Post from Michelle

London 2012, Women's Beach Volleyball

My first Olympic event was beach volleyball. The event was held at the Horse Guards Parade, next to Buckingham Palace and the Mall. The crowd was fun- mostly people Olaf and my age. Perhaps that had something to do with the time. The event didn't start until 9pm!

We waited in line to get into the "holding pen" where we'd be kept until they opened the event for us.

On the Mall, waiting to go through security before entering the holding pen. We did our best to sport the Red, White, and Blue as we were watching the US women and men compete.

Britain, all cheeried up for the Olympics.

In the holding pen. To occupy the masses- Massive sculptures of famous volleyball players.

Olaf is not only excited about the event, but excited that I am back home from California :)

Bagel sandwiches a la Michelle.

Sand sculpture of one of the odder Olympics mascots. I don't know, I just couldn't identify with the one-eyed blob. I liked the lion better

Artist making sculpture of the venue.

Goofy British fans.

Inside the venue.

US Women- Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Misty May-Treanor.

They were constantly cheering and supporting each other.

After the win! These women are super classy. They went around and shook the hand of every official and volunteer.

After the women's game, the US men played (and won) a game against Russia.

The energy at the venue was great and really silly. At breaks, Hawaiian dancers came out and entertained everyone.

The fans were hilarious. People really went all out with their outfits.

Summer Olympics, London 2012!!! Swimming

For the last year, London has been bitching about the Olympics. My gosh, did attitudes change once the Games began!

In the run-up to the Olympics, we were all worried about an assortment of issues. My favorite topics to whine about:

1. I didn't get tickets, so there had better not be empty seats!
Most people we know did not get tickets to any events. Not that they didn't try! Here in the UK we had to bid on tickets and enter a lottery, without any idea the chances of getting tickets. And you had to give them your credit card details because you would be charged immediately after the lottery. We bid on eight events and got two. We got more tickets on the "black market"- ie VIP's selling their free tickets.

2. The congestion will be terrible. How am I going to get to work?
The London transport people ended up doing a really good job. Olaf never had a problem getting to/ from work. Stations were fully staffed and problems were fixed quickly.

3. All our taxes are going to building unnecessary venues that will never be used again.
Supposedly some of them will be torn down. Hopefully. Otherwise it'll make the area look like a ghost town.

***

While I was in California with my family, Olaf and a colleague got tickets for swimming.

Some fans entering the Olympic Park.

The aquatic center.


The athletics stadium.

US women after winning gold.

Easter in Spain

I'm back!

The summer was very busy, but I just finished uploading photos from our recent trips. I'll catch up on posts in the next days, while Olaf is out of town on a business trip.

In the spring, Olaf and I visited the Spanish island of Majorca. Olaf has been telling me about this place since we met. He had many vacations there with his family, when he was growing up.

There are lots of Germans in Majorca! Olaf says the Germans think it should be ceded to Germany ;)

We spent time visiting different parts of the island. We drove our rental car- a cute, red little Fiat- all around the island to little beaches and charming towns, over big mountains and down tiny steep roads.

Our ride

Olaf waking up on the balcony

Bundled up but enjoying the fresh air

A very remote beach that we reached by a very steep road. I've got a nice scar from one of the sharp corners, when I was turning the wheel as hard as possible while pulling the emergency break so we wouldn't slide back off the cliff.

Here are some photos from the towns we visited. Some were very busy and others were like ghost towns, while in some we heard mostly German being spoken.