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Boy, my feet hurt. I feel like I’m on a trip. Except that with this trip, I get to drive back to my own home instead of walk back to my hotel. Anywho, I traveled back Downtown today, the main purpose being to visit the Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion (500 Granville Street). I got there a little after 9am and the lineup was already massive. It took about an hour and a half to edge my way in there and another 30-45 minutes to get inside the room full of Olympic and Paralympic medals.

Here’s that 100kg of pure gold $1 million coin on display at the Mint.

Now here are the medals. The first set are the Paralympic medals. They’re more square and have braille on the backs of them, which supposedly say “Vancouver 2010″.

This set are of the regular Olympic medals, which are rounder but just as heavy as the Paralympic medals. It supposedly takes a total of 24 hours to make one of these medals from start to finish. Note that each design on each medal is unique, so no two medals are exactly the same.

After visiting the Mint, I went walking, walking, walking, and walking some more (it’s no wonder my feet are in pain). I happened to walk right to the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street), where the Olympic clock sits. The clock seems to be counting up the days now, but it’s saying today is Day 3 as opposed to what I thought was Day 5.

I’m gonna need a better photo of that clock. The biggest Canada flag in the world must be included. (The flag is just across the street from the clock.)

Here’s the bustle and hype of Robson Square (800 Robson Street), where GE Ice Plaza (the skating rink) is and also the Ziptrek Ecotours zipline as noted by the wires in the photo below. There was a performance at the ice rink by some skaters in hoodies and the three mascots: Quatchi, Sumi, and Miga.

It seems somewhat ridiculous, but the mascots got a security escort out of the ice rink. And little kids were screaming, “MIGA! QUATCHI! SUMI! AHHHH!!!”

While wandering the mostly car-free streets of Downtown Vancouver, I came across this copper Goldilocks-cowboy-tingirl hybrid.

When girls and little kids would go up to her for a photo, she would hold out her hand, but when guys would go up to her, she would pull out her GUN. And point it right at their faces. She was really good though.

Anywho, as I continued walking along who-knows-what street, I came across the lanterns that I had previously only seen in photos.

And that pretty must sums up the gist of my day. Oh, and also watching the Canada vs. Norway hockey game at a friend’s house. I was on the lookout for a big Canadian flag today (missed my opportunity yesterday) and later also a Canada Luongo jersey but ended up getting a huge Canada hockey flag and lucking out on the Luongo jersey, which meant I was forced to wear my Canucks Luongo jersey. Great nonetheless.

As for the proposed Wednesday nighttime outing, that has been postponed until Thursday. As for Wednesday, I still will be heading out yet again to Downtown, I forget for what right now (I’m exhausted), and another hockey game watching will happen on Thursday along with an outing. And another outing on Friday, places to be determined.

If this doesn’t sound like a trip/vacation to you, I don’t know what does.

So I decided to hit up the city today. I hadn’t been down there in what felt like a lifetime, so I figured it was time to go back. Only fitting, right? It was also somewhat strange hopping onto transit for the first time in months. (Yeah, I’m a spoiled brat.)

First stop of the day: Main Street – Science World, or what they now call Main Street – Science World – Canada Hockey Place – Olympic Village – Who Knows What Other Extensions They’ve Added On. It seems that Science World has become a place for Russia to broadcast its Sochi 2014 flair. Long lineups to get into that, I must say.

Of course, across the water, there’s the Olympic Village, but I’ll show you that later. Here’s the biggest Canada flag in the world first.

I passed by LiveCity Downtown, and saw yet another ginormous lineup. I honest-to-goodness have no idea what goes on in half of these places during the day, and I don’t care for long lineups unless I’m interested, so I was just passing by them.

Next up: Waterfront Station (en route to visit the Fortress-of-Solitude cauldron). I found this very interesting and cute “Welcome” sign at the station.

The 2 phones there actually work (although they suck at identifying what you’re trying to touch). Interesting nonetheless.

Here, more mobs of people by Canada Place/Convention Centre because…

of THIS!

