And with the hint of an accent it all flooded back … Vancouver 2010

Funny how history repeats itself.  A year ago, I was somewhat blassay about the Olympics being in this fine city of ours. The Olympic Committee had not been especially warm or welcoming to locals, but a few of the Houses changed all that for me, especially La Maison de la Suiss and Saxony House.  Oh and how did I love the music at the Saskatchewan Pavilion and all the fantastic Arts at Atlantic Canada House! Well, I’ve been feeling a little the same way as the one year celebration got under way this weekend, that is until a heard a German accent yesterday and then I was taken right back, burning red face and all.

You see for me the Olympics weren’t really about the games or sport at all. They were about the people I met, both local and from around the world and in sharing in our traditions from music and celebration to food and beer.  Oh and there were some fine beers – thank you Saxony House, I get teary eyed just thinking about those tankards.  I’m happy to provide you with an address for a care package.

Saxon-Canadian Relations (aka Being a good Canadian Diplomat.)

So we all need goals, especially around games, and that I had, just like any of the athletes.  My goals were two fold.

  1. Enjoy as much food, drink and music from all around the world, as possible.
  2. Encourage International Relations by hosting a little competition of my own against my darling hummingbird604.  How you ask?  Well, our own Olympic Sport of seeing who got more Olympic dates.

Now, this really set a great purpose and tone to the Games as things got off to a roaring start in our Olympic Event.  The Opening Ceremonies alone I had three dates.  Needless to say, despite the odds, I was leaving Raul behind in a white wash.

Olympic Dates 2 & 3 (Yes, they happened at the same time, as did Date 1 - he's taking the pictures. I'm not a girl that wastes time.)

That was until this Saxon fellow got in the way, and turned me head over heels in a hunt for unrequited love.

Stealing a Kiss

Not wanting to lose though, I tossed my heart aside and still managed to get in a kiss or two:

Thats when Raul pulled off the mittens and started playing dirty, deeking me out and landing me a very real Olympic romance and case in International Relations in my lap.  Now, I’m not one to smooch and tell, but lets just say that that German accent yesterday was all I needed to take me right back to Vancouver 2010 and turn my face as red as a beet.

Faced with nostalgia, I think I’ll dig up a bit of our unused footage to share with you in the coming weeks.  Who knows it might even help to me cure of this past year’s weakness for foreign men.

A Taste of Poland

One of the things I’ve always loved about traveling is discovering new cultures and sampling the local food and booze.  This is why I am now getting seriously stoked for the Olympics!!!! I finally clued into this most delightful thing called the Cultural Olympiad, in which we all get to celebrate in the cultures of the various countries that will be visiting this fine city of ours.  And better yet, many of these cultural experiences are free or at least cheap.  Music to my ears in a city that has just gotten rather expensive due to the Olympics (has anyone else noticed our obscene gas prices?).

Now, I must admit there was a catalyst to my change in spirit that came in the form of a rather scrumptious beer that was introduced to me on Monday at the CW Asia Fund Fundraiser. The beer in question? Karpackie from Poland.  Fantastic stuff!  I tried three of their beer – the Premium Lager, Super Mocne Piwo Jasne, and a third beer whose chicken scratched name I can’t read off of my ‘yummy list’ (Okay – found it’s name online – Zlaty Hrad Strong).  All very good, but the true delight came in the cultural banter.  You see I discovered that in Poland, you pour the Super Mocne Piwo Jasne in a pot and heat it up until the fluid begins to move, and then you dissolve a teaspoon of honey into the beer and enjoy it hot.  All I can say ….bloody fantastic!  Where’s Poland House????

Gives me a whole new goal to the Olympics – sourcing out a whole list of yummy recipes.  If your lucky, I might decide to share them.

Oh – and you can find Karpackie and Zlaty in the BC Liquore Store, just don’t go sticking your grubby little paws on the ones in my neighbourhood liquore store.

A Bit of Beaver

Cause you can never have enough beaver on Canada Day:

Happy Canada Day, yah hosers!

Telling Tales From the Prairies: Lobster, Beer & Guns

Lobster, beer & guns, what more can I say other than ‘YORKTON, FUCK YEAH!!!!’

No pics of me (Erica squirted lobster juice all over me), but yes, I was wielding a firearm too!!!!  And I fully nailed two skeet!!  Yeehaw!!!

Oh and fyi, watch out for Tris.  Have discovered that not only did he use to compete in axe throwing contest, but he’s also a damn good shot.  Must be something about his American heritage. (Keeping one eye open)