Penultimate Day

We enjoyed a slow start to the day other than having to get up at a decent time to write the blog entry that I was too tired to write the night before. We hung around the house to say good-bye to Leena's sister and her husband who were flying back to Toronto today. While we were at the house Canada won two surprise gold medals in skating pursuit and snowboard parallel slalom.

With an extra bounce in our step from those exciting results, we were off again to Granville Island. 

While wandering around we encountered some giveaways at the House of Switzerland. They were giving out Ricola cough drops, some kind of Swiss biscuit, and Lindor chocolates. It turns out it was Lindor Day as the House of Switzerland.

Our main goal for the day was to see some of Atlantic Canada House. At the front entrance, an honest host of the House explained that the line for the upstairs exhibits really only led to a bunch of tourism information. A second line was for a lounge that had food tasting--but not for two hours. She explained that there was a musical show at 6 pm and the line for it had not yet started. We wandered around the market a bit to kill time until we could line up for the show.

If there is a skill that we have perfected at these Games (out of necessity) it is queuing. We have had to line up for most of the free attractions. Fortunately this one at Atlantic Canada House was only an hour and a half. And, as so often happened at these Games, we met interesting new people in line and had engaging conversations while we were waiting.

We also monitored the gold medal men's curling game through the windows of the lounge across the walkway from our queue. Once again the area erupted in applause and cheers when the Canadian team won the gold. It was our 13th gold medal.

Since shortly after Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Games in 2003, Canada has had an athlete assistance and sport research program in place called "Own the Podium." The goal of the program was to win the most medals at the 2010 Games. It was a lofty goal and even before the Games, some people ridiculed the idea although Sports Illustrated bought into it. 

Well it turns out the goal was just slightly misunderstood. Canada's goal was not to own all of the podium; just the centre. Canada will now finish these games with more gold medals than any other country. There are a few of us who think that is a truly amazing accomplishment for our country.

Back at Atlantic Canada House, we thoroughly enjoyed a show called "Come On In." It was a review by four young artists from Atlantic Canada--one from each of the provinces. The performers hailed from Hunter River in Prince Edward Island, Cow Head in Newfoundland, Halifax in Nova Scotia, and Notre-Dame in New Brunswick.

They each performed a number written by themselves or other local artists and wrapped their performance around their stories including their families and their musical heritage. 

The performance included a kitchen party where they invited two members of the audience to learn how to play the spoons.

The backdrop for the show was a large projection screen that showed images from the performers' stories and beautiful scenery from the Atlantic provinces.

It was a wonderful show that took the audience into the homes of these people and conveyed the well-known hospitality, talent, and industriousness of the people of Atlantic Canada. We were fortunate to see the show as it was the last of 45 performances for the Olympics.

From Atlantic Canada House we moved on to the House of Switzerland. It was housed in a restaurant on Granville Island called Bridges. It is primarily a restaurant serving Swiss specialties and acts as a home base for the Swiss athletes, officials, and supporters.

They have redecorated Bridges with photos and images from Switzerland, including a red mountain goat mascot sporting a white cross like the Swiss flag.

The goat even appears on the roof among the fish that normally live at Bridges.

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation is anchoring their Olympics broadcast from a temporary studio on the second floor terrace at Bridges.

After about an hour in line we were shown to a table in the restaurant.

I was wearing my Team 2010 t-shirt. A man stopped at our table and asked me where I bought it. He said he just loved it. I told him it was only available to volunteers.

While we ate, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation signal was being shown on the televisions around the restaurant. For a while we watched the bronze medal hockey game between Finland and Slovakia. Suddenly an announcer appeared beside the television near our table. He explained that some special guests were on their way. In our haste to celebrate Canada's gold medal win in curling, we had neglected to notice who had won the bronze medal. Of course it was our new friends the Swiss. The bronze medal winning team were on their way by boat down False Creek to the House of Switzerland.

The broadcast followed the announcer out to the dock outside the restaurant where he proceeded to whip the crowd outside and the patrons inside into a cheering frenzy as an Aquabus approached the dock. Alas, the boat was empty. 

The next time was luckier and the Swiss curling team emerged from an Aquabus sporting their new bronze medals around their necks. They proceeded to enter the House of Switzerland and paraded through the restaurant right beside our table. We had the opportunity to high five each of the members of the team. In the excitement and close quarters it was hard to greet them, give them a high five, and try to take pictures. The best I got was a headless shot of a bronze medalist and medal. 

The team proceeded into the next section of the restaurant where they were interviewed for Swiss TV. By now we felt like we really knew these guys. It was a bizarre, fun, and exciting event.

Later, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation showed a hilarious segment of bloopers from the Games. I hope the same footage makes it onto North American broadcasts.

After dinner we took the Aquabus from Granville Island back to Yaletown. (Full disclosure: This picture was taken earlier in the day. Despite what Stephen Colbert said, it does get dark at night in Vancouver.)

From the Aquabus we could see the Vectorial Elevation light show reflecting off the low clouds.

We had gone to Yaletown to see the fireworks at LiveCity Yaletown one last time. The free concert had already filled the venue to capacity so we waited on the seawall behind the venue for the fireworks. I don't think I have ever been as close to launching fireworks as we were tonight. They were launched from a barge in front of us in False Creek and from the ground behind the performance stage. Standing where we were, we could feel the power of the explosions. Some of the debris landed in the water just shy of the seawall. Despite the fear factor, it was a great show.

From Yaletown we walked across town to the waterfront. As we walked up Robson Street we could hear the roar of the partying crowd ahead so we took a detour around the noise.

At the waterfront we had one last look at the Olympic Cauldron before it is extinguished tomorrow night during the Closing Ceremonies. It will be a shame to see the end of the flame that was lit in Greece back in October and traveled across Canada for almost four months. 

Tomorrow is my birthday. I have spent some exciting birthdays being serenaded while standing on a table in a bar in Mexico, enjoying the desert climate in Phoenix, and being served breakfast on the beach in Maui. I am greatly looking forward to a thrilling day tomorrow. Not just for the same reason as most Canadians--the gold medal hockey game--but for my final day attending and contributing to these memorable Games.