver. We heart you.
Posted in Field Trip |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
Loved the post, great pics! Totally great! (Go Olympians Go!)
February 23rd, 2010Go Canada Go. Go USA Go!! You put me to shame. I live only 5 miles from Canada, and I’m not there. Vancouver really is an international city, and a cosmopolitan one as well. Glad you had a wonderful time. The Olympics have been awsome!!!
February 23rd, 2010Thanks so much - I feel Like I have been to Vancouver now!.
February 23rd, 2010Go Canada Go
Wow looks like you had a great trip. Thank you for spelling the English way, great to see a “u” in colour!! I can’t wait for London 2012, I’m only an hour away by train!!!!
February 23rd, 2010COOL! How fun to see these pictures. Today will be the 10 000 m ice skating men. Our turn to watch again, since it’s in the evening and not far into midnight (O:
February 23rd, 2010Hey thanks for the pics Monica! I was happy to see an aussie flag there (oi oi oi)… I’ve always wanted to go to Canada, but its a shame about the neighbours….
*Running ducking for cover*
February 23rd, 2010Thanks for the post! ; ) I ALMOST felt like I was there…
February 23rd, 2010Loved all the photos! Such a beautiful place! Go athletes!
February 23rd, 2010wow, what a great post, feels like i made the trip with yoU!
February 23rd, 2010WoW, what wonderful pictures. They made me teary eyed. I too LOVE the Olympics. And I think it is just awsome that you are there…ticket or not. I too agree about the “peace”.
February 23rd, 2010Ahhhh, you secured some of those highly coveted mittens! Go Zombie Go!!! And whaddya mean you danno about the firehouse??? Have I taught you nothing woman??? Have you never seen Rescue Me??? Do you not know what lurks behind those beautiful firehouse doors?????
February 23rd, 2010Great post!! I feel like I was there with you. Even for just a day, it was worth it. When Chicago was in the running for the Olympics (2016?) I was so happy. I was imaging me saying to the hubby - “I’ll be out today - I’m going to the Olympics!” Alas, it was not to be. Thanks for going for me.
February 23rd, 2010This was such a lovely post! I’m Canadian (in Toronto) and it’s really so nice to read all the wonderful things you had to say about us and Vancouver. Going to Vancouver at this time would have been amazing, but it’s a no-go for a grad student like me! Were you able to get your red Olympic mittens?
You should have seen me freaking out last night when Virtue and Moir won gold in ice dance - you’d have known I was a proud Canadian then!
February 23rd, 2010I’m so glad you had fun. Awesomely incredible pictures. Now, I’m sure you’re working on some Vancouver Olympics quilt with swirliques all over it….I can’t wait to see! :)
February 23rd, 2010The view from the visitor center was amazing! And I am so coveting those mittens even if I do live in SoCal. Your photos are so fun, maybe now I can get DH to make a road trip, I am thinking up the coast all the way.
February 23rd, 2010You are coo coo! When they were here in my home state in 2002…we left the country!
February 23rd, 2010Your little travel log has been ever so enjoyable, glad you were able to partake.
I’ve been to Vancouver, when my sister went to UBC, but it’s nice to see so many cool pics from now! I wish I could have gone out, I’m so jealous of our friends who got to go for the full 2 weeks! And scored hockey tickets!
February 23rd, 2010I’m glad you enjoyed your trip.
Well, I was steadily getting more envious and then you pushed me over the edge. NOT FAIR to show off the Tim Horton’s.
Thanks for taking us with you!
February 23rd, 2010I love your spirit of going even without tickets — just to be there! Canada could not have had a more enthusiastic visitor. Thanks for the very entertaining travelogue.
February 23rd, 2010Monica this is soooo freekin’ awesome!! Thank you. I am living vicariously …uh… olympic-cariously through you, Seriously. I am thinking of putting on a knitted hat, mittens and a scarf while sitting at my ‘puter and reading your Mo’lympics. Beautiful pictures.
February 23rd, 2010Go Monica! Go! Eh!
So, did you find THE red mittens?
February 23rd, 2010Go RED go!
Thank you, Monica, for taking us along on your trip to the Vancouver Olympics. It all looks so beautiful and your eye for colours (aqua and red) made it so much more interesting than just scenery.
