For about four years we used to live in the West End, and for quite a few of those years the celebration of light fireworks display was directly in front of our living room window. Granted those days we were just two Dinks (Double income no kids) living downtown!
This is the second time we've taken our two children on an adventure downtown on the skytrain to watch the celebration of light happen In English Bay. The first time was approximately 4 years ago, and significantly more stressful then our last visit yesterday! Now that they are 10 and almost 13, It was a breeze.
We drove down to Bridgeport, Riverock Casino, park the car and we caught the sky training in. Yes, there is a lot of walking, but it was in the beautiful sunshine! We got to check out gay pride on Davie Street, and seriously the people watching was just outstanding!
We plunked down our blanket at approximately 6 PM with boatloads of space available, and the kids (with my third oldest child, husband Greg, lol!)lead the charge, hit the ocean water (by the way, we didn't know there was a NO SWIMMING ban! Eek right but I think there all fine?!). The girls did what I like to call "a right of passage", they got to go down on the old relic slide in the middle of English Bay. Greg got to do it as a child with his family, and I as a non-mother at the time, living with Greg in the West End got to scream down it's hot metal, sanding death curve! I loved it back in the day and so did they!
Greg and the girls grabbed some taco's for dinner, and we sat as a family, eating, listening to music and playing Rummy-Q till it was to dark to see the tiles. This was our favorite part of the night BTW.
The Redbull air show almost made me pee my pants with it's stunts, to be honest I was thinking "good lord if this plane crashes, how will be be affected" (typical mother), but of course he/she did not! The energy around us was playful with a community vide, everyone was there for a fun, safe experience.
The fireworks did not disappoint, and the level of police presence was perfect. Crowds were large and a felt like "Shelia the cow" that I water painted in the winter being herded down the streets, but all of it was still a great adventure had.
We were so impressed with the organization of this event, the safety level of the streets and our skytrain experience!
Guys, if you have never gone, go! The journey leading up to the fireworks WAS THE EVENT, the fireworks is just the icing on the cake!
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