Day 1 of the Olympics

[Dawn]

It started early

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Train was busy but everyone was in a good mood.

Got to Waterloo station where all the police were eating ice creams.

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Then walked down to here.

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Found an olympic shot putt from the gods.

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Then stood right underneath this.

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We had a couple of hours to kill before heading to the arena and were worried we might just have to wander about but London came out in force and there was plenty of entertainment on The Embankment.

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I wish I could describe the atmosphere. Everyone was just so happy.

I did have to pay 50p for a wee but...

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[Dawn]

Found these outside the National Aquarium

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Then it was lunchtime

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Then a bit more of this happy stuff.

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And then it was time to catch our connecting transport to the arena - this is how we roll!

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We booked water taxi for £4 each way and if you get the chance it seriously is a civilised way of getting about. The ride took about 30 minutes and we saw all of this.

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We were headed here.

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[Dawn]

Need to upload the rest of the photos now. :anxious:

[Wendy]

Brilliant photos Dawn :)

I love the Embankment and you can always count on Londoners to pull together, come out in force and put on a great show :yes:

Love the toilet seats :lol:

The water taxi is excellent, we've been on it a few times :yes:

[Skywatcher]

Epic :mental:

[Skywatcher]

Loving big Ben wenlock :lol:

Did you get seats on the train ? Really hope we can with our little one

[Beccaberry]

Great trippie so far!! LOVE the seat on the toilet! Hahaha! Steven looks to be having a big time.

Isn't it funny, I've seen the bridge with the Olympic rings at least a dozen times already, but there is just something "cooler" about seeing a shot of it that a friend has taken. Just seems more real somehow...

Can't wait for more!

[uscwest]

Terrific photos Dawn. Looking forward to the rest. I am envious.

[Dawn]

Loving big Ben wenlock :lol:

Did you get seats on the train ? Really hope we can with our little one

Well...

When we got on the train at Lancing there were no seats as we were sharing a carriage with most of China. :unsure: We sat on the floor in a doorway which we are used to having taken public transport to busy football and rugby match. However at Haywards Heath our train was joined to another train and apparently there was plenty of seats in that one but we were quite happy where we were talking to the lady on her way to the tennis. :thumbsup:

We changed trains at Clapham Junction and the connecting train to Waterloo had plenty of seats. This was a Saturday though. Expect weekday commuter trains to be rammed. :lol:

[Dawn]

OK so we're at the Dome/O2/North Greenwich Arena having arrived on a completely uncrammed very comfortable water taxi. First thing we see is this crazy way of crossing the Thames. :thud:

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And if you look really carefully behind the crane you can see the Olympic Stadium in the distance.

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Lots of people from lots of nations all mingling (and wondering how to get in :lol: )

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And for the really reckless you can pay to walk over the dome.

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We're in and going up the escalator as the crowds follow us.

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Waiting for the doors to open.

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And we're in.

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The nice soldiers were allowed in too

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[Dawn]

And there was gymnastics. We were high up in the cheap seats and my zoom isn't that powerful so this is as good as it gets but it gives you a sense of what we saw. Sadly I failed to capture any of the face plants from the high bar, and there were several. :evil:

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The long day was taking its toll.

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Few more

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[Dawn]

All too soon it was over and time to start the long journey home. We caught our civilised water taxi back to Waterloo then on to some trains where we all compared notes with complete strangers about what we had seen that day. We were sat in a section with beach volleyball and archery. :thumbsup:

We got home at 9.30pm and went straight to bed.

So was it worth it? Totally yes worth every single penny of the considerable amount we spent to see 90 minutes of gymnastics. It wasn't just about the event, it was the whole day out. Amazing. I am a Londoner by birth and I'm very proud of my home city. The whole atmosphere was amazing from the second we stepped on the train. I couldn't believe how London had come out and welcomed everyone. I don't think I saw a single frown all day. The entertainers on the Embankment was brilliant, intriguing and sometimes hysterically funny. And seriously the water taxi is the way to get about if it's an option for your destination. With a games ticket it was £4 each way person - compares very well with underground fares and you get to go under Tower Bridge. :mental:

Security was discreet but obvious at the same time if that makes sense. It's exactly the same as at any major airport, including me having to remove my belt. Our belongings and persons were screened by members of the British army who were lovely and friendly. Everywhere we went there was help if you needed it, people pointing you in the right direction (with big pink foam hands) and it was just smile after smile after smile. We mingled with people from so many countries I lost count. Big US contingent at the gymnastics who did their country proud. Also saw Russians, Australians, Canadians, Japanese, Italians, French, Poles, and a whole host of others all having a great time.

We're going again on 10th August to see the men's volleyball semi-finals which is at a different venue so more photos from that.

As Steven says - "we are now part of history."

[catrancher]

Great pictures Dawn! :thumbsup:

I'm really enjoying these. They're especially cool from my perspective being able to see bits of places I've only ever heard and read about. I gotta get to the UK one day!

Tom (:macwave:... maybe I'll go to Wales and reclaim my peninsula!)

[Wendy]

Looks like you had a good day, those crowds would have finished me :mental:

Poor Steven looks absolutely shattered.

[Dawn]

Thanks to Chris for texting me updates on the cycling and swimming throughout the day.

And thanks (I think) to Claire who texted me to say she could see me on TV and could I please sit up straight. :taunt:

So....here's what it cost.

tickets 3 x £40 each
train fare for 3 = £57
return water taxi for 3 = £24

That's the base cost. There was also

official programmes and merchandise = £40

And then food and drink. I don't know how much we spent on that but it was a lot. We chose to do it this way and knew we'd pay Olympic prices for Olympic food but many people bought their own food which we will do on 10th August. One small gripe - you cannot take drinks into the venues for security reason - I accept that but I cannot accept the outrageous prices charged inside for drinks - made Disney look positively cheap. But we didn't let that bother us. The burritos in the O2 are lovely if you must buy food inside -my Olympic food tip for you. :D

Also 50p for a wee in the union jack toilet and some loose change went on some of the entertainment on the Embankment.