Ah, yes, the Wayne Gretzky-lit cauldron. Poor thing’s being caged out from the world, although I can understand why. I don’t think I’d want to be potentially vandalized or climbed on if the whole world could come that close either. They should probably change the caged fence into some bulletproof-can’t-shatter glass for the sake of those thousands of cameras that don’t want obstructed views.

It seemed like no one except VIPs could get into the Convention Centre, but that didn’t stop me from snapping away.

Did you notice the huge Earth hanging around in the photo just above? It spun too.

They made the funkiest signs and structures for the Olympics here.

Since I happened to be right there, I went to see what was inside Concord Pacific. They have the coolest models of real estate and whatnot in there, and I got a free recyclable bag, stuffed tiger (I suppose for Chinese New Year), and a lanyard.

And of course, there was the Molson Canadian Hockey House. Two things about that place: (1) too bad you have to pay to get in (and it is not for the light-wallet-ed), and (2) too bad I’m not legal yet.

Turn around, and it’s back to the water and Olympic Village (across the water). I discovered a zoo of inukshuks along the edge of the water.

Here’s another one of Olympic Village. The sky was getting darker as I continued snapping pictures.

And here’s Harbour Centre in the distance, seemingly still decked out for Christmas in its little Santa hat.

After going through the Plaza of Nations/Science World area again, I was on a mission to find the Bell Ice Cube (and am I glad I did). I found this first, and I don’t know what it is. Music played in there; that was all I saw.

And… victory!

And why was I so glad to find the Ice Cube?

I discovered this! But whose writing is that on the torch…? None other than…

…#87, Sidney Crosby (one of my friend’s idols).

There wasn’t much at the Ice Cube though. But I did score a set of ear buds (not that I don’t already have enough Apple ones from multiple iPods and my iPhone) and a cowbell (I know, weird).

And that was that. Time to call it a day. My poor blistered feet were begging for it. However, I will head back tomorrow to check out the Royal Canadian Mint and whatever else I may run into. And Wednesday will be for checking out the nightlife The city is more alive when it’s dark out.

Things I noticed today: every other person had a pair of Olympic mittens, every other person owned some sort of “CANADA” hoodie, and… I love that the world has arrived in my backyard, ready to embrace and are embracing the place I call “home”.

On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the Olympic Torch Relay continued on its 105th day, going through the Lower Mainland including Coquitlam and Burnaby. Now, being a student at BCIT, I was fortunate enough to be able to go outside and witness this Olympic hype. Until that day, I wasn’t even looking forward to the Olympic break.

Thankfully, my one and only break on Thursday was during the time the torch bearer, Joel Pineau (a BCIT student), would be set to pass BCIT. The crowds gathered and cheered, waving Canada and Coke flags alike, watching and waiting for Joel to come.

It looked as though the weather gods were on our side, because as the time came closer, the rain kept away. Umbrellas closed and views got better. Fast forward another 30 minutes, and the view of two torch bearers exchanging flames is visible from a distance (from my view on top of a small hill at least, and not pictured here unfortunately). 10 seconds later, Joel passes, waving at the crowd, who is cheering back at him.

I managed to get a somewhat shaky and not-so-great quality video from afar of the run.

Now that I’m free from the chains of school, I obviously have more time on my hands. And what have I done with my time so far? I watched the Opening Ceremony from the comfort of my own living room. I was stunned by everything during the ceremony. Until that will-be-infamous mechanical glitch with the last cauldron. Embarrassing much, Vancouver? I’ve seen all the Twitter posts about it, from how they handled it well to the fact that Canada invented insulin and not Viagra (@uranowski).

I was disappointed with that snafu. I will say though, that other than that, everything was well done. There were just a few minor things, like lip-syncing, canoe-guy and his shadow movements not matching up, tap dancing clicks not sounding at the correct time… but overall, I was very impressed. I can only hope now that the closing ceremony won’t have silly glitches like the ones in the opening ceremony.

I’ll hopefully be going around the city touring, checking out the sights and sounds, and snapping them photos. Needless to say, I’m now so glad I get a two-week break to recoup, watch the Olympics, and be proud to be a Vancouverite, and a Canadian. Despite our embarrassments.