2010 Olympics-Sunday

Sunday, February 28th:

Today was our last day in Vancouver. :( We packed up our stuff and tried to leave the condo as it was, when we arrived...including the grout!

We wanted to go watch the gold metal hockey game: U.S. vs. Canada beginning at noon. We went to Cactus Club Cafe and got a booth right before the game was to start. The bar was packed with Canadian fans, so it felt a little intimidating.

Canada took the lead 2-0 early on, so it was looking scarce for the U.S. team. But the U.S. came back to score in the end of the second period. The third period was going really quickly and it was still 2-1 Canada. With only 35 seconds left, the U.S. scored to tie the game...this was really exciting, but only for the six or so Americans in the bar! The game went into overtime. We didn't know the rules for overtime, especially for the Olympics. Canada scored the first goal in OT and took the gold. ( I like Silver Better!)

Now, we needed to hurry to BC place to get through security for the closing ceremony. This was a little challenging, due to the fact that the hockey arena and BC Place are next to each other and all the Canadian hockey fans were pouring into the streets. They were screaming, waving their flags and giving high-fives...almost was decapitated!

We get into BC Place and find our seats, with boxes sitting on them. These were our props for the audience participation portion of the closing ceremony. An hour before the ceremony started, we had a rehearsal so we knew what to do with the props. (I didn't pay a ton of money, to not see the show!) Even after the rehearsal people still didn't know what they were supposed to do.

The closing ceremony began with the raise of the fourth cauldron, that malfunctioned during opening ceremony. Then the athletes poured in and the show began. There were lots of Canadian celebrities: William Shatner, Catherine O' Hara, Micheal J. Fox and Michael Buble. Also lots of musical guests: Nickelback, Avril Lavingen, Alanis Morrisette, Simple Plan, Heble and Maria Mia. It was an Amazing Show!!! I also really enjoyed being inside the stadium and hearing the fireworks, but only seeing them on the TV screens.

After the ceremony, we joined the other attendees to walk down and out. The stadium is pressurized, so the roof doesn't collapse. So this means you can't open too many doors at once, so they have automatic doors that only allow one group at a time. It took awhile to get out of the stadium! Then everyone was trying to get to the skytrain, so that was more waiting. When we finally got down to the train, they were all full. The train was coming into the station full, so no one was going any where.

We finally got on a train and went back to New Westminister and got the car. We headed to the U.S./Canada border, again five minutes to cross the border. We got back to Alice's house in Arlington just about 11:30pm and I was barely able to keep my eyes open. I decided to stay the night and get up the next morning to go to work.

This was an AMAZING trip and I am so glad that I got to go and have these experiences! I am also glad that Alice and Chuck were there along with me...I had a blast, as usual!