For the first time that I can remember in the seven Olympic Games that I’ve covered, I didn’t go to the opening ceremony.
Instead – after finding out we couldn’t get to the train station to ride the marvelous Javelin train - we bused to Russell Square near our hotel on Euston to look for a place to watch the ceremony.
With the pubs filling up with Londoners and visitors wanting to watch, we found a table at what has become our local, Mabels Tavern, and along with colleagues Steve Buffery and Steve Simmons we settled in to watch.
It was a good show and about as good as I’ve seen at an Olympic Games. Best part for me was James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Queen jumping out of the chopper under Union Jack parachutes.
It was a nice atmosphere with a lot of different nationalities represented. Our waitress was Polish, the people at the next table were from China and cheers went up from two tables over when New Zealand walked into Olympic Stadium.
Found out some colleagues didn’t get home until 4 a.m. because of the lineups for buses and the traffic.
Five minutes after the fireworks, I was in my room.
Something to be said for that.
Categories: Olympics
