Hasn’t this been a party? Everyone I speak to says the same thing. The Olympic experience is so far above anything they could have imagined. Yes, there are long line-ups and packed skytrains, endless security checks and people everywhere you go. It’s an opportunity to be meet new folks and to renew old friendships and celebrate as a family. Last night I gave directions to three women from Langley who hadn’t been to the downtown core for at least 10 years! Welcome and I hope you come back soon.

As the games wind down, it’s time for all of us to personally thank the folks who made our party possible; the bus drivers, the smurf volunteers, the policemen, traffic control and yes the folks who manned the endless security checks. Anyone I’ve forgotten?

My challenge to you is to take the time to chat up and thank three people each day who made it possible for you to enjoy the games. Okay, don’t chat up the bus driver while he/she is driving, but don’t forget to shout out “Thank You” as you exit the bus. It’s a Vancouver thing.

See .. wasn’t that easy? And you’re going to meet the most amazing people.

Bonnie Sainsbury is a Social Media Strategist and co-founder of Duet Media who’s thankful for all those folks who helped make her Olympic experience as great as it has been.

I checked out the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site today. It was rainy and cold, but several hundred brave souls braved the weather. The 3PM RCMP Musical Ride was sold out. The voluteer told me folks line up for the 11AM opening for the free tickets. The site is family orented, interactive with pleasant and cheerful volunteers .. even in the rain.

They have future Olympic hockey (notice it’s co-ed), you can try out curling and there’s a 30 foot canoe carved out of one log.

The canoe in the First Nations tent, sponsored by the Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre was carved from one 50 foot log that was harvested near Bella Bella. The project was sponsored by the Surrey Art gallery. Four carvers from several nations worked on the 30 foot canoe that actually floats. At 30 feet, this canoe is a “baby”, useful for rivers and lakes.

Bonnie Sainsbury is a Social Media Strategist and co-founder of Duet Media.

My journey actually started yesterday. I rode the Olympic Line from Granville Island to Cambie Station (Olympic Village Station on Canada Line). There was a steady stream of people wanting the same experience.

Today I had three destinations, House of Switzerland Canada 2010 located at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island, LEONARDO DA VINCI: THE MECHANICS OF MAN at the Vancouver Art Gallery and check out some patriotic fashion at the A&N Boutique (Army and Navy) in New Westminster.

I’m considering this my beta trip. I plugged my Nikon into the A/V outlet last night to charge it. That’s how you charge an iTouch, not a camera. Read the directions. No photos on this trip.

The Army and Navy department store is a Vancouver landmark known for their designer shoe sale. They also have killer prices on patriotic fashions. More and more, I see red and white Canada jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters and scarves. Their sale starts on Wednesday the 10th with Canada hoodies and sweats starting at $9.99. Much easier on the wallet than the $40 to $75 in other stores. These are not investment pieces.

I arrived at House of Switzerland to discover it’s a restaurant with the Swiss Flag draped on the roof. There are no exhibits, but there is Swiss music, free chocolate, Swiss water and coffee and a charity auction. I wasn’t the only one who was confused, most folks arriving at the restaurant expected exhibits.

I had lunch at Granville Island. I often do this as it’s practically in my back yard and there is always a celebration. Lunch cost $9.20 for wonton soup. This seems quite high to me, although I couldn’t tell you how much it cost before today. Note to self:  Purchase fruit, a bun and meat from the vendors and “make” your lunch. Healthier too I suspect. Must ask Cari-Lee Stevens next time I see her.

I hopped the Olympic line and then the Canada Line to the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Da Vinci exhibit is not free until the 12th. Read the directions. Again, there was a lot of confusion about when it was free. I paid the $19 to see the exhibit without the crowds. I’m a Da Vinci groupee.

“Though human ingenuity may make various inventions which, by the help of various machines answering the same end, it will never devise any inventions more beautiful, nor more simple, nor more to the purpose than Nature does; because in her inventions nothing is wanting, and nothing is superfluous” Da Vinci

Da Vinci’s anatomical drawings are stunning. The fact that he drew them 500 years ago is almost beyond comprehension. I first saw Da Vinci’s original work in museums in Italy and I felt the same awe today as I did five years ago.

In every room there are large posters of with instructions to other illustrators. Several artists were sitting on the floor attempting to re-create the drawings.

My recommendation is this is a must-see. The exhibit is from Queen Elizabeth’s private collection and hasn’t been displayed publicly before.

My ticket also allowed me admittance to Visceral Bodies, an exhibit of contemporary artists exploring the human form. Interesting, but Da Vinci is a hard act to follow.

