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Anyone planning on going to the Winter Olympics in 2010?

Anyone planning on going to the Winter Olympics in 2010?

Old Dec 12th, 2009, 07:28 PM
  #21  
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Hi tuckerdc -

We have not done it yet. DH wanted to go this past Fall but there was always something holding us up - Work - Fall is my busy season.
He wants to go in late spring.
When you go please make a trip report!! I will do the same!
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Old Dec 15th, 2009, 12:57 PM
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Yes, Yes and YES again!

I am so glad that I found this thread. I was just thinking that it was odd that no Fodorites would be making the journey.

I have been busily planning eveything for months and I am very excited. The ticket purchasing and the transportation details and the restaurant reservations and...WOW securing accomodations has been loads of invaluable work!

So here is the outline:

I have 18 Olympic Event Tickets!
I 30 restaurant reservations...secured
I have one fantastic accomodation and I am excited, excited...excited.

I will come back with more details. I m kinda rushing around and waiting for a very special delivery today!

Cheers!
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Old Dec 15th, 2009, 02:03 PM
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Oaktoown - I am envious indeed!
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Old Dec 15th, 2009, 02:10 PM
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I have Olympic tickets too and I'm very excited. We purchased a package of hotel, flights and tickets to 3 venues at a charity silent auction in the fall.

We are seeing men's hockey, curling and short track speed skating. We live in Ontario, Canada and love winter sports. Lots of snow here.

We visited Vancouver last year for a week and loved the city.
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Old Dec 16th, 2009, 02:17 PM
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I'm going to several events, but then again, I live downtown and will be pretty much in the heart of the craziness. My only regret is not being able to buy Opening Ceremony tickets.
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Old Dec 17th, 2009, 04:06 PM
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Annesherrod:

I am truly beyond excited. The tickets arrived a couple of nights ago. I am simply elated. I have been to Vancouver a few times and I can't wait.

So, inbetween now and then I plan to continue enjoying this lovely Christmas season and I am going to study up on every sport that I will see...the people, the rules, the records and of course...the drama!

Carmanah:

Will it be all wlking in the downtown area? How far and how many blocks are defined as downtown? Will taxi's be available? How much will they cost? If you know someone in the USA you can buy OFFICIAL Opening Ceremony Tickets still. We, the USA citizens, have Opening and Closing and a few Ice Hockey tickets available now from Cosport, our official ticket company.

Let me know what you know about the downtown. I have all of the public transportaion info and websites and am just wondering if no cars downtown is real?

Thanks!
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Old Dec 18th, 2009, 11:44 AM
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Oaktown, have you ever tried driving through downtown Vancouver on a normal day? Since there aren't highways through the city, it's all surface streets, with stoplights at every block. The last time I tried to drive through the city center, on the way back from Whistler (hey, it was Sunday night! I thought there couldn't possibly be traffic) I remember thinking even Manhattan isn't this bad. So I would take the suggestions to use public transit very seriously.

My events are in Whistler, and we've rented a condo there. I'm wondering how bad that drive will be, given that there will be a checkpoint on the Sea to Sky Hwy to keep people that don't have parking out. I guess it'll take as long as it takes...
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Old Dec 18th, 2009, 02:19 PM
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getting very jealous........

Hmphhh!
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Old Dec 22nd, 2009, 10:57 PM
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I guess some Olympic trip reports are in order??!
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Old Dec 23rd, 2009, 05:51 AM
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TuckerDC--

I did the Empire Builder last year and hope you enjoy it as much as I did (it was a dream of mine also)... Truly a superlatively gorgeous North American train ride as it passes through Glacier Park, the desert of eastern Washington and into the evergreen Cascade Mountain region. And I used it too to get to British Columbia (visited mostly Seattle and Victoria, BC that trip).

My trip report from http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rth-americ.cfm

Best wishes,

Daniel
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Old Jan 7th, 2010, 06:57 AM
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I rec'd my figureskating tix today: Pairs Short, Row 13...yippppeee!

