Скачать или смотреть Transportation Chaos Vancouver 2010 Olympics

The GLITCH GAMES

http://onlyinVANCOUVER.com

This bus episode is only one small example of the problems in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Transportation, like at all Olympic events was chaotic. It was very difficult to get anywhere in the region throughout the entire event. Bus schedules were radically changed and communication with residents and spectators was almost nonexistent except for the warning by the city not to drive because city streets would be a nightmare. That was about the only thing they got right. Bus drivers usually didn't have a clue about the schedule and often sent us off on the wrong bus in the wrong direction. Thankfully most drivers never made riders pay, and drunks always rode for free in order to keep them pacified.

Many buses were old and in poor shape. They broke down on the sides of mountains with Olympic athletes onboard, plus, drivers got lost, and some even quit only a few days into their service.

The best option was to walk everywhere, but after a couple of days on your feet it was obvious the Olympics is not for anyone who is not fit, or over forty. Taxis were very hard to flag because they were not allowed into the main areas.

There was a high and very intimidating police presence everywhere in the downtown core. Police walked together in large groups for their own protection and constantly stopped people drinking alcohol on the streets and made them pour it onto the curb, which I assume eventually ended up in the ocean because Vancouver does not have a modern sewage system. Lucky fish.

Pavilions are spaced out all over the city and to walk to more than a couple a day is a challenge well beyond most people. There were a few located in the central party of Vancouver's downtown area, but they were so busy it took between 3 to 6 hours waiting in line to get in, and then only to find little of quality entertainment, food, or anything of cultural interest that would keep you there for more than about twenty minutes.

The pavilions where people stayed the longest were basically drinking tents, and boy did people drink.

Drunkenness became such a problem police ordered local liquor stores to close at 7pm. There was a revolt by partiers so after a few days the police relented and instead boosted their patrols. The street was a very scary place when Canada lost a hockey game, which fortunately didn't occur often.

Food at pavilions was adequate at best. The Sochi Russia pavilion for example even had food safety issues and was closed for health reasons by inspectors until the issues were fixed. It wasn't a good sign considering Sochi is hosting the Olympics in 2014.

Even food at the biggest places was average at best, and in some cases horrible. I ate a tepid overpriced chicken sub at BC Place during Opening Ceremonies and was ill the next day.

Many of the restaurants and bars in the city boosted their prices, but even they had very long lines to get in. The secret in an Olympic city for a bar or eatery is to have a TV. If you do, and it is turned to the Olympics you pretty well have an automatic crowd you can gouge until the wee hours. Many pavilions, like Irish House, or Holland House for example were basically nothing more than rowdy drinking environments with average entertainment and food.

It became tiring very fast unless you were looking for a hangover and sore throat from screaming Go Canada Go all night. Definitely a place for the young set interested in getting blasted and hooking up. What's not to like! BC Bud was everywhere, used in copious amounts and easy to obtain despite the oppressive police presence. They basically looked the other way unless they caught you selling it on the street, and even then they simple took it. One shop was even busted during the Olympics for selling it over the counter.

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