This will be a several part report, composed on the road over the next two weeks, as the trip goes along. Today I'll cover the start of the trip on AA, SFO-ORD-LHR, on Tuesday, July 16, and our arrival in London.
--------------------------------
It's a wet and windy Thursday morning here in London. I'm at an internet cafe off of Kensington High Street just after 7.a.m. Because of jet lag, we all held out until about 8pm last night without sleeping (quite an accompishment being that we barely slept on the overnight flight from Chicago due to turbulence), so I was up at 5:30 this morning.
We left SFO at 3pm Tuesday after a 30 min delay for air traffic control in Chicago (737-800 in F). Megan, who is 17, accompanied me in business class (she seemed to like that). I had salmon, and she had the chicken casserole, and we both had ice cream sundaes for dessert. Salmon was good, but she didn't care for the chicken casserole. I had warned her about the tortelli, which was the third option, that I had experienced (and disliked) once before. The movie was How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but I fell asleep before it was over.
We arrived in Chicago and only had about 20 mins before boarding the 9:55pm London flight, just enough time to get into the American Airlines Flagship Lounge (used for first class international travelers and top
tier frequent flyers). I had some champagne,
and Megan had some Perrier water. We both had some fresh fruit and brownies (with white chocolate morsels on the top--they were very good), and then went just around the corner to our flight. There must have been all of about 6 people in this lounge (I don't think many know it exists, or that they may even qualify to get into it). It's a different lounge than the regular Admirals Club they have. We were the last international flight out for that night.
The London flight was quite turbulent, and has to rank among the two most turbulent flights I've ever flown (the other being Australia once before), making it
very difficult to sleep. On this flight, I had the lamb medallions, which were very good, and Megan had filet mignon, which she said she enjoyed. Both meals were accompanied by large salads and an appetizer
plate, and dessert was ice cream (for me) and a cheese platter (for her).
The 777 had at-seat video with multiple channels, but I just listened to music periodically, or watched the map to see where we were.
Arrived at Heathrow and quickly claimed luggage, working our way down a mile-long corridor to The Tube. We bought all day 6 zone passes(£5.10, about $8) and set off into London (45 mins). It has been warm here
(in the 70's), and the train trip was miserable (little or no air conditioning). We arrived at our priceline hotel just off High Street Kensington, about 2pm, but they did not have any non-smoking rooms ready, so we set out on foot and bus for a short walk
around, stopping at Kensington Palace, and ending at Victoria Station. I had an impossible time trying to buy a British Telcom phone card after popping into about 10 shop, so eventually used a coin phone at
Victoria Station.
Met up with my friend Harvey, who is a constable currently working on a CAD project here (formerly worked at Heathrow for 10 years). We had drinks at the hotel, and then all of us set out by train for Notting Hill and Queensway, where we ended up at a pizza place for dinner (not too much of an appetite after a long day).
The Coughlins are meeting me a 8a.m. and we're off for a day of touring (in the rain, I expect). That's it for now from London.
ESPN/ESPN2 TV Coverage of Swimming's World Championships from Barcelona July 20-27:
Enjoyable read so far, please keep the updates coming!
I've just said goodbye and wished good luck to the members of the Swiss delegation training at 'my' local pool here. I doubt however that they will be a serious threat to Natalie...
[This message has been edited by airoli (edited 07-17-2003).]
tom911
Jul 17, 03, 4:25 pm
I read in one of the London papers today that Inge DeBrujn from The Netherlands (may have that slightly misspelled) will not be competing head to head against Natalie in any of her events (she picked 50 meter events that Natalie will not be swimming in), so that reduces the serious competition a little, too. It all depends who makes it down to the final 8. Could be some surprise Swiss swimmers that could present a challenge http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Just after 10pm Thursday night in London, and the skies are finally clearing. It was wet and windy the entire day. I'm back at an Easy Everything internet cafe (the one on Kensington opens at 0700 and closes at 2330, unlike some others that are open 24 hours a day).
We started at the parade grounds just down from Buckingham Palace, where the troops prepare for the Changing of the Guard. Due to rain, the band did not march over (they were assembled in a covered area, and then disassembled). The troops left the parade grounds and went into the barracks, and returned with grey capes covering their bright red uniforms, and marched over without the band. Of the dozen or more times I've come out for this, I can't ever remember the band not accompanying the troops.
