HOCKEY!!!!

Sorry that it’s been a little bit since the last update. We’ve been running around nonstop. We woke up yesterday morning and went to pick up all our tickets. Then it was on to the first hockey game – Russia vs. Czech Republic. Ray bought a flag for each team so we could cheer along.

**I need to interrupt myself for a second. Looking out our window, I just saw fireworks going on from Robson Square. How amazing to see that while just hanging out at the condo?**

The hockey game was incredible. It was completely different than going to an NHL game. The only thing that was the same is the size of the ice. There were no men in suits, business meetings, or people just going to hang out at this game. The crowd was passionate, hanging on every moment of the game. And they got what they paid for. Of course the highlight of the game was Ovechkin’s hit on Jagr. The place went wild. Russia is going to be a tough team to beat.

The day was dubbed “Super Sunday” because of the three big matchups, with USA vs. Canada as the highlight. We headed downtown to find a good spot to watch the big game. Robson square was so mobbed, we could not find a spot to watch on the outdoor screen. So we went to the most obvious place we could think of. No, not the bar. We headed to the Sears on the corner and went straight to the electronics department. A crowd was already parked in front of the televisions. Decked out in USA clothes, we cheered along as we watched our team somehow pull out the victory. Canada had more shots, more time in the offensive zone, and seemed to be controlling the play, yet we managed to win.

The walk back to the arena to see the next game was good for us, bad for Canadians. It was easy to spot the USA fans, draped in flags and high fiving each other while walking by. It was even easier to spot the deflated Canadians. We got some nasty looks and even a growl from one person. It was more like a kitty cat purr than a tiger growl. The fan had been stripped of his energy, as had the country. We enjoyed the Finland vs. Sweden game, but it just lacked the excitement of the first two games. It was like the Canadian fans had robbed the fun out of the arena. I’ll make sure to bring it back when I return on Wednesday.

We thought the Olympic Superstore would be less crowded at midnight, but we had no such luck. No red mittens to be found, except children’s size. Luckily, that worked for me, but not for my friends that wanted a pair. Maybe they’ll get more in later in the week. Today was a long and tiring day full of walking, curling, and eating. I’ll wait to write about it, because this post is long enough already. Hope everyone is enjoying their week, wherever you are.