Using the existing Downtown Historic Railway, these 100% low-floor modern streetcars will operate on the 1.8-km of upgraded rail infrastructure. The upgrade is the result of an $8.5 million investment by the City of Vancouver with a $500,000 contribution from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the administrator of Granville Island.

Even at 4PM on Sunday, we got on the next train. Everyone’s in a great mood and talkative. Lots of families are out and about and I haven’t seen that many people at the Olympic Village Canada Line station. The trip takes less than 5 minutes, but it’s worth the ride if you’re in the area. The ride is quiet and smooth. Maybe we should consider a streetcar from the Skytrain station on Clark to UBC.

The trip takes less than 5 minutes, but it’s worth the ride if you’re in the area. The ride is quiet and smooth. Maybe we should consider a streetcar from the Skytrain station on Clark to UBC.

Lots of folks out and about. This is the first time I’ve seen the Olympic Village Canada Line Station this busy.

Together, they were a mini-United Nations, gathered from around the globe – two from Eastern Canada, one from Houston, Texas, two from Europe and another from Australia. They were marketing managers, product development supervisors, a truck driver, a product design specialist – an engaging assortment of interesting people, looking forward to their responsibilities over the next three weeks.

It was my pleasure to be the ambassador here, the one on her ‘home turf’ who could say “Welcome” and “Enjoy your stay”.  We are so lucky, I think, to have so many chances to make new acquaintances and share smiles along the way.  In the lottery of life, being born a Canadian has to rank high on the ‘winning ticket’ list.  In this case, it came with a fun experience……and my very first Olympic pin!   The “Red Birds” have landed; who knew that would happen today?

Vancouver has easily-accessible and free wi-fi.  Three coffee chains provide free wireless in Vancouver. Blenz and Waves chains  provide hassle-free wireless to customers. Starbucks also provides 2 hours of free wireless but you need to sign up for an account. I found their procedure overly complex and I’ve been successful only twice using the free Starbucks service. I’ve created a Google map to locate Blenz and Waves coffee shops in the lower mainland. Blenz map is here and Waves map is here. Some of the coffee shops have passwords installed, just ask the staff.

Bonnie Sainsbury a Social Media Strategist and Principal in Duet Media. She regularly uses free wireless in Blenz Coffee Shops to communicate to the world on her iPod Touch and Wind netbook.

Check out the map here.

Kamikaze strategy is going to be required for you to cope with the transit gridlock.

• 1st Kamikaze tip

Install the Translink iPhone app. This handy utility displays what transit options are available from your location as well as the schedules at your stop.

• 2nd Kamikaze tip

Do your research before you leave. Use Google Maps to discover all the transit options available. The Canada Line may be lightning fast, but not if you’re delayed boarding. Check the bus schedules and routes. Have at least two alternative routes. Print out the map if you’re unfamiliar with the area you’ll be travelling to.

• 3rd Kamikaze tip

Get away from the congested area. I learned this lesson in Italy. The guide book mentioned there may be “rotating strikes” in the Italian train service. We were stranded for half a day in a crowded hot station when a train finally arrived. It wasn’t going anywhere near our destination, but we used our rail pass to get Pisa, where we were able to get a train to our destination. It was the scenic route, but we arrived only an hour later than we’d planned. If the Canada Line stop is packed, consider taking the train one or two stops in the opposite direction to a less crowded stop. City bus stops are often two or three blocks apart, walk to one or two stops up the line. Consider taking a less travelled route to your destination.

• 4th Kamikaze tip

Arrive early, take in the sites, have a leisurely lunch near your destination and then walk. Leave later, chill and let the crowds thin.

Breathe .. it is what it is ..

Bonnie Sainsbury a Social Media Strategist and Principal in Duet Media. She uses transit and car sharing to get around town.

Bicycling in Vancouver in the winter wouldn’t be my choice of transportation, but for those hearty souls, Getting Around Vancouver by bicycle.

Public transit is going to be the method of transportation during the first three months of 2010.  Translink operates the public transit, which includes 3 skytrain routes, buses, a ferry between North Vancouver and Vancouver. The Westcoast Express train service connects the outer suburbs with downtown Vancouver. Two private ferry companies (False Creek Ferries and Aquabus)  service the area from Kits point up to the Olympic Village.

An article in the Vancouver Sun suggests waits of 2 hours could be possible at popular skytrain stations.

Check Survival Guide to Transit in Vancouver for tips to access transit information before you leave.

Bonnie Sainsbury a Social Media Strategist and Principal in Duet Media. She doesn’t own a private automobile, she used transit and car-coops to get around the city.