The rest of the day we spent walking down the Mall past 10 Downing Street, Parliament, across the Thames to the London Eye (ferris wheel),and later in the day to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, past HMS Belfast, and over to the London Bridge station and British Rail to Charing Cross. We found a pub near there, on Whitehall, where we just finished dinner and returned out to High Street Kensington.
On Friday we intend to set out for Covent Garden, Oxford and Regent Street, Picadilly Circus, finishing up with dinner with school friends in Greenwich.
pallensf
Jul 17, 03, 5:00 pm
My curiosity is peaked... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
------------------
Patrick A. Inouye, LMT
volunteer trip reports moderator
freeupgrade
Jul 17, 03, 10:56 pm
Tom,
Enjoyed very much. Thanks.
I am long overdue for a trip to London, so i so appreciate your detail.
Safe travels. How ere the FAs on the ORD-LHR?
tom911
Jul 18, 03, 1:41 am
The flights attendants were great. They were very visible throughout the flight. There was an older couple in the middle section just ahead of us that couldn't sort out the seat controls or meal trays, and they assisted them a number of times throughout the flight to make those work.
They even asked if we wanted to be awakened for breakfast. Megan (Natalie's sister--don't know if I mentioned that earlier), wanted to be awakened, but she was sound alseep when they came by about 90 mins prior to arrival and I asked them to let her sleep. I just had OJ and passed on the cereal and croissants (after the salmon and lamb on both flights, I didn't have much of an appetite by breakfast).
I've been very happy with AA service in business on the international routes.
Tom in London today--and the SUN is out at 0740 here
tom911
Jul 19, 03, 1:52 am
The sun went away quickly on Friday morning, but was out again come afternoon. We started the day at Leicester Square, then over to Picadilly Circus, up Regent Street (with a stop at Hamley's toy store--hard to come to London without stopping here), up to Oxford Street where we popped into a number of stores, and then via double decker bus down to Marble Arch. We picked up sandwiches for lunch, and went over to Green Park to munch in the sun.
Headed back into The Underground, but due to train delays we came back out to street level and took a bus to Oxford Circus. We walked through Soho and over to Covent Garden, stopping at the gift shop at the Museum of Transport, and then watching some of the entertainment around Covent Garden (jugglers, magicians, musicians) who were out in full force in a bright afternoon sun (along with thousands of tourists). Tried to get up on the balcony at Punch and Judy's pub but it was packed.
Set off by Tube/Docklands Light Railway up to Greenwich, looking around the old Royal Naval Academy grounds (on one of my London visits I was able to get here, when the Navy still occupied the place), the Cutty Sark and Gypsy Moth, and a pub stop nearby (this one had picnic tables covered with a canopy, so you were in the shade). After this we met my friend Megan at a noodle bar nearby (I had lamb curry, and we split some chicken satay and spring rolls), and back into London via British Rail into Charing Cross (FYI: you can use travelcards on British Rail within zone 1-2 travelcard areas). From there we set off back to the hotel.
I should not have turned on the TV. The news headline last night was a British Airways ground staff strike at Heathrow, cancelling 90 flights. Fortunately (I hope) we are flying out of Gatwick today to Barcelona and should not be impacted. From news reports on Sky TV this morning, the action is strictly limited to Heathrow, and a somewhat normal schedule is expected after 1000, even from there.
tom911
Jul 19, 03, 2:15 am
Saw a couple different stories/photos on Natalie, who is already training in Barcelona, this morning (competition starts in 24 hours):
Coughlin in 7 Events at Swimming Worlds
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030718/ap_on_sp_ot/swimming_worlds_coughlin_1
Phelps and Coughlin are looking out of this world
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030718/sp_usatoday/5335645
Coughlin works overtime at swimming worlds
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/199/sports/Coughlin_works_overtime_at_swi:.shtml
tom911
Jul 19, 03, 7:28 am
We've made it down to Gatwick airport, where I'm posting from the BA Lounge. Natalie's parents and sister are both with me, and we've been munching on finger sandwiches, chips, shortbread cookies, and downing them with an assortment of juices, beer, and wine. They have a pretty decent lounge here (although the 3 PC's are very slow). There are a lot of small children running about on the front of the 4th floor, so we've been in the Sanctuary area which is very quiet, and we've just moved down to the 3rd floor to use the PC's.