Enjoy-la!
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 01:54 PM
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I promised you an update and detials after the holidays so since every santa and house bulb is stored away in the garage here goes...ready???

Okay by category:

Tickets all "A" level one or two "B" level seats:

Opening Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

Curling Women's Qualification USA vs Japan and 6 more countries

Ice Hockey Women's Prelim featuring USA vs. Finland

Alpine Skiing Ladie's Super G

Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Cross Qualifications

Snowboard Ladies Parallel Giant Slalom Quals/final/final(no seat...I will stand in my spot as purchased...laugh!)

Speed Skating Mens 500m Individual Final

Figure Skating Ice Dance Free Dance

Figure SKating Pairs Short Program

Figure Skating Ice Dance Compulsorary

Short Track Speed Skating Ladies 1000m, mens 500m, ladies 300m

Figure skating ladies short program

Figure Skating ladies free program

Figure Skating Gal Exhibition

Ice Hockey Women's Prelims Canada vs Slovakia

Ice Hockey Mens Prelim's Sweden Vs. Germany
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 02:07 PM
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OK: Olympic Food CONFIRMATIONS with the REQUIRED credit card for most of these. Note I will be in Vancouver for a month so yes, these are the 30 that made the cut. One is a tea and one is for breakfast making a total of 32.:

Bacchus

Q4

Italian Kitchen

Raincity Grill

West Restaurant

Kobe Restaurant

Bluewater Cafe

Coast Restaurant

IL Giardino Restaurant

Heron's Restaurant

The Secret Garden Hig Tea

Market by Jean- George Restaurant

Fleuri Restaurant

Diva at The Met

Bishop's Restaurant

Parkside Restaurant

Tojo's Restaurant

DB Bistro

The Cannery Restaurant

Chambar Restaurant

Le Crocodile's Restaurant

CinCin Restaurant

C Restaurant

Luminiere Restaurant

The William Tell Restaurant

Cioppino Restaurant

Joe Fortes Restaurant

FigMint Restaurant

Arixa Restaurant in Whistler

Five Sails Restaurant

Medina for Breakfast
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Old Jan 12th, 2010, 02:32 PM
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Now for Winter Olympic Transportation:

I am taking the train from California all the way to Vancouver. I have a private bath sleeper car and I am very excited. I LOVE trains so this is a real dream for me. I am leaving Cali. well before my first event which is OPening Ceremonies. I fly back to San Francisco a couple of days after the olympics ends. I do not like the whole crowded airport thing and I love Vancouver and that I will get to enjoy it when all of the crowds are gone and before the Para Olympics really get going.

HOUSING:

How shall I put this? I have a beautiful, beautiful two bedroom fancy condo with a balcony and state of the art everything in downtown Vancouver. It is steps away from BC Place and not too far from Canada Place.
I guess the kitchen will serve as a breakfast thing and maybe a late night warm up delicious leftover thing? I will buy tons of wine and fresh fruits, etc.
I have a roomie for less than 5 of my days. She is great,did the Beijing Olympics so she is "ready" for the Vancouver experience.

I will use the bus, tram, sky thingy and taxi's to get me to my restaurants. I will walk lots too. I have a driver from the train station as I have LOTS of luggage....smile!

PACKING:

I have new snow things: boots, gloves, scarves, jacket, vest, pants, etc. This stuff weighs a ton.

I have all of my 35mm camera equiptment...still GRIN!

I have a bunch of pretty cashmere sweater sets and great matching in color pants that will keep me warm while I look good wink!

I have some of my Inauguration dress up for the evenings that will be cold but where I need to look nice for the restaurants.

I have marked the cultural events and museums and exhibits that I want to visit and I look forward to the free celebrations around Vancouver. Their are ticketed celebrations and ceremonies and I will see how that fits into my very tightly scheduled 30 days. Of course their are some corporate and invitation only receptions and la-dee-da's and I will see if I feel like doing that since I do that at home alot.
I have been to Vancouver several times but find it amazing everytime I visit.

