[SpongeG]

so I finally got out and checked out some of the sights - this is barely any of them there is so much to see its overwhelming anyway here are some pics that I took today...

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3167/dsc07623o.jpg

near the media centre crowds go to check out the cauldron which is getting some negative press becasue its behind an ugly fence
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6963/dsc07581o.jpg

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/7579/dsc07585p.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1750/dsc07586n.jpg

pin traders are up and down this area
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9218/dsc07587i.jpg

never seen so much patroitism in canada in my life
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8947/dsc07588.jpg

don't know what this was - i think it was a protest against global warming perhaps - looked like a polar bear or something
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/421/dsc07590t.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8366/dsc07591l.jpg

getting closer - apparently stephen colbert was just here and I must have missed him
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3860/dsc07592q.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8092/dsc07593n.jpg

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/415/dsc07595n.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4897/dsc07597h.jpg

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/285/dsc07599v.jpg

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/2636/dsc07601d.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6479/dsc07606we.jpg

you come across cameras and reporters everywhere
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8603/dsc07608l.jpg

containers used as film fest viewing thing
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/575/dsc07609s.jpg

police from all over Canada have been brought in -you can't tell by the pic but 3 officers - one is from Montreal, one from Saskatoon and one is RCMP
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4277/dsc07612k.jpg

inside the container
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/6602/dsc07614b.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/121/dsc07615.jpg

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/9317/dsc07617u.jpg

inside is an on-air guy for CTV network
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1494/dsc07621u.jpg

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8051/dsc07625.jpg

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3285/dsc07626g.jpg

jameson house under construction
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4260/dsc07627t.jpg

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2922/dsc07628.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7779/dsc07629e.jpg

line up for one of the pavillions - the royal canadian mint - that the public can check out
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/874/dsc07633i.jpg

inside a downtown department store russia has set up shop - u can also buy team uniforms hockey jerseys etc from other countries like finalnd, italy, great britain, usa, china, new zealand, australia etc. most of the team jackets are very expensive - the china one is $585 the USA one is $385 and $785
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8771/dsc07636.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8914/dsc07637q.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2860/dsc07638b.jpg

blurry but aww
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6369/dsc07639k.jpg

Canada's first gold medal on home soil winner...
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6876/dsc07642n.jpg

flags are up everywhere
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5971/dsc07644k.jpg

CBC doing its sports on the street
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7084/dsc07649em.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1846/dsc07651.jpg

aboriginal pavillion
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2332/dsc07653g.jpg

live city party site - 30 min wait at this time to get in
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8664/dsc07659.jpg

new lighting
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6706/dsc07660.jpg

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/9062/dsc07661.jpg

alberta pavillion
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/5444/dsc07663x.jpg

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/2777/dsc07665.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3240/dsc07666a.jpg

Bell cube
http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/1922/dsc07669f.jpg

an ugly blank wall being used to great effect!
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9130/dsc07681iu.jpg

nice use of a bus stop
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1650/dsc07712.jpg

signs in multiple languages line the street
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4673/dsc07716.jpg

[hkskyline]

So that was the infamous fence around the flame!

[FerrariEnzo]

It is a terrible fence... great set.

[russbaseball]

great set!!!

[Coldrsx]

nice set, terrible fence

[mSeattle]

Thanks for the continuous coverage. Those look like April/May mountains (climate change?).

[SpongeG]

thanks

the fence previously had screening on it too the blue/green/white used all over the place

they have opened the roof next to it as a viewing area which has proved popular and they have made a cutout area in the fence as well as moving it closer to the cauldron - they made the changes overnight

a pic from the paper today
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2577079.bin
Much better pictures of the Olympic cauldron are now available since Vanoc made changes to the fencing surrounding the flame.
Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, PNG

[Aleks]

those russia outfits are soooooooooooooooo filthy! i want one so bad!

awesome tour btw!