Our flight has just posted a 20 minute delay, and hopefully will depart no later than that.
We purchased tickets on the Gatwick express under a promotion that 4 travel for the price of 2 (22 pounds total), though the ride down was hot and miserable ( I don't think the train had an air conditioning). If all goes well, we'll be in Barcelona in about 3 hours.
tom911
Jul 20, 03, 2:11 pm
The BA flights were nice, with coach type seating in Club Europe. During the 90 min flight I was served steak over a bed of salad, with chocolate mousse cake, and a Spanish red wine. Megan had the chicken. The plane was very warm as no one had closed the window shades while it was on the ground, and it never really did cool down on the way to Barcelona. They did serve us cold drinks with ice.
Now....on to swimming...
Hello from the city of pickpockets. They almost got Megans wallet out of her purse today at a subway turnstile (team of two) but Jim (her father) saw them in action and stopped it. IT was a team of two. We also saw them later in the day when we went back for finals at the Palau Sant Jordi pool.
Natalie did very well today. She placed in the top 8 after semifinals for 100 butterfly (top 16 make it into semifinals), and will go back Monday night for finals in that event.
NATALIE WINS GOLD MEDAL IN 400 FREESTYLE RELAY first U.S. gold of the meet
Uhe U.S. team won the gold medal in 400 freestyle relay, so Natalie has her first gold medal of the meet tonight (Sunday at 9pm here). Due to technical difficulties, they could not play the national anthem, which is a source of pride for us at these events, so the U.S. swimmers started singing on their own, anf family and friends joined in.
When we arrived in Barcelona, we were provided with a free bus ride into the city, courtesy of FINA (the international swimming body), and went to the Avenida Palace for a reception hosted by Speedo. 17 family members were not there, as they were stuck at London Heathow without any flights. They all finally made it here Sunday morning.
Our hotel is pretty convenient to the swimming site, but it invovles a train trip, and a transfer to jam packed buses. In this hot weather, a jam packed bus is the last place you want to be.
--edited because the keys are in different places on this Spanish keyboard--
That´s it for now. Back to swimming in the morning (Monday).
[This message has been edited by tom911 (edited 07-20-2003).]
tom911
Jul 20, 03, 2:22 pm
Photos from tonight
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?h=n&g=31&t=0&ei=UTF-8&p=Natalie%20Coughlin&c=news_photos
No, I was in a stars and stripes vest and a white Cal cap (with Cal logo). Glad you were able to catch it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif The swimmers are in dark blue, and we´re below them and to the left, so we might have been hard to pick out.
We are about 30 feet from the starting blocks (in the direction of the water).
Natalie was very happy today, and we hope the rest of her week continues to go well.
airoli
Jul 20, 03, 3:15 pm
Oh well, I'll try next time... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
(As I will be in YUL as from Tuesday I won't be able to watch it live anymore though.)
Tom,
Great to reminisce. As an former Sr. national swimmer, geez I even trained with Jenny Thompson (dating myself), I am following your stories with great zeal. When I have kids-they'll swim-like it or not. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif. In fact, my folks read your stories which we have spurred long talks-which usually leads to..."So what did you guys (parents) do after we went to bed at 9pm for an early prelim?" What a riot-I never realized they had so much fun on our trips, but now realize what troopers they were getting us up and out for the 7 am warmups. I almost swam for Nort Thorton at Cal (Biondi era)-but at the last minute my appointment to the Naval Academy arrived and with it any dreams to swim ultra competitively.
I am going to have to arrange my vacation next year around Athens. Swimming-ain't nothing like it.
bob
StudentExplorer
Jul 20, 03, 7:24 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tom911:
Natalie's parents and sister are both with me, and we've been munching on finger sandwiches, chips, shortbread cookies, and downing them with an assortment of juices, beer, and wine. .</font>
Hhmm, as I am relatively new at FT can you enlighten me as to your relationship to Natalie?
I read your trip reports and posts with great enthusiasm but that has always confused me.
tom911
Jul 21, 03, 9:17 am
I just passed Jenny Thompson at the team hotel about 2 hours ago, as we were coming back from prelims. She is having a great meet.
Natalie has a fever. We´re waiting to see if she will swim finals in the 100 butterfly tonight or not, which is less than 2 hours from now. This morning she placed 25th in prelims for 100 back, and she holds the world record in this event. She still has another 6 days left if she cannot compete tonight, and could still medal in other events.
