Around London....

The Olympic rings can be found all over the city...I found them hanging from Tower Bridge (the one you saw David Beckham with the torch, pass under on a speed boat, racing toward the opening ceremony), the Serpentine Bridge in Hyde Park, and at King's Cross - St. Pancras Station.

The two Olympic mascots, Wenlock (with his friendship bracelets!) and Mandeville (representing the Paralympics) can be found all over town. I particularly like the one with the Auburn Tiger painted on the side.

I understand the stuffed versions are not flying off the shelves as Olympic merchandisers had hoped but I did find this book bag that I thought was cute!

One of my favorite sights is this huge ball planted in the concrete in the middle of Sloane Square. It is a giant replica of the Olympic standard shot-put measuring 3m in diameter and thrown down from the Olympic Gods.

I wonder where the JAVELIN landed?

Day 1

Day 1...a quick stop at Starbucks and we're off to see our first event of the 2012 Olympics....the Men's Cycling Road Race! The crowd is gathering for a 10:00AM start...

We cheer for the motorcycle police who graciously high-five the crowd and the support cars with bicycles on top, and I'm just guessing, Medics inside.....and finally... here come the bikes!

And there go the bikes! 10:05 - off to Harrods and Hyde Park - stay tuned!

The torch!

It was a special day in Chelsea...the Olympic torch was making it's way through the city of London, by way of helicopter, barge, tube, bus...over bridges, under arches, around museums, through parks...with stops at Number 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and even the maze at Hampton Court.....we waited with anticipation in front of the Royal Chelsea Hospital.
(Only Americans would be holding up red solo cups!)

How handsome do these Pensioners look all decked out in their distinguished red uniforms?

And Debi and I in our official USA "uniforms"!

I swear this guy held that flag up for an hour straight and the other has been trying to quit smoking for 60 years!

And look closely at this guy sitting on his cane/seat...doesn't he look just like "The Colonel" ?

And finally, what we have all been waiting for.... First - a word from our sponsors......

Now the "kissing" of the two torches and the passing of the Olympic flame.

The gentleman running with the flame is a Chelsea Pensioner and still runs marathons!

Let the games begin!

MDNA

Whoo-hoo The Madonna in Hyde Park... The sights were much more entertaining than the concert.....

But I really think this picture of the family in front of us says it all.....

Apparently we all wanted to hear some of her earlier hits!!! Don't waste your £££ or $$$!

Hard Rock Calling 2012

Hyde Park was muddy but the organisers brought in truck loads of mulch to fill in the puddles. Most of us attending the concert were prepared with rain gear and ready to face what the London weather could throw at us....it was a sight to remember!

The weather did not seem to discourage any of the ticket holders...who would miss the chance to see Lady Antbellum, John Fogerty, and the man himself - Bruce Springsteen!

It's made the headlines of every society paper and is the topic of conversation on every talk radio station...Sir Paul McCartney joined Bruce on stage for a few familiar tunes and at 10:40 someone pulled the plug! The sound went dead! The band continued to play but we could not hear a thing.....curfew was 10:30....please, on a Saturday night in London...most clubs don't even open until after midnight!

No worries, we still had a fabulous time hanging with friends, listening to Bruce on another magical summer evening in London!

bloomin' boxes

Although there is a lot of grumbling going on about all the rain we've had this spring in London, I have noticed that our own little porch addition is thriving. I took a brisk walk, between showers, around the block just to snap a few photo's of our neighbours happy flower boxes......

The pubs, The Duke and The Belgravia, and Ebury Wine Bar have never looked better....

and look what I found just popping up between the cracks - (you know you couldn't grow theses if you tried!)........

We are going to Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park Saturday and the weather forecast is "muddy, at best".....I think that means wear your wellies!