[Ayreonaut]

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/421/dsc07590t.jpg

It's a polar bear, it was wandering around during Colbert's shoot. Gave they were handing out stickers, which I stuck to my friend's bumper.

[SpongeG]

went out and got some more pics

crowds outside the canada line - more crowded because a group was busking right here
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6609/dsc07727z.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7249/dsc07735.jpg

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/6016/dsc07739o.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/508/dsc07740.jpg

still long lines for the royal canadian mint pavillion
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8899/dsc07745h.jpg

near the one germany house beer garden
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6523/dsc07750zu.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4638/dsc07751n.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6096/dsc07752ir.jpg

on the way to see the improved viewing of the cauldron
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1858/dsc07755c.jpg

saw a number of TV crews at the cauldron
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/719/dsc07759.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8781/dsc07760i.jpg

the fence was on the other side of the video surveillance before
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5532/dsc07762d.jpg

happier crowds
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/332/dsc07763u.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2074/dsc07767v.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5927/dsc07778qs.jpg

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3592/dsc07780m.jpg

in the lineup to the new viewing deck just opened - this is looking at north van
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/544/dsc07781i.jpg

police boats
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4696/dsc07783f.jpg

roof top flags!
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9084/dsc07787yq.jpg

looking back where we started - its about 30 mins to lineup
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8026/dsc07788p.jpg

flags are everywhere
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1482/dsc07790c.jpg

getting closer
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/8418/dsc07792g.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6343/dsc07797y.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/2177/dsc07798r.jpg

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5900/dsc07805s.jpg

media
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6387/dsc07808.jpg

loud and gassy smelling
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6568/dsc07809e.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4558/dsc07812sk.jpg

my thumb - i was there!
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/725/dsc07818q.jpg

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8093/dsc07822g.jpg

media
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6889/dsc07823l.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/84/dsc07834y.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7023/dsc07835.jpg

omega store inside the hotel vancouver - its just temporary - we had no idea who was showing up but there a small crowd had gathered....
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8651/dsc07856.jpg

than we see why!
Canada's first gold medal winner!
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8218/dsc07860en.jpg

the crowd grows and media shows up
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/866/dsc07871e.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1146/dsc07878o.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/774/dsc07879.jpg

Michael Phelps
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6382/dsc07898.jpg

he signed some book
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4084/dsc07917.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2421/dsc07919c.jpg

he got a watch
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9067/dsc07930t.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8573/dsc07931c.jpg

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4756/dsc07948e.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/9844/dsc07956h.jpg

this is the same kind of watch he received
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9013/dsc07957i.jpg

[SpongeG]

may as well add these - my camera battery died at robson square so i went to put in my back up and it was dead too - but by leaving it off a bit it had enough charge to snap a few pics at the NHL party at club bud... some i didn't photo were John Hamm (Mad Men), the USA snow boarders, Patrick Chan, two actors from GLEE! and some other actors/US olympic athletes...

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2032/dsc07990.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6456/dsc07992.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5316/dsc07993n.jpg

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/4260/dsc07994.jpg

this guy is from the TV show "V"
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1118/dsc07995k.jpg

Americans in the crowd
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/62/dsc07997f.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8540/dsc07998f.jpg

the short girl is US figure skater tara lipinski - she is very young and very skinny tiny thing - she has her back to me being interviewd by a tall guy
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1791/dsc07999.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6936/dsc08000d.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3355/dsc08001.jpg

some actors
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/9265/dsc08002x.jpg

US figure skater kristy yamaguchi - also extremely skinny and tiny
http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/2382/dsc08003a.jpg

michael buble
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1681/dsc08004.jpg

[ue]

it just looks so crazy there !!

:tup:

[DLLB]

I was there for 4 days. The atmosphere was electric. What a great experience.

[Spoolmak]

Is it not a good thing that the flame is behind a fence?? Look at what happened last week with the rioting... if the flame was not behind a fence it would just get destroyed.