I work for Natalie´s fatrher at a police department in the San Francisco Bay Area. We´ve both been there over 25 years, and have been good friends for a long time. As I get 10 weeks of vacation a year, and do a lot of international travel anyway, the swim meets just fit into my vacation plans quite easily.
tom911
Jul 21, 03, 9:21 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by H53Epilot:
Swimming-ain't nothing like it. </font>
Go NAVY!!! (I´ve actually toured the Naval Academy a few years back on a weekend BWI mileage run, and saw their pool.) When Natalie started training in Concord, and the family still lived in Benicia, I even helped out ferrying her over to practice some days. It takes a commitment (as you´re well aware). They ended up moving to Concord just to be closer to the pool and the coaching staff there. Although we had a local team in Benicia, they didn´t produce elite swimmers.
tom911
Jul 22, 03, 6:19 am
It´s 1pm on Tuesday afternoon here in Barcelona. We just left the team hotel after a visit with Natalie and her coach. The Coughlins brought a flower arrangement along for her. She still has a fever but at this point does expect to swim in prelims for her
next event on Thursday morning. She is not swimming at all today (Tuesday) because of being eliminated in prelims yesterday for 100 backstroke, and she does not compete at all on Wednesday.
Last night she decided to compete in finals for 100 butterfly, even with the fever. She came out in 8th place (remember this is the event she holds the world record in). Jenny Thompson, from the U.S., took first place and gold for the U.S. Her mother was in the
audience. Natalie could have, with relays, another 4 events this week.
I´m using a desktop on the 10th floor of a hotel. We´re in a hospitality suite sponsored by Nike with appetizers and desserts. It´s just above the Espanya
train station for those familiar with Barcelona.
Couple of non-swimming highlights now that I have time to type up my notes:
GELATO...I introduced Megan to gelato (Italian ice cream) on Sunday night, and she loves it. I had some rum raisin, tiramisu, and chocolate bon bon for 3 euros for a large cup (about $3.36).
LUNCH....is the big meal here. We´ve been to
restaurants off La Ramblas the last two days with daily menus for $9-12. The meals include two courses and dessert, along with beer or water. On Monday I had pasta with a pesto sauce for the first course, and
lamb for the second course. We are not starving here by any means, and the costs are less than we expected.
HOTEL....our hotel is at the Sants train station. I am on the 8th floor with a wraparound balcony. I have a view of Montjuic and the Olympic park grounds from my
room. The Brazil and Portugal teams are in our hotel, as is Japan. On Friday we change hotels and move to the resort town of Sitges, 30 mins away.
TRANSIT...a 5 day pass for trains and buses is $19-17.30 euros. We´ve getting a lot of use out of those.
THE HEAT...it was 36C--97F yesterday. It feels like that outside already. We head out with cold bottled water every morning, after our stop at the train station for a morning pastry and juice, which is a typical breakfast here (about 4 euros....$4.50).
TOURING..we visited a marketplace yesterday, and the mall on the water at the end of La Ramblas. We´vee also spent a lot of time walking La Ramblas, which is a huge pedestrian mall lined with trees, street
entertainers (we saw 2 of the Simpson characters yesterday, and today a guy covered in mud trying to look like an Aborigine). We want to try and hit the
zoo, as well as the Cathedral and some museums before the week is over.
That´s about it for now. Time for some more snacks here in the suite, and then out for some hot afternoon touring. Watch for Natalie swimming again come Thursday.
[This message has been edited by tom911 (edited 07-22-2003).]
tom911
Jul 24, 03, 8:11 am
First, the swimming news (and it´s not good news). After a two day break, Natalie tried to swim this morning (Thursday) in prelims for 100 freestyle. There were about 90-95 swimmers from around the world competing in 12 heats, and only the top 16 make it to seminfinals tonight. Natalie would typically be among the top 2-3 swimmers going into the next round. She did not place in the top 16, so she won´t move on. She still has a fever which she developed last Saturday, and is being treated by a doctor that came with the U.S. team. Her coach and teammates have been very supportive, but she just can´t beat this fever. She just doesn´t have her strength back to run at 100%, and her temperature has been as high as 102F, or she would be winning medals left and right, just like she did at Pan Pacs in Japan last summer when she came home with a stack of gold medals. I can´t remember any time, in the last couple of years, that she didn´t make it into finals. It just doesn´t happen.