Go Canada Go! Go USA Go!
February 23rd, 2010Thank You for sharing these pictures.
February 23rd, 2010I remember I had a haircut in Hope at Elaine’s Haircut years ago.
And the houses You are showing, well as a German I can say: indeed they look a little bit like german houses but it has a touch of the former GDR.
Many greetings and enjoy.
Heike
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with all of us. These are the things you don’t see by watching the Olympics on TV. I loved all of it.
February 23rd, 2010Thanks so much for the Olympic/Vancouver tour…love the colors…you really captured with words and pictures how it must feel to be there! I’m an Olympic Junkie and have been ever since watching Olga Korbut in the early seventies…winter-summer…I love watching! Thanks again for the fun post!
February 23rd, 2010What a fabulous road trip. I’m a little home sick now that I’ve seen the Timmie’s coffee & timbits! ;-0
February 23rd, 2010Okay seriously, you made me cry. I LOVE my hometown Vancouver. Can’t wait to move back…soon! And I would blog about my weekend trips down the Oregon Coast! Ha! I’m so glad you enjoyed the colours and the centres and the timbits! (you need to watch Tim Horton’s tv commercials - keep a kleenex box handy, they are truly Canadian)
I’m so glad you had a great time there, and made the effort to go. Did you make it to English Bay and Robson Street areas too? My sister is volunteering/working at the GermanHaus flipping brats and carrying jugs of beer.
February 23rd, 2010Oh it looks so wonderful!!!
February 23rd, 2010Thank you for taking us along with you! I wish I could go! Even if I have no tickets…
February 23rd, 2010I am a long time reader…first time writer…you finally hit a nerve I had to scratch. I am an Olympic fan from way back. I plan absolutely everything around the two weeks we get for the Winter and Summer Games. Dr. appointments…grocery shopping…laundry…you name it..I’m dedicated. So…your sharing your visit was a real gift…I’m serious. I very much understand going to ‘just be there’. The people, the sounds, the smells….the happiness!! To me, you were right on!!! You were ‘making memories’. So, again, ThankYou so much for sharing and creating a true sense of experience with us.
February 23rd, 2010Thank you for sharing your pictures. I really love the pacific northwest! Just not sure that this California girl could survive all of the rainy days…
February 23rd, 2010This post is freakin’ FABULOUS! I love Vancouver so much and this was a wonderful virtual field trip! I totally agree with the US border crossing…it IS OK to look good AND kick ass! I’m thinkin’ you need to send that idea to the WH.gov website…just sayin’ BACK! THANK YOU!
February 23rd, 2010Wow, thats a lot of Olympics. I too love the Olympics. However, I finally deleted my Olympics DVR timer last night because I was about 40 hours behind. And lets face it, its unlikely that I will ever catch up.
Great tour of Vancouver- but wait, no JITB?? ;-)
February 23rd, 2010Beautiful photos; fabulous commentary. We saw lots of events but little of Vancouver — other than masses of people downtown. You certainly made the most of your single day. I’m so glad you went!
February 23rd, 2010What a fun time!. . . fun, Fun FUN! Thanks for ‘taking’ us along!
February 23rd, 2010Go Monica Go!
xo, Bren
You are hilarious!!!!
February 23rd, 2010Thank you so much for sharing! The pictures are great! Makes me feel like I was there, too!
February 23rd, 2010WOW! WOW! WOW! You sure know how to pack a lot into a short trip! (I want funnel cakes NOW.)
Darn those Olympics for timing themselves right when the Farmsale was on, though.
February 23rd, 2010sp i feel like i have been there - thank you soooooooo much for that journey. funnily enough we had a friend for dinner here last night who was over from whistler (he lives to ski) i adore the mittens too.
back to the party prep! xxx
February 23rd, 2010Awesome most M! Awesome!!! It was like reading a good book, I didn’t want it to end. Thank you for the field trip. ;o)
February 23rd, 2010Aww - I’m from Vancouver, living in California & I just loved your blog & photo’s. What a great job you did. Really, like being there. We just returned from Mexico where we met friends from Victoria & they brought us two pair of red Olympic Mittens.