[SpongeG]

ok took these on saturday it was kinda drizzly at times but crowds were huge

some random ones on the way...
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8167/dsc08026.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2535/dsc08027.jpg
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/6211/dsc08028.jpg

went to see the flame for the last time... with a few thousand others
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/3581/dsc08031.jpg
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9108/dsc08032p.jpg
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2183/dsc08033t.jpg
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3185/dsc08035.jpg
they moved the sideewalk - i think teh crowds were getting in way of the media centre entrance..
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7001/dsc08037b.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7914/dsc08041.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7914/dsc08041.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/48/dsc08044.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7366/dsc08055bf.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5685/dsc08057g.jpg
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3848/dsc08059n.jpg
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2894/dsc08060.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7118/dsc08062a.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/618/dsc08065.jpg

the rings turn gold when Canada wins a gold medal!
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6571/dsc08067.jpg

live music on the corner
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6122/dsc08074.jpg

i don't understand the blank white space
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7861/dsc08079.jpg

crowd engrossed in mens curling final - really they were watching curling
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8321/dsc08093kg.jpg
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9656/dsc08091.jpg

smart dude selling t-shirts for $10! people were buying em - basically said Canada gold medal game etc
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8193/dsc08104o.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1710/dsc08106.jpg

line and crowd at the always popular beard papas
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/7444/dsc08108.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9373/dsc08112.jpg

crowds ahead in yaletown
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8062/dsc08113a.jpg

people outside a bar/resto watching curling
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8568/dsc08118.jpg

ready for the crowds to hit canada line
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4301/dsc08122.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7935/dsc08123.jpg

statue getting a lot of attention
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/130/dsc08124u.jpg

lineup for live city party site - got to check out the 3D TVs at panasonic - very cool
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5347/dsc08130e.jpg

their home at casa italia
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5231/dsc08129.jpg

inside live city
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/5708/dsc08135.jpg

the line for coca-cola pavillion was about 3 hours i think
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5842/dsc08136.jpg

random umbrealla street performers
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5155/dsc08141b.jpg

silver elvis
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5720/dsc08154.jpg

these were at this corner pretty much everyday of the games
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5052/dsc08162k.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3421/dsc08163z.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9132/dsc08166.jpg

always a popular eatery
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4803/dsc08164.jpg

lights from vectoral elevation
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1913/dsc08174y.jpg

new hot dog place
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1480/dsc08185k.jpg

had quite the crowd
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2001/dsc08197.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9629/dsc08201d.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5456/dsc08210f.jpg

partying at the VAG
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3231/dsc08223z.jpg

granville street crowd
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9918/dsc08193fv.jpg

lights in the sky - visible from most places near and far in the lower mainland
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2005/dsc08191x.jpg

[entheosfog]

Super pics! lots of stuff covered here. It is an overwhelming task trying to get to everything, but a fun process non the less.

[SpongeG]

yes and i didn't get anywhere near the rusky dome or those pavillions down there, i missed canada house area and the ozone - I had been a coupel days before the games began and had intended to get back when they were open but never did

i probably should have gone out more

[SpongeG]

a couple last ones

the flame is gone - despite that there was a still a small number of people mulling around and taking pictures
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6255/dsc08340a.jpg

the clock is all 0's
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1694/dsc08356i.jpg

the rings remain gold
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3563/dsc08342.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8818/dsc08366j.jpg

next up the paralympics
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9849/dsc08357t.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4496/dsc08354l.jpg

[Complex01]

What a great thread. To much fun. Nice Job...

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8568/dsc08118.jpg

My fav pic. Lots of parties, thats for sure...

:cheers:

[BG918]

Wow, looks it was an amazing time. I wouldn't be surprised to see Vancouver and British Columbia tourism double after the promotion it was given during the Olympics.

This looks like Stacey Dales..
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/84/dsc07834y.jpg

[SpongeG]

i think it was her (i just googled here) - she was all over that are that day interviewing people with a camera crew