Vancouver is alive with hockey fever

WILD VIBE

There is a major ice hockey game being played right now between Vancouver's Canucks and Boston's Bruins, so Vancouver is going to be either in party mode or riot mode - depending on the outcome. This car is a quick indication of the emotion attached to the local team (snapped this on its way to the stadiun). This game is the third of four playoff games to get into the final and the Canucks have won the first two. If they win this game they are into the finals and I think you will hear the celebrations back in Australia.

Just came back from a major mission to sort out bus info and walked past the stadium where the game was about to start. What a VIBE! People everywhere rushing to get there for the prelim entertainment before the game started at 5pm (just gone that now). Even on the walk right back to where I am staying, the vibe was alive and happening!

Last time the Canucks got into a final game, there were riots etc on the street after the game. But I will be long gone from Vancouver before the final is played.

So, my plan for the rest of the evening is to sit at the youth hostel, drinking pots of Dilmah Earl Grey tea - and some wine now that it is wine-o-clock and I have found a bottle shop in my travels - and hammering the free internet to get future Canadian travel and accommodation plans sorted. Once that is sorted, then I hope to update my backlog of blogs.

VENTURING OUT FOR DINNER

Now websurfing sounded like a good plan, but I had to duck out to get something for dinner right in the middle of game. This is the excitement level in the supermarket I went to.

Yep, it was pretty scary venturing out into the badlands of Vancouver in the middle of a major ice hockey game. I sure was staying in a mean part of town ... I think the most I had to worry about was whether anyone would mug me so that they could have my red silk scarf ...

Spent a total of six bucks for this stuff - enough for dinner tomorrow night too. But might have to buy another spud to go with my remaining slab of meat.

Not sure how interesting this is for everyone, but this a standard type of kitchen in a youth hostel. That's my food cooking in the pan on the left and my bag and (ready) plate on the top left of the island in the foreground.

The finished product: $3 for tonight ... and it was mighty fine!

THE PENNY DROPS
Had noticed quite a few gay male couples in this area, and then it twigged while I was out shopping in the 'hood for dinner. This is a gay precinct. Note the rainbow flags and pink street thingies. Don't know why the penny didn't drop earlier when I bought a bottle of wine around the corner and the the shop had a sign on the door that said it allowed small dogs on a leash in the store ... (no offence Brian)

DOPE
While here I have caught a whiff of dope quite frequently and have just read an article in the local paper about some dude growing more dope than their allowance. So, I'm guessing it must be decriminalised here.

HOCKEY RESULTS
Mid game ... not looking good for the Canucks - the Bruins have scored 4 somethings to their nothings ... gonna be a sad evening in Vancouver.
Final scoreline ... ooooerrrrr - they lost: eight somethings to one something. The mood is very subdued in Vancouver tonight ...

HANDY WEBSITES
I've started up a page on this blog for handy websites, so check in there regularly for my info on good or bad travel websites.