Days 5, 6 and 7 updates- We are getting cultured!

In the last few days we have been watching the Olympic sports on TV like you and getting excited about how well we are doing, and some special moments for the athletes and teams. It was exciting watching Canada's hockey shootout with Switzerland!

Day 5, Tuesday, Jen, Dave and I met when they got off work at Vij's Indian Restaurant on 11th at Granville. This is reputed to be the best Indian restaurant in North America. We had gone in 2007 with Connor, and Dave and Jen had gone back once, but I wanted to visit again. We got there before it opened and by 5 pm, there were 30 people waiting to get in. They don't take reservations. We all agreed it was the best meal there ever. We shared 4 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts, so wonderfully spiced, not really hot, but delicious. The lamb popsicles were a standout! Following this, Jen and I went to the Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre for a music show called New Songs, New Voices. We really enjoyed two of the performers, Meaghan Blanchard from PEI and Dan Mangan from Vancouver, whom Jen had seen before. Very good and I'm sure that we will hear from both of them again.

Day 6, Wednesday, Jen worked and I went to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens. This was the first such garden in North America, but there are now 4. I wandered around and took the tour, and then walked all the way back to Jen's. Wed night Jen was going out to see Hawksley Workman with the Collins cousins, so I took the opportunity to turn in early and get a good night's sleep - hard to keep up with these 20 somethings.

Day 7, Thursday, I did some shopping and went to a great tea place in Kerrisdale, The Secret Garden, for lunch. Kerrisdale is the neighbourhood where my relatives on my Dad's side, including his parents, and now my aunt, and cousin Jenny, have lived throughout my life. Secret Garden is an old favourite that I have been to several times on previous trips. In the evening, Jen and I went to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for Hal Willner 's The Neil Young project, which was a tribute to his music by about 30 artists, including a surprise appearance by Elvis Costello for 3 songs. It was very good; amazing and talented musicians.