Vancouver Olympic Flame is Extinguished

So here I sit, in downtown Vancouver on a dreary Monday morning following the closing of the biggest event in Vancouver history. Today reality sets in and we all try to adjust back to a post-Olympic existence, and start dealing with the hang-over the 17 day party has left.

It seems some people expected all the roads to be back to normal already so they all decided to drive to work today. It took almost 30 minutes for the bus I was on to get through Chinatown and East-Van. It would sure be terrific if traffic remained reduced from pre-Olympic levels and at least some people discovered public transit was, for them, a cheaper and viable option. It was certainly enjoyable walking around downtown and not gagging on exhaust fumes!

Otherwise, today I mainly see a lot of folks walking along pulling luggage behind them. The line-ups which have been a fixture for 17 days are gone from the Bay, and the now-closed Royal Canadian Mint House. One person I know walked right in and bought a jacket at the Bay on the way to work today. Myself, I just walked over to the cauldron and discovered I could stroll right up to the much talked about, and much maligned, chain link fencing.

It’s strange and somewhat surreal looking out our office’s 17th floor window and seeing the cauldron extinguished and the throngs of people gone. Thankfully it will be reignited on March 12th when the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics begin. Speaking of the Paralympics, tickets are plentiful and affordable if you don’t want that Patriotic Olympic Buzz to end yet.

So far I’ve purchased Paralympic tickets to the Canada – Norway Sledge Hockey game – (a rematch of the 2006 Turin Gold Medal game), Mens & Ladies Downhill in Whistler, and the Gold Medal Curling Match – all for a total of less than $150 for 2 tickets! Check it out at the Vancouver2010 site.

A local story from yesterday which made me smile was when the morning radio reported that a hundred or so protesters yesterday marched over the Cambie Bridge chanting “homes not games”, but met their match when they came upon thousand of rabid hockey fans who started chanting “get a job” & “get out of town”. Police had to protect the protesters this time

It will take at least a few days to adjust back to a post-Olympic reality, but I’ve been through this before having grown up in Calgary and lived there through the build-up, events, and post-games blahs following the 1988 Winter Olympics. I think the ‘88 games changed the psyche and attitude of Calgary, helping shed some of that “cowboy” image, and I’m positive Vancouver will never be the same following these games – and I mean that in a very positive sense.

Hopefully gone forever is the “No Fun” and NIMBY attitude so many in this city hold. Hopefully here to stay is the optimistic, patriotic feelings we’ve all been swept up in over the last 17 days. I truly feel bad for all those who decided the games would be nothing short of a disaster, or would impose on their boring daily routines, and so fled to spend the Olympics on a beach someplace while the rest of us rediscovered what it really means to be Canadian and had the Party of Our Lives!.

Cheers from the greatest city in Canada, and I wish our friends in Sochi, Russia all the best as they prepare for an event which I hope will excite and redefine their country in the same way these games did ours.

Of course, you will see labels and signs all over in Canada in both French and English. But, through my extensive travels I’ve learned that some Canadian words just don’t translate into American English, and vice versa.

So, here is a handy glossary of 12 Terms You Need To Know When You Visit Canada:

1. Loonies and Toonies - These cutesy words are far weightier than they sound. They mean money. Loonies are gold colored $1 coins. Where does this term come from? Well the Loon is the national bird appearing on the front of the $1 coin. The lonesome call of the Loon is a familiar sound in the Canadian wilderness.

2. Toonies -Yes, you guessed it. Toonies are the Loonies $2 cousin.

3. Tuque – The quintessential winter accessory in Canada. We hear that these winter hats are called “ski hats” or “beanies” elsewhere. But Canadians will keep their tuques, thank you very much.

4. Tim Hortons – Canada’s favorite coffee and donut shop. Located throughout the country and often referred to as “Timmies”, it’s a staple in the Canadian diet.

5. Double-double – Often heard at Tim Horton’s, this is the way the “pros” order a coffee with two creams and two sugars

6. Pop The common word for a soft drink, deriving from “soda pop”. Up here, soda is the fizzy water that’s good for getting pop stains out of clothes.

7. Washroom – A synonym for bathroom, restroom or toilet. Don’t waste precious time looking for the bathroom when all signs point to the washroom.

8. Poutine – With all the multi-cultural foods peppering Canada, be sure to try this homegrown favorite on your vacation. This dish of French fries, cheese curds and gravy originated in Quebec has won fans across the country. Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds!

9. Canuck -This is a term of endearment for “Canadian” as in the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, who can be seen on Hockey Night in Canada. Hockey Night in Canada is a must see TV event for hockey lovers…meaning most of Canada. Ask any Canadian on your vacation to hum the theme song – it’s a catchy one!

10. Runners – These are casual sports shoes, otherwise called sneakers or tennis shoes. “Runners” can join “sneakers” on my unofficial list of oddly named items.

11. Click/Kilometer – Kilometer is such a cumbersome word for measuring distance. The slang “click” is a much faster way to share how many kilometers you’ve traveled on your Canadian vacation.

12. Bill – Although you may run into a few friendly Canucks named Bill, chances are you’ll meet bill more often. In Canada, a bill is what you pay at a restaurant.

So, next time you’re in Canada, counting your loonies and toonies while enjoying your double-double after walking 10 clicks in runners and thinking about asking for the bill …you’ll feel right at home.

About the Author:
Canadian Travel Expert, Ashley Wilson takes the hassle out of searching all over the web trying to figure out where the best deals are and how to build a Canadian vacation that’s perfect for you and your family. To discover how Ashley can custom build your dream vacation using an exclusive combination of the latest technology and personalized human contact go to: http://www.freshtracks.ca