Visiting the Olympic Pavilions Downtown

One of the major attractions during the 2010 Winter Olympics has been the free Olympic pavilions that offer a virtual visit (and sometimes a taste) of the world.  Sometimes it has required patience to be admitted because of the long line-ups, but last night I lucked out and hardly had to wait at all other than for security checks.

First I headed down to Robson Street going east to Beatty Street.  In spite of the rain there was a lively exhuberant crowd on the street going to the hockey game.  Perhaps that’s why the lines were short to enter the pavilions.

Alberta House, located across from BC Place, is an interesting structure, eco-friendly, made from local recyled and recyclable materials.  One side is open to the street, so although I didn’t actually go inside, I was able to see and hear the stage entertainment.  Others sat inside enjoying food and drinks.

My first destination was to the Haida Gwai House, found ina tiny gallery at 738 Beatty Street.  They have an on-line contest you can enter to visit the Haida Gwai, which is in the Queen Charlotte Islands, on the northern BC Coast.  Of course, I entered it because that is a fascinating destination I would love to visit.  I watched the video show of the islands and then went back down the street. Across the street from alberta House is the Bell Ice Cube where there was only a short lineup although a lot of people were standing outside watching the women’s curling game on the TV monitors. 

This is a unique square-shaped building that shimmers like a block of ice.  After passing through the security I went inside, was given a set of ear-buds, and entered the crowded room just in time for an amazing performance by a group of vocalists from NYC,  “Naturally Seven”  a talented septet who sing and make all the instrument sounds vocally.  All around me people were glued to the TV monitors as the heart-stopping 6-tied score for teams of Canada and Norway women’s curling teams competed.  Alas! Canada lost by one point.  But the music continued, filling the crowded space with happy vibes.

Afterwards, I walked over to Georgia Street and proceeded up to the Live City Downtown site.  A small wait as everyone must go through security checks and then I entered the big downtown ‘piazza’ that has a large outdoor screen, daytime interactive school programming, street entertainment and late-night entertainment on the stage.  This night, mobs had gathered in the rain to watch the exciting Canada/Slovakia hockey game.

I went inside Canada House and enjoyed watching the children having their photos taken posed in a bobsled, holding the torch, taking a virtual spin on a snowboard down Cypress Mountain or practicing their slap-shots.  Lots of things for kids in this pavilion with interactive games. 

Live City Downtown (Georgia Street between Beatty and Cambie) will be open during the Paralympic Games, March 13 -14 and March 18 – 21 from 1 pm to 7 pm.  The 2010 Paralympic Games begin March 3 in Ottawa with a torch run, arriving here at BC Place on March 12.

I ducked int Manitoba House before leaving the Live City Downtown area and took a look at the tourism display there.  My main aim had been to have dinner at the Host First Nations restaurant behind their pavilion at Georgia and Hamilton Streets, but there was a private function that night. So I browsed the First Nations  market place where I was particularly impressed with the fantastic masks that were on display and the big coke bottles decorated with Aboriginal designs.

It was disappointing that I couldn’t get that First Nations feast I’d had my heart set on, but in all it was a satisfying tour and an easy one, taking in a number of hospitality houses in a very short time, with no two or three hour waits!