Leah Welcomes Us

Torrents, travel, tourists, tickets and trainers (sneakers)

Welcome to London all! Including athletes and coaches who have started arriving over the past couple of days.

After some weeks of mainly talking about the Queen and the weather, now Londoners and Brits are talking about the Olympics and the weather. And the Union Jack is still flying all over the place. At least the Olympic-related topics can give everyone a break from the age-old favorite gripe with Mother Nature. But you still hear a lot of the usual: Why did the weather have to be so amazing in May? Could June have been any worse? July isn’t looking much better so far.

And don’t get anyone started on the 2012 logo or the official mascots.

People in London are trying to plan their commutes to get to work, choosing to work from home, or arranging earlier or later shifts with managers. Some locals are packing bags and locking up valuables, choosing to rent out their homes for a couple or a few weeks. Everyone is asking everyone about tickets – how many secured, how much paid. Visitors are lining up accommodations, as well as Brits from around the country who have been assigned to work or volunteer in London. And we volunteers are getting used to our uniforms – my favorite item being the sneakers! (I will switch to gray or white laces after Gamestime.) I will report for duty at my first shift at 6:15am on Saturday, July 28^th for the Cycling Road Race. And the volunteers have been given tickets to the Dress Rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony on July 25^th.

Earlier this month, Transport for London updated signs and maps in the Underground, train and bus stations and added new pink signage to point people towards Games venues. Some stations will become entrance-only or exit-only at certain times of day. Most people are predicting major delays to their usual commutes. Luckily I’ll still be able to walk to the office in about 20 minutes.

On Saturday I made a quick trip out to Stratford to run some errands at the new-ish Westfield mall adjacent to the Olympic site. On the way I met two college students who are volunteer drummers in the Opening Ceremony, heading to rehearsal. They are music students and are exhausted from rehearsals in the rain, saying they do a lot of waiting around in the stadium. Apparently Danny Boyle is a really nice guy and they are happy to be able to put this on their résumés.

I didn’t stay long at the mall, having forgotten that summer sales are going on, so lines were long everywhere. I got close to the site but not close enough for any decent pictures, and it was raining, but you will see plenty of pictures soon, hopefully in better weather.

And fortunately it wasn’t raining last night when I walked past the 2^nd most photographed structure in London with its new lights and rings.

Safe travels Joe and Amy, good luck at the airport, and can’t wait to see you!

Photographs by Leah. Click on the first picture to begin a slideshow.

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