She does have a chance to compete in prelims for another event Friday morning, but we´re not sure that´s going to happen. As her times are not good right now due to the fever, she will not likely be selected to swim in the two upcoming relay events Saturday and Sunday. We´re optimistic she´ll get well soon and be at her peak come the Olympics one year from now.
At least she has the one gold medal from Sunday night, before she became ill. There are thousands of swimmers here from around the world, and only a few come home with any type of medal at all.
Now...on to sightseeing...
I just left the Coughlins and I´m at an internet cafe on Plaza Catalunya. We just came back from Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia church, and it was quite a sight (it doesn´t look like any church I´ve been to before). We had our first encounter with gypsies here. The first pair had a baby and an old newspaper, and the second set both had babies. One came up very close to me and stood inches from me asking for something in Spanish, but you have to know, at this point of the trip, I hold on dearly to my wallet, and try to watch people´s hands when they are around me.
We had breakfast-early lunch at a tapas place this morning off of Avenue Diagonal, and it was very good. I won´t tell you who tried the anchovies (it wasn´t me), but the rest of us had potato-egg omlette, seafod salad, chicken kebab, plus some other items, each at about 2-3 euros each. I went to this same place last night and had a crab and pasta salad, and prawns, each for 2.5 euros (about $2.80), down with two half-liter beers at about $3 each.
Since I last wrote, we spent 4 hours at the zoo, including a visit to the white gorilla exhibit. We had huge 1 liter beers (the local brands are Estrella or Damm) for under $4 on the waterfront afterwards, and dinner at an Italian place (I had chicken parmesan, fettucine, and pizza bread for around 10 euros-$11.25).
I thought Jim was going to get pickpocketed this morning. While waiting to cross the street, someone literally came up with a camera, to take a photo, and had his hand next to the zipper of his backpack. The guy didn´t make any move, but we are trying to be very careful when we travel (remember the telltale sign we are tourists: shirts for swimming that say "USA" in big letters on them).
One of the better meals since I last write was grilled salmon, accompanied by a local soup with pork and noodles, and a beer, for about $9 (8 euros). Still finding food reasonably priced, even with the poor performing dollar.
We have also toured the Cathedral which has a Spanish saint buried under it, and the Coughlins toured the Piccaso museum while I went out wandering the neighborhood. I did the same last night, spending 4 hours walking around, starting at Plaza Catalunya, and ending up at our hotel near Sants station.
And, finally, I understand there might be a feature article on Natalie in Sports Illustrated this week (issue that comes out around the 25th?) with photos, so watch for that.
We will be going to finals tonight to support the other U.S. swimmers that have made it into the medal rounds. We move to the resort town of Sitges tomorrow for the last 3 nights.
tom911
Jul 24, 03, 3:34 pm
Natalie decided to scratch the 200 back prelims for Friday. Still a chance she might swim a relay on Saturday night if she is up to it, and have a shot at a second medal. Will find out when we come back to Barcelona from Sitges on Saturday night.
transpac
Jul 25, 03, 7:07 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tom911:
And, finally, I understand there might be a feature article on Natalie in Sports Illustrated this week (issue that comes out around the 25th?) with photos, so watch for that.</font>
Quite a long feature article on Natalie Coughlin in this week's Sports Illustrated (p. 60 July 28, 2003 Kobe Bryant's mugshot is on the cover). A quick search did not yield the article.
H53Epilot
Jul 25, 03, 10:22 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by transpac:
Quite a long feature article on Natalie Coughlin in this week's Sports Illustrated (p. 60 July 28, 2003 Kobe Bryant's mugshot is on the cover). A quick search did not yield the article.</font>
That's lovely. She'll be pround to show her grandkids. I'll bet she will also be happy to sign the cover with Kobe's mug shot. Too bad it wasn't Tiger or Annika on the front-or better yet, with HER on the cover. Go USA.