I am SO ready to go!

I have studied, and I am still studying all of the winter sports, rules, regulations, medal history, drama, comedy and so on so forth so that I will know what is going on and who to watch. I have not a clue about curling but have three Winter Olympic Books that tell me everything that I could ever want to know. I am keeping up with the ABC winter olympic website and the USA olympic team website and so on so forth. Yes, inbetween college footbal, which is now over and Pro basketball and college basketball, I am watching The World Cup. I keep screaming everytime they go down the hill...so exciting!!!!

I am in heaven on earth...

Well, I told you I would get back to you. I hope I did not disappoint!

Cheers!
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Old Jan 13th, 2010, 08:14 AM
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That sounds Fabulous!!!!
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Old Jan 13th, 2010, 08:07 PM
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Well Oaktown, sounds like you're all ready. Just wanted to add a couple of restaurants to your list. You've picked some very good ones and some are a little on the pricier side. Chambar (recommended) is great – not far from where I live, but if you're in the same neighborhood give Cafe Medina a try. It's open for breakfast and lunch and you won't be disappointed. The Pourhouse in Gastown is good too. Bonita is always highly rated – and although the neighborhood's a bit sketchy, that's part of the charm.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is showing some of the Leonardo Da Vinci, Mechanics of Man, exhibit starting in February. Don't miss it. The 2010 Aboriginal Pavillion is on the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth Theater – just across from one of the "LiveCity Downtown" sites.

Have fun!
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Old Jan 14th, 2010, 11:17 AM
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One other thing Oaktown, I just found this link of free (!) things to do around town during the Olympics:

http://www.citycaucus.com/2010freevenues
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Old Jan 15th, 2010, 02:14 AM
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Annesherrod and SMac:

Thank you!

I will check out your recommendations. The challange is, all of what I have listed above for restaurants is 75-80% credit card secured and booked. The few...very few, who did not insist..I do mean insist on a credit card had me send a pinkie swear across the border. I do have some limited lunch flexibility. We will see what else I can squeeze into my days and nights...

Here is the great news...Medina is SO on my list. They do not take reservations but we have worked something out for what I want. So stoked about that! Great people.

The Vancouver Art Gallery, The Aboriginal Pavillion and you all have a Sports Museum or Hall of Fame or something. These are all places that I plan to visit. I am working my way through that free listing link. Thanks, I was told about it.

I am beyond ready and excited. I love Vancouver and can hardly wait for these few weeks to sail by!
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Old Jan 17th, 2010, 12:37 AM
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So many streets downtown are going to be closed, and yes, it's crazy traffic on the best of days, so I can't imagine driving a car through downtown.

Walking (and having an umbrella handy) is likely to be your best choice.

As I just mentioned on another thread, we have been told to expect up to 2 hour public transit delays. It would make zero sense, most likely, to use public transit when you are downtown.

Are you going to Whistler for any events? Is this where the snow gear comes in? You likely already know, but snow gear is very unlikely to be useful in the city. Bring rain gear.
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Old Jan 20th, 2010, 08:28 AM
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Hello Everybody!

I take off in a few short weeks...unbelievable.

No, I will not have a car during the days of the actual Winter Olympic events. The public transportation options are spot on. I will walk where it makes sense to do so. I have events at BC Place and at Canada Place and at all the other venues. I can walk to BC PLace within minutes from where I will be living. Canada Place is also not so far. A single bus and some walking will get me to that place. The others will take some time and patience.
The official olympic site has extensive transportation links that help you to plan out your travel time. I am allowing a minimum of three hours to get from my door into my seat for all of my events. In many instances the venues open up to 4 hours prior to the start of the event. I do not like being late or last minute. You also have to allow LOTS of time for security.
I am there for a month so before the games begin and after I will have a car. I have been to Vancouver a few times and on two occassions I did have a car so I am fine.
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