It was nice knowing where most of the scenes were shot.
On the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, after the game they usually have some live shots from a car driving around whatever city they happen to be in. One night after the Cannucks played, they were in the West End (where we lived) and went past the street we lived on about four blocks up from where we lived at the time. That was kinda cool.
Speaking of Vancouver, as you know, they are host to upcoming Winter Olympics. I enjoy internatinal competitions sports because they do bring enemies together in many instances, without gunfire. I know it's only a dream, but It's one I like.
Today I watch Anja Paerson, Sweden, win a "Combined Race" where you race one speed event and one technical event and the combined time wins...the shear animated joy the little Swedish fireplug expressed is what it is all about. Even Lindsay Vonn, American's best as of now (30 wins in World Cup) hugged her...as she should, Paerson has 41 wins in World Cup as of today....4th IIRC on the all time list. Paerson is a phenomenal skier and watching her beat Vonn today did not bother me (Vonn finished 3rd).
It's one of thopse niave ideals I still retain, and vancouver will be the world's stage in just a couple weeks. Viva Vancouver!!
Well you probably wouldn't enjoy the road closures (starting today) and the traffic diversions, and the "Official Olympic Traffic" lanes, or the you can't get there from here even on a bus, or a train.
And there is no snow. None, nil, zero, zilch...
But I am looking forward to watching the figure skating and the men's hockey on my flat screen, HD, TV in the comfort of my own home.
That was a cool little video (nice tune to go with it - very well-matched!). I never realized that fog in fast motion looks and acts like waves of water. Well - sure made Vancouver look purdy! And clean. I ain't a big fan of our big cities down here. Some architectural gems and interesting things to do and see in each, but on the whole when in cities like NYC or Chicago or even LA I see: filthy dirty, over-packed, and not that pretty close up.
I don't suppose we have to tell you, MW, that there are areas of Vancouver that did not make it into this video. There are areas of Vancouver that look worse than anything Seattle has to offer. You don't want to spend much time on East Hastings Street, for example.
mw, the tune came first then the musicians searched for someone to make a video to match the song. Vancouver is a beautiful city and very clean for the most part. But, like Matt mentioned, it has it's problems and problem areas.
Yeah, I guess most big cities do have their icky areas. Vancouver does look lovely though ;O) Only city I've seen in Canada was Victoria - ferried over from Seattle.
The major cities I've spent a lot of time in though were MOSTLY icky. Seattle was okay. Chicago, NYC, and LA really do have tons of interesting things to do - and LA and NYC are fun because you walk around seeing stuff you've seen in movies. But look down at the ground? Bleh. Disgusting. Rats, debris, horrid odours, unmentionable puddles of you-don't-want-to-know. Filthy cities, all three of them. In and around NYC there are areas with such bad rat problems that you don't put food down and turn your head. I wouldn't recommend turning away from a baby in a stroller, either. Hordes of rats. I once made the mistake of looking through a gap in the boards laid over underground work. So many rats it was like a movie where they are running over eachother by the hundreds of thousands. Couldn't see the ground, just an ocean of writhing rats. Double-ewww.
Florrie & Fay....don't write off NYC. It is unique and probably the best food destinaiton in the country, bar none. It has a pulse, it is alive, and when visiting you can feel it. Dozens of local cultures within cultures, dstinct neighborhoods, and for arts and theatre it is without peer. It's expensive, but most good things are these days.
As for rats...bah, all cities have rats, lots of rats, and just becasue you don't see them only means they're well hidden...by human design or their own.
We really do need to take a trip to - my wife and I have been talking about it for too long.
I've been to NYC many times. Never seen a rat. Never looked too hard, truth be told.
Avoid the heat of the summer. May and June are great; so is September.
monkeyweather is right about the smell. If I were ever blindfolded, kidnapped and taken to NYC, I'd know exactly where I was. I was at a party with some friends a couple years ago; it was June, a very pleasant evening, but the scent of spring and the slight breeze did not entirely ameliorate the fetid notes.
