A weekend catching up with friends

Last Friday was an exciting day at the airport. Many, many athletes, officials and media arrived. I must say the best of the bunch were the Swiss - maybe I'm a little biased because I have family there and I lived in Switzerland for a year - but then everyone else working with me agreed they were the highlight. So let me tell you why. The group consisted of about 50 athletes plus coaches and other hangers-on with more than 250 oversize bags holding skis, poles, etc. etc. The athletes came from Zurich via Toronto with several hours layover, but in spite of being tired they were smiling and energized and definitely bouyed by their greeters. A proper Swiss mountain canton greeting - the sound of cowbells clanging through YVR played by men in leiderhosen and women in frilly swiss traditional dress. It was a heart warming sound to me bringing back memories of cows marching down an Alpen hill with their gigantic bells - it actually brought tears to my eyes and I got so excited I tried to take a photo and do a video (which of course we are not supposed to do!). I managed a quick snap on my cell phone so will transfer that and add tomorrow. I did do a video and once I have figured out how to download that from my camera and here - I will add that too - the images are pretty bad, but you'll get the sound.

Sunday afternoon I returned to Steveston after a whirlwind 24 hours in the city. Well, maybe not so whirlwind, after all a big part of the time was spent relaxing on an outdoor patio - yes you read this correctl - an outdoor patio. I met my friend Lynn yesterday in Yaletown - getting off the skytrain to a bright sunny day with tons of people buzzing around.  We decided to walk along and see which restaurant tickled our fancy and could not get past Glowbal Grill. There behind the daffodils and crocuses was a very busy patio - people were sitting around enjoying what looked and smelled like fabulous food minus jackets!

After a long catch -up - much has changed in both of our lives since we last saw each other two years - two mojitos and lobster filled eggs benedict, we began to stroll. It was absolutely glorious - 12 degrees, but felt much warmer. Yaletown is one of those areas that 15 years ago was decrepit warehouses and a not so pretty part of town. Well, what a transformation the city has made. Yaletown is next to the water, along False Creek and the boardwalk follows the marina for a couple of kilometres. What a view! There were people out strolling, jogging, roller-blading, walking dogs and happy, happy, happy. We could see the Olympic village in the distance and the techies were setting up an Olympic stage set along the boardwalk. the city is definitely abuzz!

Take a look at this picture - to the left under the bridge is the athletes' food tent - a massive structure that feeds a few hundred at a time - although the athlete's village is all new condoes - the kitchens are boarded up and unusable so the condos remain in pristine condition and ready for sale once the Olympics are over. So all must eat in this tent.  And that big yacht (three stories high and at least 100 feet long - well we weren't sure, but think it belongs to the owner of Lululemon. 

After lunch with Lynn, I hopped on the skytrain and headed to Richmond - first conencting with a long (almost but no longer) lost childhood friend. Larissa and I had not seen each other in 7 years, and we plan to spend some time together next week to really catch up. But Saturday was just a quick - how fast can you talk and tell me all that's gone on in our life - hour since she was working a 12-hour shift the next morning. So she dropped me off at Larraine's where I had a yummy quiche and salad ready and waiting. I tell you - spolied does not describe how my friends here are treating me!

The weather continues to be fabulous and there are lots of signs of spring. Along the drive from margaret's to the airport - I have spied cherry blossoms starting to appear on trees. And look at these little crocuses - they have completed opened up their little faces to the sun - this shot is also from Saturday along the marina. From the daffodils at Glowbal's patio to these pretty little beauties - I am getting a real taste of things to come way ahead of you guys back east.

Back to work today - my second last day shift as after tomorrow I am only working evenings - yay - sleeping in and not walking around like a zombie. My french is definitely improving, but when the brain is too tired to think in English - can you imagine the garbled french that comes out!  My francophone colleagues tell me I'm fine but sometimes they give me this quizzical look that I'm sure means - "I have no idea what you are talking about!"

So a light dinner of leftovers - steak salad (from Margaret's most perfectly grilled giant porterhouse on Sunday night) - and early to bed for me today.