The View from Here

Lazylegz – Inspiration Powered by Two Hands and One Big Heart

The clear star of the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Paralympic Games was Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli from Montreal.

Amazing performance.

Long May You Run

Neil Young – without question, the highlight of what were…  well, wacky Closing Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. A moving moment created by the crusty voice of one of Canada’s iconic poets of song.

Long May You Run

We’ve been through
some things together
With trunks of memories
still to come
We found things to do
in stormy weather
Long may you run.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Well, it was
back in Blind River in 1962
When I last saw you alive
But we missed that shift
on the long decline
Long may you run.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Maybe The Beach Boys
have got you now
With those waves
singing “Caroline No”
Rollin’ down
that empty ocean road
Gettin’ to the surf on time.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.

Closing Ceremony – Who’s Performing?

Rumours of Olympic proportions are swirling in cyberspace… who will be performing at Sunday’s Closing Ceremony in Vancouver?

There’s some famous faces in town… Neil Young, K-Os, Michael Buble, Nickelback and Avril Lavigne are all on the lineup, according to their publicists and news reports. Shania Twain has been spotted in town.  And who’s at the hockey game? Michael J Fox, Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Brent Butt, a host of hockey greats including Gretzky, Messier, and Gordie Howe. And, there may be last-minute arrivals – it’s a short hop up from LA for many of Canada’s biggest celebs who now reside state-side.

Who’s gonna be at the Closing Ceremonies? Any rock ‘em sock ‘em hockey lovin’ stars you know?

Champion of Our Hearts… Joannie Rochette

VIDEO  http://www.ctvolympics.ca/video/index.html?assetid=84b95b91-661b-4e01-bc1e-b30f180a8e3f

YOUTUBE HAS REMOVED VIDEO BELOW BC OF IOC COMPLAINT. CHECK LINK ABOVE IF YOU ARE IN CANADA.

IF YOU ARE IN U-S, TRY THIS NBC LINK – http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=295f7ba4-e132-4fc9-8d93-afbb7b217612.html#joannie+rochettes+emotional+tribute

Rochette in 3rd after emotional performance

The Canadian Press

By Jennifer Lukas, The Canadian Press Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:40 PM ET

As Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette struck the final pose of her short program, Tuesday, the audience in Pacific Coliseum erupted.

Rochette burst into tears.

As the 24-year-old skater’s emotions bubbled to the surface less than three days after her mother died unexpectedly following a heart attack, the crowd was on its feet. Rochette, of Ile Dupas, Que., had skated a clean short program to the tango La Cumparsita by Gerardo Hernando Matos Rodriguez.

With 71.36 points, Rochette was in third place – a position continued to hold after the final skaters had taken their bows.

Earlier in the evening, Mao Asada of Japan and Kim Yu-Na of South Korea had begun the next chapter of their career-long on-ice rivalry.

Asada and Kim, both 19, skated back-to-back in the fifth flight of skaters on Tuesday.

Asada, skating first, performed a flawless program to Masquerade Waltz and was rewarded with a score of 73.78 points. But when Kim took to the ice for her James Bond medley routine, the crowd was struck silent as they watched Olympic history in the making.

With a clean program that included a triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination, a triple flip, a double Axel and some Bond-girl attitude, Kim put together a world-record performance.

Kim scored an unprecidented 78.50 points to take the lead.

Canada’s national silver medallist, Cynthia Phaneuf of Contrecoeur, Que., scored 57.16 points for her short program to Nocturne by Claude Debussy.

Phaneuf, 22, of Contrecoeur, Que., landed every jump in her short program on Tuesday but slipped on her straight line sequence. The shock was evident on the Canadian national silver medallist’s face as she hit the ice. She was hurt by a deduction on the element and will enter Thursday’s free skate in 14th place.

Joannie Skates Today with Support from Home and Afar

Canadian skater Joannie Rochette skates this afternoon, just a few days after the unexpected death of her mother here in Vancouver. Across Canada and around the world, people have been sending her their condolences and best wishes.

