September 4, 2012

Well, another great day at the paralympics! Today we watched tennis and goalball. First the report on tennis. We watched Peter Norfolk of Great Britain play Shraga Weinberg of Israel. This was in men's singles, quad wheelchair tennis. Quad is short for quadripeligia, which is all four limbs with some affection. Norfolk is the reigning gold medal winner, but had way too many unforced errors. We watched for a while, but then wandered over to a women's single. This was Netherlands vs. Germany. They were not as affected physically and played incredible tennis. Lots of topspin, placement shots, aggressive serves, etc. We came into that match late, and watched the German (Ellerbrock) win the third set. 

Then we sauntered out to see a leader's board. I was asking what quad meant, and a lady looking at the board said we had to go see Nick Taylor of the US play. She said he is in a motorized wheelchair and it is amazing to watch him. Well, she was right. He is incredibly independent, (would not let anyone hold the umbrella over him in the heat--all the other players did), particularly for someone who appears to have no movement in one hand and one leg and limited in the other two. When he would use his towel, he would work it onto his lap, then go to the net, and use the tennis net to hold the towel to wipe his face. He would have to have one of the ball people open his Poweraid and put it in is mouth and then he would hold it with his teeth to drink. We thought he was going to be killed by the other player (in a wheelchair, but much greater dexterity and movement), but Nick won in three sets. Nick was the bronze medal winner in 04, silver in 08, and let's cheer for gold in 12. Mom sat next to the US contingent cheering for Nick, from Portland, OR, so heard more about his signature shot (high lob to the back line, so the other player cannot hit it--the ball bounces against the fence before it comes down low enough for the opponent to get it).

We then went to see two games of goalball. All the players are blindfolded and the stadium has to be quiet as there is a bell in the ball as the players try to roll it into the opponent's net. Players guard their own net with their bodies across the floor. 

We are working on packing and then will spend the day flying. See you all soon!

The hotel has the Internet fixed...mostly. No photos from the cell phone today.

Yesterday, AJ and  I went to Excel Park and saw Men's sitting volleyball and some more women's powerlifting. Very interesting. The women would appear to lift the weight, but then then it would be declared "no lift" by the judges. We need to read the rules to see what the lifters were doing incorrectly.

The three of us then got on the Big Bus Tour (not to be confused with the Original Bus Tour) and drove around London and Westminster to see the sights. There was a recording that you listened to on your own headset. It was entertaining. We then had fish and chips at an authentic English pub. I had a pint of bitters and Morse would have been pleased.

We were talking at breakfast this morning, we cannot believe how fast the time has flown! Tomorrow, we are going to get up and basically spend the whole day traveling. So today, we will go to Olympic Park and then probably try to get on a river boat cruise ('free' with our Big Bus Tour ticket). Perhaps wander around downtown a bit.                                                         

September 1 and 2, 2012

Well,we have had and are continuing to have Internet issues here at the hotel. Double sigh. So these pictures are out of order, but we are having a wonderful experience! This is Pauline and Joanie looking at the pocket watches in the British Museum. What a place! I could easily spend a week there. We only had about 90 minutes before we went to see The Lion King, so really only made it to four rooms. The Egyptian Room (only about half of it) but we saw the Rossetta stone. There are lots more pictures, but uploading is also an issue. We also saw the clocks, currency, and a little bit of Greek history. They had mosaics from someplace in the stairways on the way down. There were at least four other floors we didn't get to explore. Cindy, I really wanted you to be here!!!!

The entry way into the British Museum. The lion above is from an ancient Egyptian city (my picture of the placard didn't come through).

This is Boccia ball at the Excel Center (not Olympic Park).

This is where we saw the Lion King. SPECTACULAR! The stage floor did almost as much as the stage at KA in Las Vegas.

This is for Hal...Regent Street near Picadilly Circus.

Before the play we had lunch at Charles Dickens Coffee House. It was tiny. The bathroom remined me of the tiny, non-handicapped conforming bathroom at that hotel in Arcata.

Picadilly Circus. An older style of tile work in the Underground.

Yes, Douglas, Oly and Ann, there is a whole, upscale store devoted only to Nesspresso. The flag is made of pods.  In the picture below, those are thousands of pods behind the counter.

