Countdown to the Games: Discovering Whistler

Countdown to Start of 2010 Vancouver Games: 2 days; 19 hours; 23 minutes

To: Jess & Michael

Today was my first full day in Whistler, and the place is absolutely beautiful! I got to use the bulk of today to explore the place, as my first full day of volunteering will not be until tomorrow.

The neighbourhood is absolutely bustling with people, from so many corners of the world. Walking from one end of the main 'downtown' area to the other, I saw people who came to Whistler to represent Russia, Hungary, Turkey, Finland, Belarus, Estonia and others that I probably cannot remember at this year's Olympics.

I wandered with a purpose however. Before I left Toronto, I made a quick list of places to find while in Whistler, in order of importance. This was a way for me to keep a semblance of an organized mind while dealing with the chaos of travelling to Vancouver/Whistler and also for me to have some fun when I did explore the place.

It was certainly interesting, to say the least.

1. Coffee Shop - Success

 Once I got here, I realized I was crazy for this "need' to be up so high on my list. Mostly because west coasters LOVE their caffiene.

Point is, there are a ton of coffee shops in the neighbourhood. Actually, there's two Starbucks coffee shops in this village alone. My picture here shows one of them. And then another, different coffee shop within spitting distance of it. Two coffee shops on the same corner! I thought that particular phenomenon was reserved for the cities of this world.

And if you ask me, in my most humble and obviously city-raised-country-ignorant opinion, most places this size I'd wager would normally have only one non-franchised coffee shop. But then again, this is Whistler, skiing hotbed of British Columbia and tourist-y to boot. Especially with the Olympics coming up. So, the better question is really why am I surprised?

Why was this need so high on my list? Well for starters, I have to get up on most days at 5:30 AM to get to volunteering. For another point, most coffee shops now have free wireless internet, something I wasn't sure I was going to get with my relatives (however, I do in fact get use of their internet at their place) and my boyfriend would kill me if I didn't find a way to contact him somehow electronically. 

2. Bars - Success

On one corner, you have one pub called Amsterdam's. On another corner, you have another pub, whose name escapes me. All you really need to know is, both of their patios were jam packed around 5 PM when the slopes were closing down and people needed food after skiing in the hills. So yes, there are pubs.

But that wasn't why I was seeking a pub in Whistler. Well, food was part of the reason, in addition to the fact that pub food is normally of the cheap variety as well. Really, I wanted a place where I could go and watch whatever happened or is happening at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics that I didn't or can't see myself with people who may also appreciate the achievements. That, and for hockey as well.

And so, I found Tapley's, who had a Calgary Flame banner hanging outside it and the Vancouver-Tampa Bay game playing on one television, and the Calgary-Senators game playing on another. At 5 PM. Which surprised me up until I remembered "Oh right, Pacific Standard Time here."

3. Public ice rink/outdoor rink - Failure

Unfortunately, there is only one hockey rink in the area. But it's certainly better than nothing. It's at the Whistler Meadow Park Sports Centre which is a mere 10 minute walk if need be from my relative's place. 

So why did I rack it up as a failure? Because it's an indoor rink. And like all indoor rinks, there are set hours for recreational skating. And what I was looking for was a "come whenever you like and skate" like we have at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto or like the free outdoor rink they opened in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics.

Whatmore, the times are not available online because the hours change every week, or so it says. I do have the phone number and will eventually attempt to call it because I'm already itching to get on the ice and just skate.

Again though, this is better than nothing.

4. Library - Failure

Well, there is a library in Whistler. Only one. So why is this a fail? Because of Team Canada.

Welcome to Team Canada's Olympic House in what was formerly the Whistler Public Library. I guess, all that is left to be said is leave it to Canada to completely take over a library in order to use the building as their own personal "center of operations" in Whistler.

My uncle told me the place is a great resource and very interesting inside. I wouldn't know though. I couldn't go in because it's closed now to the public.

Why did I want a library? Libraries are generally public property. As in you can go in and chill for however long you wanted to within the hours of operation and even pick up some interesting literature if you wanted. You can't do that in a coffee shop or a pub. At least, not without buying something.

I did make a small concession to the need to find new things to read. I found a bookstore in the area. It's a very small one but old fashioned and with so much character. And shockingly, it was there I found a book I couldn't find in an Indigo bookstore ten times its size a few months back in Toronto.

5. Shopping centre - Success

This one success comes with a minor concession. And that is that the entire area surrounding the Village Stroll in Whistler is one massive outdoor shopping centre. Imagine my surprise when I found Guess and Le Chateau among the storefronts in my strolls today. Certainly the choice in clothing labels is nowhere near as high as places like Fairview but even then the commercial property was higher than I expected.

I thought Whistler had mostly small, locally owned shops and for a good part that was true. But it also has its fair share of big-city merchandising.

Cheers you two!

Grace