Midway between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross. Train running about 30 mins late due to issues with a train ahead. Due into London now at 1313 if that holds. Left Edinburgh 2.5 hours ago.

THURSDAY

Late start today as Megan and Ethan (Natalie's sister and husband) were video conferencing with her at the Olympic Village and catching up. Made it over to Edinburgh Waverly train station for the 1045 service to Glasgow Queen Street, and after 52 minutes to travel time we were walking over to George Square.

George Square had some Olympic exhibits that I got photos of, including the Olympic Rings. Right next to George Square is the City Chambers which has ornate stairways and walls. We're only allowed entrance to the ground floor there, but the photos will give you a pretty good idea of the details that make the interior of this building stand out.





Walked around a street market nearby with both food and bakery items (I bought a danish as I had missed breakfast), then through the shopping area on Argyle Street before a turn up Buchanan Street which has more upscale shopping. Got a photo at one of Natalie's sponsors, Omega, of a watch display adjoining a small starting block for the pool. No miniature Natalie on it, though. While in this area we had an ambulance and fire engine pass us, en route to emergency calls, and took photos of those.



Once we got to the top of Buchanan Street there were some bagpipe players. Took a photo and left a tip. Just past them turned left by the concert hall and down Sauciehall Street, where there is more shopping, and eventually a couple blocks of restaurants and a kilt maker. Continued into a residential area, turned into Kelvingrove Park, and arrived at our destination of Kelvingrove Museum.



There was filming of a TV program underway for BBC called Flog It (looks a lot like Antiques Roadshow) with a crowd of people waiting to have items looked at. Just before we arrived there was an organ recital underway just above the crowd. Took a number of photos inside, but perhaps the highlight was a controversial piece by Salvador Dali Christ of St. John of the Cross.

Here's one of the pieces where the artist recalls his mother's reaction when he broke some of her china:



Look for the floating heads in the gallery itself.

Lunch stop at Wetherspoons Pub on Sauciehall Street (I had beef madras curry) and then back to the train station where we caught the 1630 train back to Edinburgh. Arrived back in Edinburgh to light rain. Had a light dinner near our hotel at another Wetherspoons (mac and cheese for me) and back to hotel after. Plan to get the 0830 train in the morning to London and have seat reservations in place.

FRIDAY

Caught the 0830 train to London Kings Cross. The normal 4.5 hour trip took 5.5 hours because of a train delay in front of us. Tube to the Coughlins hotel near the London Eye and we arrived in the lobby at 1445. I headed over to my hotel in the financial district to find, to my delight, that the internet is fast and not capped, so got the Glasgow photos right up.

Tonight we're meeting at 7 and heading over to a hospitality event in the City. We'll watch opening ceremonies from there. They don't start here until 2100 (odd time to start, isn't it?).

Glasgow photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/2012Olympi...4711&k=7MGQJPZ

Some of you must have watched the US Swim Team "Call Me Maybe" video. Natalie Coughlin is listed in the credits for airplane choreography (you'll see her dancing down the aisle in a yellow shirt...recall she was on Dancing with the Stars). Over 300,000 hits since yesterday when it had just 300.

Tom, I have grown to view your trip reports as a highlight of my Olympics every four years. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us. Its very difficult to believe that Natalie has gone from someone I hadn't heard of and just rooted for because of you to someone I just saw listed as one of the top 10 Olympians of all time. All to best to you and Natalie and your entourage.

2004 and 2008 were clearly her best Olympics when she came home with 5 and 6 medals from each of those. She's the oldest woman on the team this year at 29 and very happy to make another Olympic team. Hopefully she'll bring home medal #12 tomorrow (she'll swim morning prelims--we'll be at the pool for that), and we'll have to see what her plans are for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. She has a lot of supporters out there including a bunch here on FT that have met members of her family over the years as we've traveled together. Thanks for the note.

"Call Me Maybe" video, very cute and somebody made lots of effort on it. I always greatly enjoy your reports from the Olympics. It gives us kind of a front-row seat to an otherwise enormous and complex set of events.

tom911 - I am enjoying your trip report, as usual. I'm glad you were able to see the stunning Salvador Dali painting "Christ of Saint John of the Cross" at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow. According to Wikipedia, when purchased in 1951 for 8,200 GBP, the price was considered high and was controversial. Now of course it is a major attraction which the gallery is fortunate to have.

Wow - Its now at 944,+++ hits (since July 27, 2012):

1:03:

Delta?
US Airways?
United?

I'm at the pool. Natalie swims her relay event in about an hour. Got back to my hotel at 0130 this morning and got 6 hours sleep before heading back out.

Nice reporting, as usual, Tom. Hope Natalie does well.

The Queen was just poolside. Relay prelims now underway.

Natalie to swim shortly. Got my events out of order.

Team USA placed first in their 4x100 freestyle relay and is seeded second, behind Australia, going into finals tonight in 4x100 freestyle relay.

LA Times reported that Natalie was the fastest US swimmer in the relay prelim and could be in contention for a slot in finals tonight. Back to the pool in a few hours.

Tom at Club Speedo

Keep'em it coming!!! I like to watch the Olympic.