5 years ago today: Olympic torch fever!

Five years ago, on February 11, 2010, we were so excited because the Winter Olypmics were about to take place in Vancouver BC. Well, I was excited once the torch relay went through our neighbourhood. Before it all began I wasn't sure about the cost, and our winter weather was non-existent! We are having similar weather this year. It's very warm and balmy, no snow on the mountains, lots of warm rain and the spring flowers and pink trees are bursting into bloom.

Here I am, on Kingsway near Boundary only 5 blocks from our house.

Just as Robert snapped the picture, the torch bearer turned away. But it was still very exciting. There were mobs of people and you could feel the thrill in the air. The Olympic flame was passed along and continued into downtown where the opening ceremonies took place the next evening, on February 12.

The first few days of the Olympics were rainy and overcast, but then the sun came out. It was a wonderful time which I think I'll always remember with great fondness.

I blogged extensively about it. Just click on "2010 Olympics" in the right hand label.

Loretta Houben

A day downtown

Last week, on March 18, my parents and I ventured downtown.

We do this once every two years. Don't ask me why...

We really should do it more often, as once we get down there, we have a grand time!

The picture above is taken in the old CPR station, where my Dad and his family arrived from Spalding, Saskatchewan in 1941. He would have been 12. He remembers the room being full of wooden benches. This place is now Waterfront Station for the Skytrain and the Canada Line.

This is the lovely new streetcar on loan from Belgium. I rode this around 15 times. I absolutely loved it; but now it is back on it's way to Belgium. Vancouver is not keeping it.

My Dad remembers the old streetcar system which used to run through Vancouver. A momentous day! My parents met Matthew working in his cheese shop at last.

We hobbled down to the Olympic flame, which is a very long walk indeed.

It was a chilly day, but we had a fun time seeing the sights of our lovely city.

Day 17; last day of the 2010 Olympics

This large cookie was in Mrs. Field's cookie shop yesterday. Yummy! It was definitely an appropriate thing to spot, as Team Canada did go for the Gold today, and they WON IN OVERTIME, 3 - 2!!!!!!

What a beautiful flag.

Canada has won the MOST GOLD medals ever in a winter Olympics!!!!

"You can find gold all over the world, but most of it's right here." "Winning a gold medal is incredible. Winning the most ever, that's not bad either."

I'll never forget the past 2 weeks. What a wonderful event it's been.

Day 16 of the 2010 Olympics

Today, Saturday, February 27, is my nephew Colin's 21st birthday. Happy birthday, Colin! I cannot quite believe he's 21, and I find it difficult to believe that the Olympics is nearly finished. What a fantastic, unbelievable, exciting 2 weeks it has been!

Today we were in Walmart when a cheer went up. A Canadian gold medal had been won by the long track team in speed skating, then within 5 minutes Jasey-Jay Anderson won gold in the parallel giant slalom race. It was so cool to see it all on the 20 big screen TV's!

Later that evening Kevin Martin's curling team won another gold.

It's the most gold medals for a host country in one day!

Yay, CANADA!

Day 15 of the 2010 Olympics

The weather has changed. It does that a lot around here. I didn't feel like getting up at 6:30 in order to leave the house early, in order to get in a line up to visit the Art Gallery for free, but I did. No, the picture above isn't of the Art Gallery. That shows the line up for the Royal Mint! Here is the Art Gallery, which used to be the provincial courthouse. The building was designed by Francis Rattenbury, who also designed the Empress Hotel in Victoria, and the Parliament Buildings. The Art Gallery has been here since 1983.

Inside the stairwell.

The lineup outside the Gallery, which stretched down to Georgia St, and up around the next block! I waited for one hour, arriving at 9 am. It was worth it, as I saw 32 of Leonardo da Vinci's body drawings. I was so fascinated, I bought a book about them. The drawings are from the Royal Collection belonging to Queen Elizabeth. I would love to know why they are in such good condition. I asked the guy in the gift shop, but he didn't know the answer.

Robson Square. I was famished when I exited the Gallery, so I went to Chapters across the street, and had a cup of hot tea and a piece of bannana bread. I even got a seat!

I had a neat view of the Art Gallery and Robson Square from Chapters 3rd floor window. It was a good day for Canada. We won a silver medal in women's curling, and 2 gold medals in speed skating, and HURRAH! the men won the intense, nail biting hockey game against poor Slovakia. Now they will battle it out on Sunday with the USA. My brother in law and my nephew have box seats for this game. I'm actually jealous!

