Well, bad Monday's followed me across the pond. I went shopping in the morning for suveniors. I went to one store and got some stuff, then went next door to get some other things. In the first store, my credit card worked, in the second, not so much. Long story short, I spent most of my morning on a payphone calling the card company collect...when it was all said and done (about 8pm London time) I am having a temp card send to where I am staying. Turns out, Visa was "compromised" and closed millions of accounts, inluding mine. Visa is the only card accepted at the Olympic Games, yet another blunder of these games.
I got the evening paper tonight on the way home from the Wellington Barracks, and the front page reads: VIP tickets finally go on sale for the public. I thought it was interesting being at sold out events when there were a load of seats empty. Duh London, duh. That was a huge topic of discussion for those of us attending events. And it needs to be said again, the Olympic flame does the people no good inside a stadium. They spent all night after the Opening ceremonies moving the flame to its spot in the stadium. What you may not know is that the torch had to be relit yesterday morning. Interesting, isn't it? The slogan they use is that "this is everyone's Olympics" and the most notable icon is the flame, but "everyone" can't see it. Another duh moment for LOCOG. Oh and here is a funny from the paper...the Indian delegation of athletes was escorted into the opening ceremonies by a girl who turns out wasn't supposed to be there and was not part of the contingent. She was wearin blue pants and a red sweatshirt zip up. Officials say it took away from the athletes. Uh? no one noticed, but thanks for pointing it out!
Today our group was at the Wellinton Barracks where the WOA (World Olympic Association) hosts one of their reunion centers. Past Olympians gather during the Olympics to watch events and talk to folk like us. There was so much going on, I didn't catch names, but I have pictures. We met a US decathlon Olympian, swimmer from Norway? maybe, not sure where, and a runner from Barbados. There were 20 children in attendance from the poverty stricken parts of London. They really weren't children, they were teenagers, and not what we were expecting. We had planned for younger kids and the events we did was of little interest to them. I had more fun than most of them I think and my team didn't get a single point in competition.
We had a color wars competition, but we were in a room and not outside, so we did events like; broad jump, goalpost bowling involving a mini football and coke cans, pushup and plank contest and standing on 1 leg. And the tie-breaker was the trivia contest. We had awards for all of the kids and had a ceremony at the end for them.
When I came back to the hostel, I finalized my credit card issue, did some laundry, got dinner and am updating my blog. Pictures and video are coming up soon. No events today so most are of the kids and the Olympians we met. Oh, we also had a surprise visit from the Queen's Royal Guards. You know the guys who stand outsite but can't be distracted or talk, wearing a heavy red jacket and an insanely large black feather hat. Well, not only did we get them to talk and take pictures with us (they were off duty, it was allowed) some of us got to wear the hat as well. I was too busy laughing and taking pictures to try on a man's sweaty hat. Oh, FYI, the guys that were there, who guard the Queen, were in their mid 20's. I think they enjoyed being there as much as we enjoyed having them there.
Though I was next to Buckingham Palace, I did not go around front, so those pictures will come on a different day.
Up for tomorrow is Paris, France. I leave at 7:49 am, my alarm better go off! Another long day of walking but I am excited to journey to another country and see first hand the wonders of Paris.
Til tomorrow
Darci
I got the evening paper tonight on the way home from the Wellington Barracks, and the front page reads: VIP tickets finally go on sale for the public. I thought it was interesting being at sold out events when there were a load of seats empty. Duh London, duh. That was a huge topic of discussion for those of us attending events. And it needs to be said again, the Olympic flame does the people no good inside a stadium. They spent all night after the Opening ceremonies moving the flame to its spot in the stadium. What you may not know is that the torch had to be relit yesterday morning. Interesting, isn't it? The slogan they use is that "this is everyone's Olympics" and the most notable icon is the flame, but "everyone" can't see it. Another duh moment for LOCOG. Oh and here is a funny from the paper...the Indian delegation of athletes was escorted into the opening ceremonies by a girl who turns out wasn't supposed to be there and was not part of the contingent. She was wearin blue pants and a red sweatshirt zip up. Officials say it took away from the athletes. Uh? no one noticed, but thanks for pointing it out!
Today our group was at the Wellinton Barracks where the WOA (World Olympic Association) hosts one of their reunion centers. Past Olympians gather during the Olympics to watch events and talk to folk like us. There was so much going on, I didn't catch names, but I have pictures. We met a US decathlon Olympian, swimmer from Norway? maybe, not sure where, and a runner from Barbados. There were 20 children in attendance from the poverty stricken parts of London. They really weren't children, they were teenagers, and not what we were expecting. We had planned for younger kids and the events we did was of little interest to them. I had more fun than most of them I think and my team didn't get a single point in competition.
We had a color wars competition, but we were in a room and not outside, so we did events like; broad jump, goalpost bowling involving a mini football and coke cans, pushup and plank contest and standing on 1 leg. And the tie-breaker was the trivia contest. We had awards for all of the kids and had a ceremony at the end for them.
When I came back to the hostel, I finalized my credit card issue, did some laundry, got dinner and am updating my blog. Pictures and video are coming up soon. No events today so most are of the kids and the Olympians we met. Oh, we also had a surprise visit from the Queen's Royal Guards. You know the guys who stand outsite but can't be distracted or talk, wearing a heavy red jacket and an insanely large black feather hat. Well, not only did we get them to talk and take pictures with us (they were off duty, it was allowed) some of us got to wear the hat as well. I was too busy laughing and taking pictures to try on a man's sweaty hat. Oh, FYI, the guys that were there, who guard the Queen, were in their mid 20's. I think they enjoyed being there as much as we enjoyed having them there.
Though I was next to Buckingham Palace, I did not go around front, so those pictures will come on a different day.
Up for tomorrow is Paris, France. I leave at 7:49 am, my alarm better go off! Another long day of walking but I am excited to journey to another country and see first hand the wonders of Paris.
Til tomorrow
Darci