tom911
Jul 27, 03, 7:07 am
NATALIE WINS SILVER MEDAL (her second medal at World Championships)
Good morning from Sitges, a resort town about 30 mins out from Barcelona. We´ve just finished our buffet breakfast, and are using a free internet terminal in the hotel lobby. We are at the Melia Hotel which is just gorgeous, and it has a pool with a large lawn
area. If we want to go to the beach, it´s just a 5 minute walk away (and some people don´t wear anything on this beach). We opted for the pool http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I´ll start with swimming and then get on to some other highlights. We took the train back to Barcelona last night to hopefully watch Natalie competein the 400IM relay. She was going to swim the 100 backstroke if she
was up to it. We were not disappointed. She swam the opening leg for the U.S. team at 1 min 2 second, not as fast as she would normally go (she holds the world record in this event at just under a minute flat). The
other U.S. swimmers made up some of the time, and the U.S. team, and Natalie, came out with a silver medal behind China. One of the Chinese swimmers collapsed afterwards (as did one of the Australian swimmers on
the award stand earlier this week).
Natalie had a big smile on her face and her color was almost back, so she was definitely looking better than earlier in the week. She also said her temperature was back to normal.
When we changed hotels on Friday morning, Megan stayed behind in Barcelona for a shopping day with the girls (the girls being two Speedo reps). She wanted to buy a Burberry collar for her boxer, Jake, but they ran out. Jim hauled her 45.5 pound rollaboard up and down train station stairs to get it over here, along with his own luggage (for comparison, my backpack weighed
25 pounds at check-in, and it was packed with USA T-shirts and clothing). I have noticed Megan (17) wearing a different outfit every day, and she told me this morning she has clothes she has not even worn
yet. She is equipped for any clothing emergency that could possibly come along http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
The U.S. families have had two more attempted
pickpocked incidents on the trains here, without success. Natalie´s grandfather had his hand in his pocket holding his wallet, and felt another hand in his pocket. He screamed at the guy and another pickpocket incident was avoided.
The police Olympics have started here, and we met an officer from Madera, in the central valley of California, who lost his wallet with $300 to a pickpocket on Friday morning. A team of 3 spun him around on the train, and reached into shoulder bag and
removed his wallet. They jumped off the train and ran off.
On our return trip to Sitges from Barcelona on Friday night, we got on the wrong train (right platform, right time, wrong train...the train we wanted was running a few minutes behind). We ended up in St.
Vincent, a couple miles past Sitges, and were
fortunate to catch the last train back to Sitges at 2200.
In Sitges, we met with FTer AlanW,
who has relocated here from Seattle. We had an`excellent dinner on the waterfornt consisting of various small plates of food, shared among everyone on the table (pica picas), We had various dishes; pork,
peanut shrimp, salmon with pineapple, feta
salad, all washed down with ice cold cervezas (Megan had a pepsi light). Due to the issue with the wrong train, we arrived 90 minutes late, but Alan told us fashionably late is proper for dinner, so we were just like the natives http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
We had a great evening talking
about travel, swimming, and frequent flyer programs. We did not leave until almost 1 in the morning, and had a 5 minute walk back to the hotel.
Last night on the way to Barcelona we met Sven, who is a pilot for Lufthansa. He was asking us for directions (usually it´s the other way around here...we stop and ask locals for information). He had a seat a few rows above us at the pool, but we had some empty seats in the U.S. section and he joined us for the evening (he sat behind Michaal Phelps mother...Michael holds a
stack of world and U.S. records).
That´s it for now. We´re going over early today to catch Stan, who works at the PD with me, who is here to compete in the
police Olympics. He is going to join us at swimming tonight, the final night.
We´re off to London Heathrow on Monday morning, and will spend one night in London before returning to the U.S. on Tuesday morning.
Thanks again to AlanW for the excellent dinner and conversation here in Sitges http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
tom911
Jul 27, 03, 5:14 pm
Just back at the hotel on Sunday night after midnight. The pickpockets in Barcelona just won´t let up. Zennie, Natalie´s mother, was targeted today. A woman came up to her and waved some newspapers in front of her. She yelled at her to go away, and when she would not physically pushed her away. I think I´ll be back in Spain, but pass on Barcelona.
alanw
Jul 27, 03, 7:53 pm
I must say I really don't get the whole pickpocket thing. I have been to BCN probably 100 times and have *never* had an encounter like this.
I wonder if there is some behavior in particular that is attracting them?
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-alan in sitges, home of Si-Do (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/003150.html)
tom911
Jul 28, 03, 12:38 am
Maybe you have to look like a tourist? We certainly fit that bill, as did everyone here with the U.S. team. Most of us were wearing something that said USA for the swimming, and if we went out after prelims or finals were still in the same attire.