None, though, more touching than this video from the students and teachers of her former high school in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. A lovely, heartfelt gesture.

Article by Max Herrold, The Montreal Gazette

Figure skater Joannie Rochette’s former high school in Trois Rivières, the Académie Les Estacades, has put out a video with students and staff touching their hearts and saluting Rochette, as she prepares to compete at the Olympics on Tuesday night in Vancouver.

Rochette’s mother Thérèse, 55, died suddenly of heart failure in Vancouver on Sunday, and much attention has been paid to how Joannie ­ her mother’s only child ­ is coping.

The nearly six-minute long video is sure to offer some real solace.

In it, teachers, students, coaches and athletes hold up a signs that say ‘l’Académie les Estacades pense à toi Joannie’ with a big hand-drawn heart.

Playing in the background of the video is the song J’imagine by Annie Villeneuve, in which the singer intones, in French, “I imagine an invincible force, the beautiful strength of a world united. I imagine that we can fly, I imagine this force a reality.”

Toward the end of the video, Académie director Dany Martin reads a letter to Rochette in which he quotes from author and spiritualist Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles. The passage urges Rochette to stand tall in her performance at the Games.

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same,” the Williamson quote reads.

Martin adds “we can’t imagine how complex your situation is right now, but we are convinced that your light will shine no matter what your result at the Olympic Games.”

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Sunny Weekend – Do the Bus Tour

It’s going to be sunny and spectacular all weekend in Vancouver.

Great opportunity to get away from the madding crowds in the city centre and have a little adventure.

My recommendation this weekend? Get on the cheapest tour bus in town and head to Dundarave and Horseshoe Bay.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1372557113047582773GraewV

Here’s how to get there:

Go to the Hudson’s Bay in downtown Vancouver, at Georgia and Granville.

Stand in front of the Georgia Street main door entrance until a blue bus with#250A Dundarave or #250 Horseshoe Bay comes by.

Using the 2-zone bus tickets – which you have of course, as a dutiful Vantwisitor reader, purchased immediately upon arrival – get on the bus. If you have somehow failed to follow Vantwisitor’s instructions and are actually trying to find enough change in your pocket for the fare – it’s $3.75/adult and $2.50/kid. Except Sundays, when it’s $2.50 adult and $1.75 kids all day.

Wheee! You’re off!

Try to get a seat by a window on the right-hand side of the bus (as you enter the bus).

You’re going to head down Georgia Street… thru Stanley Park… and over Lions Gate Bridge!

Great view from the bus, huh?

And now, you just stay on it until the end of the line in either Dundarave (approx 20 min ride) or Horseshoe Bay (approx 50 min ride).

What to do When You Get to Dundarave

The truly fabulous thing about Dundarave is, of course, Jim’s Hardware. (See “What to Take Home” section on this site.) And – fantastic news! – Jim’s has a sale on flags right now!

Dundarave is also great for going for brunch or dinner. Lots of family-friendly options, and a couple of very nice restaurants. (See Eat & Drink Vancouver for references re: the Beach House and the Dundarave Fish House.) There’s also the Red Lion Pub, a neighbourhood favourite, that sells well-made solid pub fare… although a little pricey on some things. For a family meal, go for the burgers (including the really special Portobello Mushroom burger for veggies!) and the fish and chips.

Or, just grab a coffee at Delaney’s. (aside: Delaney’s is a Vancouver owned-and-operated coffee shop that Starbucks keeps trying to undercut by moving right next to them and doing promos. Loyal Vancouverites have a tendency to boycott the Starbucks that move in next door to Delaney’s shops – and this is an example of that.)

Now, walk through the village along to 25th street, and go down 25th towards the water and Dundarave Park.

Walk the seawall! Watch the kayakers! Let the kiddies play on the swings and jungle jim.

While you’re there you’ll notice the lovely Beach House restaurant down near the pier.

Spectacular view. Spectacular food. Well worth it for a special romantic dinner.

Or, if it’s Sunday night – it’s Canada v. USA hockey! Soak up some Canadian culture – and a few beer – at the Red Lion Pub.