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Swiss Miss

February 6, 2010 By 2 Comments

I’ve always had a fondness for the Swiss, thanks to Stefan and his serenades.  Well … that fondness only grew yesterday after attending the opening of Maison de la Suisse.

Maison de la Suisse

Maison de la Suisse at Bridges on Granville Island

Very quickly I came to the realization that Switzerland is a Nation that has a fondness for many of the same thing as me – good cheese, chocolate, sausage, wine and views. And best of all, they shared this with those of us that joined them for the Opening. One Swiss gentleman, even let me bite into his schnitzel. Nom, nom, nom nom …

A View from Switzerland

A View from Switzerland

Never fear if you missed it yesterday, they are open for the public from now until February 28th, daily from 8 am – 1 am.  Here’s what you can expect if you visit:

  • Different yummy samples each day of cheese, chocolates, coffee, biscuits, and ricola.
  • St. Moritz Musicians daily at 2, 5, 8 and 10 pm.
  • Commercial Free Live Broadcast of the Games.
  • A great view!

Dreaming of a Swiss Chalet

Click here for their full schedule for Vancouver and Whistler. And a few dates to mark on the calendar:

Cheering on the Swiss

  • Swiss Day Vancouver today 3 – 7 pm
  • Kids Story Time with Globi in Vancouver Wed Feb 10, 10 – 11:30 am & 2 – 3:30 pm
  • Kids Story Time with Globi in Whistler Thurs Feb 11, 10 – 11:30 am & 2 – 3:30 pm

Kisses,

Emme xoxo

Filed Under: All the Gossip, BC, Canada, Olympics, Switzerland, Travel, Vancouver Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In Honour of the Swiss

February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment

Okay, so admittedly have no idea what these Swiss gals are singing, but they are cute and make me smile, which is exactly what the warm welcome at Switzerland House made me do this afternoon.

Oh and did I mention the yummy cheese and chocolate …..mmmmm….. I love the Cultural Olympiad!

Filed Under: All the Gossip, BC, Canada, Olympics, Switzerland, The Tube, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Saskatchewan Beauty

February 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I’ve known Andrea for years, but I had no idea that she had such a beautiful voice.

Looking forward to seeing her on stage (for free, no less) at the Saskatchewan Pavilion on February 15th and 16th!

Filed Under: All the Gossip, BC, Canada, Events, Music Scene, Olympics, Saskatchewan, The Tube, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

A Taste of Poland

January 28, 2010 By 3 Comments

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.

Filed Under: All the Gossip, Olympics, Recipes, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Diary of a Gal Living Amidst the 2010 Olympic Games

January 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Well, it’s official! A little less than a month before the Games and I’ve decided to stay and watch the show that is the Olympics unfold. I have absolutely no tickets to anything and at this point I doubt I can afford them, but thats not what really interests me anyhow. What I am dying to see is how the whole story unfolds and plays itself out. I want to meet people from around the world and hear their stories. I want to learn about the struggles of the athletes and how they got here. I want to experience the events that happen in and around the Games. And being as the Games have not been easy on the locals and placed stresses on their work and employment, and are more than a little expensive for the visitors, I want to find the fun and interesting activities that people can do that won’t break the bank.

Photo by Lola May

That said, if you do have a spare ticket to an event, I am happy to slum it and be your date.  I will also happily accept invites to other events in and around the Games, so that I can better impart to you, my readers, the craziness that is about to ensue on this land of ours. Guessing I’ll be jumping back and forth between the office in Richmond and home in Vancouver. And given that Holland Heineken House is upending my main research source of the little old ladies gossiping in the hot tub post water aerobics, I think it is especially important that they invite me to delight in their own form of gossip and cultural experiences.  Which reminds me, the cats over at Atlantic Canada House are aware that I am the daughter of a Bluenoiser, right? I’ll be expecting a warm welcome there for their kin folk.  Oh and no handing me any Newfie Screech. I’m well aware of the fact that Newfie’s don’t drink that stuff themselves, but rather delight in handing it to the rest of us Canadians.

Hope to see you amidst the crowds!

Kisses,

Emme xoxo

…. now I’m really rather fancying the idea of having my own Olympic Games Sponsor. I mean really, if your going to sponsor the athletes, then why not me.  “Emme’s Olympic Adventures (or maybe, Mischief or Shenanigans) are brought to you (or fueled or spurred on or instigated) by (insert your absolutely lovely name here).  hmm … really rather like that idea!!!!  Okay, I’m waiting!  Any time now the offers can start pouring in.

Filed Under: All the Gossip, Olympics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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