February 23rd, 2010you just made me so proud, I am ridiculously glad you enjoyed my hometown and country, Canada misses you!
February 23rd, 2010That was great–felt like I was there too! I love your eye for the cute stuff! And Go-nad-go…snicker! :-)
February 23rd, 2010Oh My Oh! I loved this post! I have been glued to the TV for the olympics this year and I’m so happy to read this post. It felt like I got to tag along for your journey and what a fun trip it was. The German outfits are great this year, eh? And you caught a pic of one of the cars too, how very priceless that was! I want one too!!
February 23rd, 2010GREAT post…what FUN to be able to go there….even if only for a day and even though not able to see any of the events. Thanks for taking us along for the ride!!!
February 23rd, 2010Here I am in Victoria and I’m not even crossing on the ferry to see the Olympics. You make me feel ashamed of myself. But I am cheering from my couch.
Seeing all the hoopla in Vancouver has made me wish we had planned a trip just for the atmosphere - I had no idea that there would be all this entertainment and the international booths.
Thanks for being so enthusiastic about Vancouver!
Go Canada Go! Go USA Go!
Lorrie
February 23rd, 2010Go zombie familia Go!
February 23rd, 2010SUPER duper post. LOVED it. Almost as good as being there. Only question; where the heck is all the snow?
Thanks for taking us along on your Olympic Event: Picture Taking With an I-Phone. I’d award you the gold!
February 24th, 2010Thanks for all the lovely pics!! So now I have the feeling I was there, too.
February 24th, 2010It must be amazing to stay there in real and to watch all the people from so many countries.
Ich wünsche dir noch einen ganz tollen Tag und liebe Grüße
Sabine
Thanks for the fabulous photos of Vancouver. I really enjoyed seeing it all from your eyes.
February 24th, 2010It’s all so gorgeous!!! Can the Murrays go next time? I promise we’ll be good, we’ll even put Rosie and the pigs on leashes so they don’t get out of hand… So glad you went and had such fun! I LOVE all of your photos, and the Russian swirls! I would totally help with the stalking…we’d come home with some swirls by golly. xoxo
February 24th, 2010Such a fun trip Monica - I feel as if I managed to get my butt off the couch, get in the car, and be all “Olympic” like.
February 24th, 2010I’m ready to go! Great pictures.
February 24th, 2010Thank you so much for the pics. I loved seeing pictures of home. I am originally from Vancouver but have lived in Australia for 25 years. Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
February 25th, 2010Great pics Monica, loved the whole journey! We are watching the games on t.v right now. Love your enthusiasm and the excitement expressed in the post.
February 25th, 2010wait a minute, did i just get home from vancouver? whoops! no, i’m at my desk
February 25th, 2010looking at your pictures…how wonderful. thanks for taking pictures and sharing them, its as close to being there as you can get….sandy
Oooh I’ve only been thru Vancouver. On a bus. But it was lovely. I honestly think the canadian gov’t should be contacting you to write a picture book. Go Zombie Go!
February 25th, 2010So did you find Bob Costa? I’m kind of relieved that it seems you didn’t because I was scared to ask what you planned to do with him if you did find him and then I was going to have to look him up on the internet and see him for myself…instead I just asked Philip who this “Bob Costa” is that everyone’s talking about and he looked it up because he didn’t know either because neither of us likes sports and we don’t have a TV.
So- my father is Canadian and I wish I was. Always thought I should move up there but my father refused to sponsor me because he thought it was so much better to have a US citizenship and he failed to answer my home question: if being a US citizen is so great then why didn’t he want to become one when he was married to my mother.
Go Canada- Go!
February 25th, 2010Oh, but I think the Olympics is the only sporting event in the world that holds any allure. I love (and miss watching) Olympic figure skating on television.
February 25th, 2010Awesome pictures!! Looks like a great time! I love the Russian outfits too!
February 28th, 2010Isn’t this Grand! Olympics watched daily with quilty stuff. I think our Country rocked with this Olympics!
February 28th, 2010P.S. Hello from Manitoba
Great post! Glad you enjoyed Vancouver! It is a wonderful city, and my home … off to see the closing ceremony in a few minutes - I’m sooo excited!