"Ah, fresh air" said one city friend on leaving the apartment.
My "you cannot be serious" rant in response was a good twenty minutes.
I love NYC! I lived in the Village for a year, (and worked at the WTC) and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. NYC THRUMS with energy and creativity! I spent hours every week walking and exploring, eating delicious ethnic foods and chatting with people.
I never saw a rat, but the roaches will carry off your couch.
HA! That's funny LadyR - I never saw a cockroach. I lived in a a brand new building catty-corner to the WTC South Tower, and it was no doubt the newness that spared me the cockroach visitors.
I agree with Aridog about the energy - the food I am on the fence about though. Some fantastic, some wretched. Well known (and pricey) establishments with really badly cooked fare. Weird. Best to find ethnic hole's-in-the-wall where the matching ethnicities are actually eating. Chinese joint filled with local Chinese, etc. Guess that same rule applies to every major city though, huh?
I felt very safe in NYC, the natives were tons of fun and quite friendly despite their reputation for hostility. Actually a lot more friendly than the denizens of London, which phenomena cracked me up. Oh, and NYC cabbies...they alone are worth the trip! :OD
I do not think I will ever return to NYC. Can't bear to see the place where the WTC was. Just wouldn't be the same and seeing that gap would be a constant reminder.
Best part of Vancouver: Fay lives in the area!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice knowing where most of the scenes were shot.
On the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, after the game they usually have some live shots from a car driving around whatever city they happen to be in. One night after the Cannucks played, they were in the West End (where we lived) and went past the street we lived on about four blocks up from where we lived at the time. That was kinda cool.
Speaking of Vancouver, as you know, they are host to upcoming Winter Olympics. I enjoy internatinal competitions sports because they do bring enemies together in many instances, without gunfire. I know it's only a dream, but It's one I like.
ReplyDeleteToday I watch Anja Paerson, Sweden, win a "Combined Race" where you race one speed event and one technical event and the combined time wins...the shear animated joy the little Swedish fireplug expressed is what it is all about. Even Lindsay Vonn, American's best as of now (30 wins in World Cup) hugged her...as she should, Paerson has 41 wins in World Cup as of today....4th IIRC on the all time list. Paerson is a phenomenal skier and watching her beat Vonn today did not bother me (Vonn finished 3rd).
It's one of thopse niave ideals I still retain, and vancouver will be the world's stage in just a couple weeks. Viva Vancouver!!
Well you probably wouldn't enjoy the road closures (starting today) and the traffic diversions, and the "Official Olympic Traffic" lanes, or the you can't get there from here even on a bus, or a train.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is no snow. None, nil, zero, zilch...
But I am looking forward to watching the figure skating and the men's hockey on my flat screen, HD, TV in the comfort of my own home.
That was a cool little video (nice tune to go with it - very well-matched!). I never realized that fog in fast motion looks and acts like waves of water.
ReplyDeleteWell - sure made Vancouver look purdy! And clean. I ain't a big fan of our big cities down here. Some architectural gems and interesting things to do and see in each, but on the whole when in cities like NYC or Chicago or even LA I see: filthy dirty, over-packed, and not that pretty close up.
I don't suppose we have to tell you, MW, that there are areas of Vancouver that did not make it into this video. There are areas of Vancouver that look worse than anything Seattle has to offer. You don't want to spend much time on East Hastings Street, for example.
ReplyDeletemw, the tune came first then the musicians searched for someone to make a video to match the song. Vancouver is a beautiful city and very clean for the most part. But, like Matt mentioned, it has it's problems and problem areas.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess most big cities do have their icky areas. Vancouver does look lovely though ;O) Only city I've seen in Canada was Victoria - ferried over from Seattle.