Having said that, though, it´s a whole different atmosphere here in Sitges, as there isn´t a Metro to get around on, so the risk we had in Barcelona is not there. All of the problems reported seemed to be on the Metro, or going up or down escalators, or through turnstiles, in Barcelona. Maybe the only exception was around Sagrada Familia where we saw gypsies with newspapers or babies.
We´ve felt pretty safe here in Sitges, as you´re not hopping on and off local trains all day.
Natalie is off to Athens today. She has been invited to tour the Olympic pool there (gather they invited several top tier swimmers).
alanw
Jul 28, 03, 1:54 am
That's awesome for Natalie! I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet her. I'm glad you're finding Sitges to be more friendly. Maybe it's a sign that you need to come back? I think I hear Si-Do calling...
I asked a couple of "locals" about your experience at breakfast today and they reported it as being fairly common, not just among tourists. Maybe I've been lucky or something (crossed fingers).
------------------
-alan in sitges, home of Si-Do (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/003150.html)
airoli
Jul 28, 03, 1:04 pm
Tom, thanks for the continued report. I've somewhat lost track of the swimming events since coming over here to YUL, but now had the time to read all your updates.
Sorry to hear that Natalie couldn't compete in more events. But there will always be the Olympics next year...
As for the pickpocketing: The only two cities where somebody tried to steal my wallet were Rome (Scalita di Spagna) and Barcelona (easyEverything cafe at the Ramblas). I stopped them both times.
I was in BCN for a wedding a few months ago, and somebody in our group was also the victim of these gangs. Luckily he was able see them off and able to hang on to his wallet, but after reading the numerous reports here, I can only encourage everyone to watch themselves when visiting BCN. It really seems to be a a general problem, not just isolated incidents. A pity really, BCN is such a great city.
tom911
Jul 29, 03, 12:14 pm
transpac-
Thanks for the update on the SI article. We just picked up two copies here at ORD on the way home. Some great photos there, too. Tried to find an issue at LHR but guess it's not sold there.
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Scored an operational upgrade to F this morning LHR-ORD, along with Megan, Natalie's 17 year old younger sister, who is traveling with me. She was looking forward to her first trip in international business, but was outright amazed when the gate agent handed us new boarding passes to F (my 4th operational upgrade on AA, the first on an international flight), and we sat in the first row of first class. She loved the flight attendants on the flight, as they gave her a lot of attenion and kept that Diet Coke glass full. She's spoiled for life http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I didn't post much about our hotels, so let me do that now.
When we arrived for 3 nights in London, we stayed at the Tara Copthorne right behind High Street Kensington for $65 a night. Rooms were fine, though maybe decor a little dated, but as we were only looking for a place to sleep at the end of the day, met our needs just fine. I've stayed in this area before, so the Easy Everything internet cafe came in handy, as did the Safeway just down from it.
In Barcelona, we used Hotels.com and got the Expo hotel, right across from the Sants Train Station, for $89 single and $99 double. We ended up on three different floors because of all the swimmers camped out here, and the accomodations seemed to vary. I was on the 8th floor (hotel has 9 floors) and had a sofa and quite a bit of floor space. The other two rooms we had were smaller without floor space. The air conditioning was on, but all the rooms always seemed slightly warm, like maybe it was struggling to keep up with the 97F temperatures and high humidity outside. We figured out we could actually walk up to Montjuic and the pool right from our hotel in about 25 mins, and did that a few times rather than the bus/train combo.
In Sitges, we were at the Melia for 87 euros a night which included breakfast (about $100, probably a 4 star). I would jump at the chance to stay here again. It is about a 15 min walk from the train station, or a 5-6 euro fare ($6-7). I commented about it in a previous post.
The last night at Heathrow, we were at the Sheraton Heathrow on Bath Road for $65 a night from Priceline. We were in a refurbished wing, but it seems the only thing refurbished was bedding, window coverings, and carpet. The bathrooom looked rather worn. Can't complain about the price, and we had a car service at 6am for 7 pounds to the airport (about $11), rather than using the airport bus at 3 pounds per person.
