Shallow Pockets Brimming with Countries Ringing Round

That's right folks- London during the 2012 Olympic Games!

No, sadly, I did not score tickets. I could have- I found some really truly amazingly cheap ones online but I was worried they'd be fakes so I didn't buy [surprise... they were the real deal]. SHUCKS. Really, I said a lot of other nasty derivatives of 'shucks' when I found out but what can you do? There will be other Olympics- hopefully I'll have the opportunity to be a live spectator in the future. Instead, this past weekend, I just mooched off of the energy and excitement of the city, saw the sights and wore my American-ness like no one's business.

 I really wanted a picture in front of our flag but a man and his son decided to take a squat right there... I couldn't think of a polite way to ask them to both move AND to please take the picture for me so I cut my losses and moved on.

 SO. MANY. PEOPLE. I started my journey in Battersea, which was just sleepy locals, but once I reached the Thames people started coming out of the water, I swear. I loved how decked out everyone was for their respective countries! See the orange tuxes? Netherlands, you rock it.

They had different little mascots up all around the Thames... I'm sorry that I have so many dang pictures with the statues. They were just too easy to find picture-volunteers for! And they reminded me of the little Buzz statues they had around Tech years ago! :)
[P.S.- I swear I actually never wear these leggings, though my blog tends to make them look like a tacky staple. Eh, I guess England just makes me proud to have President and Country.]

Can I please point out what an insignificantly small world we live in? The woman who volunteered to take this picture was from LOGANVILLE, GEORGIA. What?!! And she'd lived in Snellville for a long time as well! We just talked about our mutual stomping grounds for an eternity and then she and her friend pointed me in the direction of a BBQ place down the road. They even had queso. I FOUND QUESO IN EUROPE, CAITLIN!!

 

 It was really good bbq- pulled pork [and even though he recommended a vinegar based sauce- no, this is not fish and chips- they did have good ole thick bbq sauce] with cream corn and coleslaw and an A&W Cream Soda! Mmmm. I sat in this little bar for a while. It started to rain when I sat down and then the women's final for tennis between Serena and Sherapova came on so I hunkered down, made real tight buds with the bartender [we were cell phone twins afterall], and cheered my little outnumbered heart out. After Serena's win the bartender even made me a root beer float! The Dutch guy next to me wanted one as well and asked how strong it was [tee hee] but the Scottish lady next to him warned that root beer was an "aquired taste". One she wasn't so fond of, haha.

 

I meant to make it over to Hyde Park but it was getting late and Sandy and I had plans we did not want to miss. We decided we'd go Sunday afternoon instead. Our night out turned out to be a bit messy, a little wild and completely and utterly wonderful which meant our Sunday was unfortunately a bit harder to get through. We didn't make it to the park but it was rainy anyways so we pumped ourselves with bacon and OJ and had a lie in until my train. Altogether this weekend was pure indulgence and therapy. And just exactly what my host and I needed. Hopefully there will be a Manchester recreation soon!