It was worth every single last penny that we spent. I'll remember it forever.

Questions?

[Dawn]

Poor Steven looks absolutely shattered.

He was fine, just taking a break between rotations. Was still bouncing off the walls on the train home. :eek:

[Tink]

Love your photos and your descriptions of the events. We watched the gymnastics, and every time the camera cut to the audience, we looked for you. Never did see you though. I surely thought you'd have your "HELLO TINK" sign up over your heads, but nooooooo... :sigh:

LOVE the "extras" of getting into London and through the area. The photos of Steven with historical places in the background are wonderful. That's my favorite part of "over there," the real and true history, the ancientness of your country...

(Ummmm, you had to pay to errrmmmm pee)? :unsure:

[Dawn]

(Ummmm, you had to pay to errrmmmm pee)? :unsure:

It's a British tradition. :D

[Slowhand]

It's a British tradition. :D

....hence the phrase "I`m just going to spend a penny" :lol:

[catrancher]

It's a British tradition. :D

Oh Lord, there goes any hope I ever had of getting over to the UK. :sigh:

If you've got to pay, it would cost me more for my DW to pee that it would for airline tickets. She's currently working on a book, "Great Bathrooms I Have Known". Look for it soon in your local bookseller. :rolleyes:

Tom (:macwave:... course, I'm no bargain either in that department anymore.)

[Tink]

....hence the phrase "I`m just going to spend a penny" :lol:

No kidding! I've heard that and never "got it." Nice to be "in on it!" :lol:

I remember as a kid there being some places where you had to put a dime in the door for it to open to the toilet, but haven't seen that is a zillion or so years.

[Dawn]

Mostly you don't pay. It's places like train stations and the ones on the streets that charge because the council have to pay to keep them clean. They used to be a penny - that's where the phrase "spend a penny" came from.

[catrancher]

Mostly you don't pay.

What a relief! :happydance:

Tom (:macwave:... Ok... trips back on!)

[Dawn]

Most of the places like tourist attractions and stores and stuff don't charge. I just got caught at the wrong moment. Well worth 50p though just for that seat.

[Dawn]

Waterloo Station is 30p but you just get plain white for that.

[Wendy]

....hence the phrase "I`m just going to spend a penny" :lol:

Except now it's a lot more than a penny :lol:

[Skywatcher]

.... Anyway back from the toilet stories ! Brilliant fantastic epic day :) so so glad you went

I am palpitating for Saturday. Just been out to buy a Team GB shirt for me to wear as everyone else has one. (even Ben )

Slight angst about the babe on the tube BUT I think it's going to be such a great atmosphere that it won't feel like usual London and I am guessing it will feel more like 'Disney' and people will be happy to give us room to change him.

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[Skywatcher]

Ooo is Steven cuddled up on a wenlock ?

[Dawn]

Gold Wenlock suitable for 10+ months, £15.

Made in China. :unsure:

[Skywatcher]

Matthew wants one

This may cost us a bit :lol:

[Dawn]

You can buy a variety of Wenlocks apparently. Steven got to choose between a gold one and a union jack one. The online store has more options I think. It is expensive but it's a one-off and he'll keep it safe. During the gymnastics Wenlock sat in the cup holder between our seats. :rotfl:

[Skywatcher]

One wenlock limit per boy then (including Ben )

[Dawn]

We bought just the 1 Wenlock. I draw the line at £23 for a tshirt when they are £9 in Sports Direct.

We bought the Games programme and the Day programme though, and bought a Games programme for my parents who dog-sat for us.

[catrancher]

Made in China. :unsure:

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. Our opening ceremony uniforms were made there too! People are not happy! :mad:

Tom (:macwave:... let's hear it for national pride! :unsure:)

[Dawn]

I think the UK outfits were supplied by Primark. :laugh:

[Johnie]

Thank you do much for sharing your experience! It sounds like a wonderful time. I love it when everyone pulls together and makes you proud :-)

[Dawn]

I surely thought you'd have your "HELLO TINK" sign up over your heads, but nooooooo... :sigh:

10th August - men's volleyball semi finals - I'll have my HELLO TINK sign.

[Skywatcher]

:lol:

Do it do it do it

[Dawn]

Between every point. :thumbsup:

[Skywatcher]

Hmm. I'll have a think but we will probably be too laden to take one to the athletics not to mention too far away.

Wish we'd done it for the torch relay now as you could clearly see everyone on the live feed

[josh.p.]

For the first time I feel like the Olympics aren't in some foreign country :bounce: I've loved all the pictures!

[catrancher]

For the first time I feel like the Olympics aren't in some foreign country

That's because they aren't Josh. :taunt:

Tom (:macwave:... just thought you should know.)

[Beccaberry]

Went to a concert on the green tonight...as we sat outside listening to the music, I watched a group of 6-8 girls "playing Olympics" in a patch of grass. They were tumbling about, doing cartwheels, throwing their hands up in the air...it was heartwarming to see the Olympic spirit alive and well in the younger generation ;-)

Came home to find the gymnastics just coming on ;)

[uscwest]

Sounds like you had an absolutely marvelous day Dawn. Looks like you had pretty good weather also. Great photos, even if you didn't have a telephoto lens.

Tom, granted my DW and I weren't there during the Olympics but I honestly don't remember having to pay to use any of the loos while we were there.