At a local flower shop. I hope all this enthusiasm sticks around for the next year!

Day 14 of the 2010 Olympics

In a way, I wish the Olympics could last for a month!

I'm having such fun, and I never knew it would be this exciting.

Each day gets better than the one before! Today, Thursday, February 25, is Day 14.

I worked on an outfit for Yvette Marie, who wishes to be like the Canadian women's hockey team, who won Gold for the 4th time in a row in Olympics! They beat the USA team, 2-0.

I made a tiny puck out of clay, and it was baking in the oven when I took this photo.

Can you guess what the hockey stick actually is?

"Wow, Maman! Look at all the people in Canada Hockey Place!" "Does this mean that Team Canada will really win?" "Yes, they DID win! I want to play just like them! Maman, I need ice skates!"

Joannie Rochette from Quebec, Canada, won Bronze tonight after her free skate event at the Pacific Coliseum. (photo by Matthew Stockman)

I think she is one of the bravest women I've seen. Her mother died suddenly on Sunday morning after flying here to Vancouver. I don't know how Joannie did it.

I wish I could give her a big hug!

And so ends another fantastic Olympic day. Never have I experienced quite the thrill this event has given me.

Day 13; 2010 Olympics

Wednesday, February 24 was Day 13 of the Olympics.

It rained, and I had 2 appointments. However, there was the excitement of the men's hockey game at 4:30 pm, between Canada and Russia. I've never experienced such a game, except for Game 7 back in 1994 between the Canucks and the NY Rangers for the Stanley Cup. But that Game was lost, and this Game we won! Wow. What a feeling. The score was 7 - 3!

Later that evening the women's bobsleigh team won GOLD and SILVER!

What a day.

(the above photo was taken at Metrotown in the Build a Bear shop)

Day 12; 2010 Olympics

Tuesday, February 23, was Day 12 of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The rain and chilly weather returned, so I visited Metrotown Mall in Burnaby, and took photos of the magnificent windows, decorated not so much for the Olympics, but for the pride of being Canadian! I've never enjoyed my city so much as during these past 2 weeks. I didn't think we had it in us to be so patriotic! Purdy's is, of course, one of my favourite shops. We started a new tradition with these 2010 games: every time Canada wins a gold medal, we eat a chocolate maple leaf! Our leaves ran out, so on this day I stocked up on chocolate coins, covered in gold foil.

On this day, Canada beat Germany in men's hockey; 8 - 2!

Go Canada!

This is one of my favourite windows.

I just love these boots!

Ashleigh McKiver won GOLD in women's ski cross, an event which made its debut at these games. I love watching ski cross!

I hope you enjoyed this tour of our mall.

Day 11; 2010 Olympics

Monday, February 22 was a fantastic spring like day. This is the strangest winter yet. I had to MOW THE LAWN today! It was growing too high. My allergies are horrific too. But we have a dog, and she does her business in the back, and it's too difficult to clean up when the lawn is a foot high! I also dug in my garden with a pitch fork, turning over the earth, and didn't even need a sweater let alone a jacket. I hung out a load of laundry too. It was 15 C. It was nice to stay home and get caught up on the household chores. We watched the Ice Dance competition in the evening, and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won GOLD, beating the Russians. It's the first time anyone has won gold in this category from North America. We were so thrilled, we went to Stanley Park and took these photos.

Whenever a Canadian wins Gold, the Olympic rings in the harbour turn a golden colour.

I don't know what I'm going to do next week when all this excitement has vanished.

I realize more and more how much I love our city!

Day 10; 2010 Olympics, Part 1

Sunday, February 21, was Day 10 of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

And what a spectacular day it was.

The above shot shows the BCIT parking lot near Willingdon Church, which is the church we attend. Usually the church people can park their cars here, but not for this Sunday, or any Sunday during the Olympics. So we go to the 8:30 am service in order to park at the nearby high school. It's interesting getting up at 6:30...

After the service, we headed downtown in our car, to see if we could get parking near Granville Island. We did, and we even managed to get a seat for lunch at Tony's Fish and Chips, the best place in Vancouver to eat fish. I cannot stop taking photos of our lovely city.

We went to Stanley Park, via English Bay route. Look at this photo.

Are you envious?

We found a funny lot of sculptures.

We stopped for a dessert at a cupcake shop.

These were the very best cupcakes we've ever eaten.

I think if you click on this photo, you'll see the Olympic flame on the other side.

I think we live in the best city in the world!