February 28th, 2010So, you love Canada, eh?
I, do,too! I love your photos. I’ve never been to Vancouver, but my husband lived in Grande Prarie, Alberta, Canada for several years. The kids and I had the wonderful experience of visiting there for two weeks. We drove to Jasper, the Canadian Icefields, Banff. The Canadian Rockies were absolutely gorgeous. We also went to Calgary to see where the Olympics were held there.
I’ve been watching the Olympics, too. It has made us want to go there, too. My husband misses the people and the beautiful scenery. I love the quilt shops, too. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
February 28th, 2010Beautiful!
February 28th, 2010Oh you beautiful Girl. I watched the coverage of the Olympics and saw the joy and real fun that folks seemed to have in Vancouver. It seemed like Vancouver and Vancouverites were pleased and honoured that folks came to visit. Your pictures and comments are soooo fun.
March 1st, 2010I really love your blog. You are a real talent. Thanks for all those wonderful creations in red and aqua and your funny comments. Your fan from Nova Scotia. GO HAPPY ZOMBIE GO!
I heart the Olympics so much…especially the Winter games…and, I always get sad when they are over - like now.
March 1st, 2010Almost went to the Salt Lake City games, had tix and all but got the call to adopt (international) and had to sell the tix. I went to the ‘84 summer games, but that’s cuz they were in my backyard - it was neat, went to track & field. The Lillihammer, Norway games made me want to be there so much…it just had such a cool vibe & the town looked so quaint. Thanks, for sharing your trip, and your funny observations/remarks - never have been to Canada but always want to.
Love all your photos and all the red, we have relatives living on Prince Edward Island, it is a beautiful country!! Thanks for sharing.
March 2nd, 2010Next best thing to being there! Happy Zombie blog!! The last pic is funny because funnel cakes are really Pennsylvania Dutch!
March 2nd, 2010OMG! Thanks so much Monica for sharing such a birds eye view of the Olympic venues! I felt like I was there and one of my faves was seeing a familiar friend- TIMBITS!! I was born and raised in Canada so it was nice to see this!
March 2nd, 2010Thanks again for sharing!
Monica, how did I miss this post? I LOVED it! We used to live in Bellingham and when India was a baby, and would only fall asleep if we were driving, we would drive to Vancouver late at night. We saw the Peace Arch many, many times laaaatteeee at night. I love Vancouver and we seriously considered driving up for the Olympics but now it is a days drive just to get there. But I loved the visual tour. Someday we will go again.
March 2nd, 2010Whata fun and colourful trip. Loved seeing everything. It was just like being there. Did you ever find Bob???
March 2nd, 2010Yeah!!! So glad you got to go. Riff and I spent 3 days in Vancouver a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. I to love Gastown and China town and West Vancouver and the Skytram and and and…..
March 4th, 2010I’m an Olympics freak too, but actually glad they’re over now so that I can get some SLEEP!!
I just had to tell you how much I enjoyed your trip, I absolutely love the olympics I watched all I could dreading the ending wondering “now what will i do” I love your blog anyway but really enjoyed seeing your view. I’m glad you could go since it’s way to far for me! You always crack me up keep up the great blog!
March 4th, 2010What an amazing post! You made me feel like I was there. I was grinning from ear to ear reading of your adventures. I am a Canadian and thank you for your wonderful story.
I love your blog.
March 4th, 2010Oh my goodness, you are so close to my house!! Whoo hoo you made it through HOPE!!lol
March 7th, 2010Hey! Thanks for enjoying my backyard! Wasn’t it fab! For all things Canadian please check out my blog for my patchwork version of the Canadian Flag. I think you will enjoy. BTW congrats with Lecien!
March 9th, 2010I wish I knew you last year, Monica!! So glad that you loved Vancouver (I have many photos of those same red benches downtown!). You know the picture of the view from your parkade? Well, if you look at the highest houses up the hill from the towers at the harbour, that’s where I live in North Vancouver!!! Please come back.
May 28th, 2011I didn’t think I could like you any more than I already do … but you posted about Timbits!!! (I eat a box of 20 banana cream filled almost every week … ’splains the size of my caboose!)
June 7th, 2011