They ignored us at the tasting counter--little did they know we are serious Nesspresso machine owners.

Today, we had three day passes to the Excel Center, which is near the docklands in London. Tomorrow, Joanie and I are are going back for the 9 to 2 session of sitting volleyball. The players can have two legs and arms (or not), but everyone sits, six on a side and the net is about the height of a tennis court. The game is fast.  

 Today we also saw two gold medal and two bronze medal table tennis matches, a tiny bit of power weight lifting (a woman from Egypt set a world record), and the Boccia ball (the session we saw was the most physically impared we have seen).  

We have seen very few American athletes in any sport besides basketball. In my 3 hours at track the first day I attended, out of 150 athletes, I can remember three from the US.  We did not see any today. When we watch on TV at night, rarely is there anyone from the US. The US contingency in the Opening Ceremony was big, but we don't know where they are. In the medal table count, we are not in the top five. What gives?

Tomorrow we are going to meet Mom later in the day and take the the Big Bus Tour of London.

August 31, 2012--Olympic Park

Here is coming in the Stratford Gate to the stadium. Mom and Joanie went to see goal ball, (five on a side, sightless, soccer--the ball has a bell in it) and I went into the stadium for a 3-hour session of athletics.  I saw many heats and even three victory ceremonies.                                                           

Here an athlete is being strapped in, according to his ability or mobility, for throwing of the club (like a bowling pin, but smaller, with a knob of sorts at the top for grabbing).

The little thing on the field, just about dead center, is a little radio controlled car, with the roof open, that the thrown object (club, shot put, discus) is placed in and returned to the officials.


I can no longer get my pictures to upload. Sigh.
We had a delightful lunch at a picnic table talking to three guys from Kentwood (?).   Lots of interesting conversation. 
We  then walked around for a bit and then wandered into men's USA team playing Italy in basketball. It was a good game. I was surprised the focus was more on the players than on the game itself. I was watching the tactics and skills. Mom heard on the TV last night that there needs to be a certain calculation of disability (for each team) on the floor at all times.     
After the game (USA  won by over 25 points), we went to the pin exchange were I traded some pins I brought and I bought one. Then off to the London 2012 MegaStore, a big line to get in, were we did a lot of looking but not a lot of buying yet.
Joanie stayed with the one ticket she had for the evening session of track and Mom and I went back to Bayswater on the underground for dinner. We had a delightful dinner at Oodle Noodle (met our criteria of interesting looking and a lot of customers).      
Today we don't have any Olympic tickets, so are going to the Lyceum Theatre to see The Lion King. We are going to the matinee, so we have time to stop at the British Museum first. 
We have ticket and/or day passes for the 2, 3, and 4 to get us on the grounds of the Olympics and then we fly home on the 5th. 
More later!               

More 8/30/12

What really thick cream did in my coffee. It was not spoiled. The viscosity was that of oil at -30.

The view from our table at the Savoy.

A really long hallway at Kings Cross underground.

The Savoy.

The Savoy Tea Shop.

 I have to say that I am way less than impressed with Blogspot. I can never edit more than two pictures on my iPad and sometimes they come up as captions, other times edits to the right of the picture. Hope you are enjoying.  We are having a great time!

British Library and Savoy Tea 8/30/12

Stopping for Costa coffee! Excellent.

British Library with Newton in the background (bent over, measuring the world).

The electric car charging.

The Savoy!

Wimbeldon (which I keep spelling Wimbleton)

A morning jog, Wednesday, August 29, 2012

There are hundreds of people jogging in the park or riding bikes. Many of the joggers appear to be coming or going  to work. 

This is Queen Victoria, I believe. It is in Kensington Gardens.

August 29, 2012, Victoria and Albert Museum and Harrod's

Joanie and Mom in our room.

Clean streets.

Stuff you can touch!

This cape had to weigh 10 pounds!

Drew, need one of these for thering horses at the Lazy W.





This is one of the elevators in Harrod's.



This is a Ferrari Smart Car

Kuwaiti Embassy

International newspaper

Flattened and then suspended musical instruments

Hoop skirt

Directions for hoop skirt