People in Vancouver are now quite excited about the Olympics. The volunteers and workers all arrived this week and are walking around in their blue jackets. Yet, in other ways, the downtown core is strangely void of people in areas. I think a lot of people are avoiding downtown. The merchants are nervous as the big crowds have not yet materialized. Still, it’s fun the way the city has gone all-out to put on a visual display. I’m not much of a photographer but I took my camera out to snap some pictures. Here’s the Art Gallery in chintz. The Olympic count-down clock is to the right. Click these pictures to enlarge, if you didn’t already know that.
The whole side of the Royal Bank was redone with an Olympic image.
The dull Canada Post Office did the same.
And The Bay department store
Streets have been closed. Robson Street leading to BC Place. It’s great – like Car-Free Day!
Olympic Tents around BC Place
A deserted Cambie Street Bridge – closed for the first opening ceremony dress rehearsal. Heard later it was dazzling.
From the Cambie Street Bridge, the large ball, formerly Science World, is now the Russian Pavilion. Athletes village to the right.
Banners on the bridge, they line streets throughout downtown.
Pacific Centre Mall redone as an igloo. Very clever.
Most of the stores have some Olympic window dressing