ReplyDeleteThe major cities I've spent a lot of time in though were MOSTLY icky. Seattle was okay. Chicago, NYC, and LA really do have tons of interesting things to do - and LA and NYC are fun because you walk around seeing stuff you've seen in movies.
But look down at the ground? Bleh. Disgusting. Rats, debris, horrid odours, unmentionable puddles of you-don't-want-to-know. Filthy cities, all three of them. In and around NYC there are areas with such bad rat problems that you don't put food down and turn your head. I wouldn't recommend turning away from a baby in a stroller, either. Hordes of rats. I once made the mistake of looking through a gap in the boards laid over underground work. So many rats it was like a movie where they are running over eachother by the hundreds of thousands. Couldn't see the ground, just an ocean of writhing rats. Double-ewww.
The thing I wonder about big cities is what makes the neighborhoods go downhill fast as soon as the gas gauge in your rental car hits empty.
ReplyDeleteNote to self: avoid NYC.
ReplyDelete"Note to self: avoid NYC."
ReplyDeleteCould you cc me on that florrie.
Righto!
ReplyDeleteheh heh
I'm just fine not seeing herds of rats. Or cockroaches. Or puddles of stuff.
I've never been to NYC but always wanted too. Not so sure I want to anymore after reading mw observations.
ReplyDeleteWe lived there (Staten Island) when I was a wee bairn.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the S.I. ferry and the Statue of Liberty.
Matt lived there as well, and I've always wanted to go.
ReplyDeleteBut lordy, lord, ain't nothing I hate worser than RATS!
Florrie & Fay....don't write off NYC. It is unique and probably the best food destinaiton in the country, bar none. It has a pulse, it is alive, and when visiting you can feel it. Dozens of local cultures within cultures, dstinct neighborhoods, and for arts and theatre it is without peer. It's expensive, but most good things are these days.
ReplyDeleteAs for rats...bah, all cities have rats, lots of rats, and just becasue you don't see them only means they're well hidden...by human design or their own.
We really do need to take a trip to - my wife and I have been talking about it for too long.
ReplyDeleteI've been to NYC many times. Never seen a rat. Never looked too hard, truth be told.
Avoid the heat of the summer. May and June are great; so is September.
monkeyweather is right about the smell. If I were ever blindfolded, kidnapped and taken to NYC, I'd know exactly where I was. I was at a party with some friends a couple years ago; it was June, a very pleasant evening, but the scent of spring and the slight breeze did not entirely ameliorate the fetid notes.
"Ah, fresh air" said one city friend on leaving the apartment.
My "you cannot be serious" rant in response was a good twenty minutes.
Uh, that was "trip to Vancouver" that I intended in my first sentence above.
ReplyDeleteI love NYC! I lived in the Village for a year, (and worked at the WTC) and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. NYC THRUMS with energy and creativity! I spent hours every week walking and exploring, eating delicious ethnic foods and chatting with people.
ReplyDeleteI never saw a rat, but the roaches will carry off your couch.
I never saw a rat, but the roaches will carry off your couch.
ReplyDeleteAnd your beer, your remote, your credit cards... srsly...
HA! That's funny LadyR - I never saw a cockroach. I lived in a a brand new building catty-corner to the WTC South Tower, and it was no doubt the newness that spared me the cockroach visitors.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aridog about the energy - the food I am on the fence about though. Some fantastic, some wretched. Well known (and pricey) establishments with really badly cooked fare. Weird. Best to find ethnic hole's-in-the-wall where the matching ethnicities are actually eating. Chinese joint filled with local Chinese, etc. Guess that same rule applies to every major city though, huh?
I felt very safe in NYC, the natives were tons of fun and quite friendly despite their reputation for hostility. Actually a lot more friendly than the denizens of London, which phenomena cracked me up. Oh, and NYC cabbies...they alone are worth the trip! :OD
I do not think I will ever return to NYC. Can't bear to see the place where the WTC was. Just wouldn't be the same and seeing that gap would be a constant reminder.