We took a local bus up to Windsor for the afternoon. The 1859 bus back to LHR never showed, and the 2003 showed up about 2030, so we got to sit across from Windsor Castle counting planes taking off from Heathrow. It was about a 30 min bus ride for 3 pounds 70 round trip.
Will probably comment some more when I get home later today.
tom911
Jul 29, 03, 10:06 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by airoli:
Sorry to hear that Natalie couldn't compete in more events. But there will always be the Olympics next year...</font>
Natalie is in Athens right now. She was invited to tour the Olympic venue there, and is expected home at the end of the week.
Read the Sports Illustrated story on the last segment today ORD-SFO. A full page color photo (in a Cal bathing suit)! Imagine not many people get a full page for their photo. Pretty good story on everything she did leading up to World Championships.
U.S. Swimming told us they were negotiating for a 34 room hotel 1 hour outside Athens, and that other possibilities (like a cruise ship) were at least that far out. As I would need a single room, or someone to share with, it's looking less likely that I'll be able to go to the Olympics. If Natalie goes pro, her parents might be able to get a room through a corporate sponsor, but I'd be on my own and the options are really limited this far out. The Athens organizing committee has blocked all the rooms in the city and is slowly allocating them to corporate sponsors and officials, and we might get some of those as we get closer. Will have to wait and see.
H53Epilot
Jul 29, 03, 11:30 pm
That's too bad, Tom.
I was actually making initial plans to head to ATH to see the swimming next year. The club I swam for (in Cincinnati, Oh.) sent 4 swimmers to the '84 Games (of course I was only 14 at the time-in fact, one of my favorite memories is of Mary T., a Cal Alum, giving me a hug after I swam a personal best in the 100 back in 1981). The fact that most of the rooms are sucked up by corporations is sad. In fact, as great as Lance Armstrong is with winning his 5th straight Tour de France, ESPN had zero coverage of an 18 year old kid, Michael Phelps, who set 5 world records in one week at the World Championships. I guess it's more marketable being an overweight golfer.
Have you thought of a private house or a small boat? There has to be a way to lodge. And I doubt Priceline will be accomodating.
Bob
P.S. Here's a few anagrams-Olympic style.
Rearranging the letters of 'Athens Olympics' gives: Champions' style
-'Twenty Seventh Modern Olympiad' = The men and women yield sporty TV.
-'Athens Olympic Games' = Lame Gymnastic Hopes
-'The International Olympic Committee' = Theoretically, I'm incompetent, am I not?
-'The Commonwealth Games' = What macho glee moments! or Ogle at mammoth wenches?
-'Juan Antonio Samaranch' = Aha! Junior con-man Satan. or An IOC man on a rash jaunt. or
A macho Trojan in an anus
-'International Olympic Committee' = Nicely maim tolerant competition or Acclaim tiny, impotent, elite moron.
-'The Winter Olympic Games' = What is merely competing?
OK, so I am bored with the 'Anagram Machine' that I discovered. Here's one you can appreciate 'Natalie Coughlin' = In tough alliance or alien lunatic hog (sorry, that just sounded funny). There are many more.
Good luck with the Games in '04.
[This message has been edited by H53Epilot (edited 07-29-2003).]
[This message has been edited by H53Epilot (edited 07-29-2003).]
tom911
Jul 30, 03, 1:01 am
ESPN actually did 60-90 mins a day from Barcelona, though it bounced between ESPN and ESPN2 depending on the day. I met Rowdy Gaines at the Barcelona Airport on the way out, and I'm sure he was there for that. My dad recorded most of the coverage while I was gone and I'll look at some of it this next week.
I saw every world record that Michael set (we sat right behind his mother and sister), and I was even in Santa Clara when he broke one about 6 weeks ago. I have a photo of him and Natalie together poolside in Santa Clara. He seems to be a really nice kid.
tom911
Jul 30, 03, 12:18 pm
Photos are up now (over 700):
http://photos.yahoo.com/tom911@pacbell.net
2003 Barcelona: contains separate folders for Swimming, Barcelona city sights (La Ramblas, La Sagrada Familia, Espanya and fountains to Monjuic, Cathedral), the zoo (white gorilla is the main attraction, but I liked the elephants), and Sitges (resort town 30 mins away).
2003 London: contains photos from the city and Greenwich
Probably best to page through the thumbnails, and then hit "full screen" for anything you want to look at in detail (like the white gorilla, or Natalie being awarded her gold medal).