In February the 2010 Winter Olympics start and Vancouver is the host city. It's all I heard about while I was up there, but the funny thing was almost all of it was negative. Nobody I know is looking forward to having to try and work and live when 20 bajillion foreigners come to town. A few people I know are actually planning on going out of town for either the full 16 days or as much of it as they can get off/ afford. A lot of the public servants who are being given special pins, vests, hats, etc. to wear during the two weeks are fogging it on ebay to make a little extra cash and make a point. It's a very controversial issue (and for good reason) because Vancouver is a very beautiful city with a very ugly underbelly which a lot of the world doesn't know about. Anyways, I went off on a bit of a tangent there, here's a few more pictures:

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6785586_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs228...._4903048_n.jpg

I think this was the one that was fully zoomed in. I wish I had a more powerful camera with at least 10 mega pixels, but I'm really starting to warm up to this one.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6086139_n.jpg

Took this one out on the back deck in the morning while out having a smoke.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4811260_n.jpg

Canada Place... not quite as cool looking as Sydney's Symphony Hall, but still cool in it's own way.

Is the New Amsterdam cafe still there?
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/fi...erdam-Cafe.jpg
I have fond memories of that place

Pete, yeah I guess I can understand that. I was in Syndey when we hosted the Olympic games in 2000 and it was so ridiculously crowded and busy and not enjoyable.

We've been hearing about the Winter games a lot over here, too, I just didn't click that Vancouver was the host town! It also always seems odd to me when we're in the middle of summer :laughing:

All I heard about it was all the fuss Colbert was doing about being the sponsor of the skating team... tho he's doing real great winter Olympic special.
And I'm pretty sure I'll be watching the Olympics daily... tho I don't think I'll be much excited to see them live, but I'm sure the opening should be great.

First thing that pops in my head when I see this is "apocalypse".

Yeah that's what I was thinking when I saw the picture. Two years ago when they were still building the Shangri-La (the really tall building) there would be this really cool skeleton look as the sunlight penetrated each floor. My friend who lives in that apartment took a picture, but I don't think he has it anymore.

New Amsterdam Cafe is still there, but I've never been. I feel more comfortable smoking pot somewhere closer to home.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/...193582c588.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2726/...6d3723a085.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/...4814742851.jpg

^ I love the second one, I dunno what it is about it though.

Isn't the Australian Open happening near Melbourne?