I see that the comments have come to a screeching halt, so I guess it’s time to feed the beast again. I’ve been out scouting a few venues and have some pictures so I can show you around a bit. But first some lodging updates.
The good news: no more stray-dog sightings. I think even the dogs have high-tailed it to better ground.
A few anecdotes from the world of Olympic housing:
Put simply, the hotel situation up in the mountains is a nightmare. As I mentioned, some people have reservations for hotels that never got built. Apparently hundreds of reservations were taken for that hotel.
Another hotel booked 200 people, 30 more than they have room for.
Almost every Times person who has arrived so far has a roommate, not from the Times, just some random person from around the world.
Doug Mills’s flight from Moscow was delayed for hours so he didn’t get to the mountains until 3:30 this morning. They brought him to his room, which had a drunken Australian passed out on the couch surrounded by empty Fosters cans. They proceeded to tell the Aussie that he was in the wrong room. The drunken Aussie then told them that he wasn’t going anywhere. (I cleaned that up quite a bit.)
When Chris Clarey showed up, they apologized to him in advance that they needed to put him in Zone 2. Apparently, that “zone” is filled with rooms that are “not quite ready”. It seems “not quite ready” means no hot water, no electricity and furniture still in boxes.
The scary part is that there is a Zone 3 and a Zone 4. As Jason, our sports editor said, “Apparently, it’s Armageddon over there!”
Most people arrive over the next three days. This could get ugly.
Me? I’m one of the lucky ones. My only issue is that my TV isn’t connected to anything. Looks nice in the room though. I don’t really want to watch Russian TV anyway. Oh, and I don’t have the WiFi I was supposed to have. When I told them my password didn’t work, they said that was because the Wifi comes from the TV. Even the layer of construction dust looks good to me now after the stories I’ve heard. And I have no roommates. But it’s early yet.
I could have done without the fire alarm going off in my hotel early this morning, followed by a very loud voice telling me to get out of there fast. Then it was repeated in every language imaginable. So I staggered to my feet, threw on my clothes and jackets because who knows how long I will have to stay out in the early-morning cold. Well, as it turns out, I was the only person who left the building and after I realized no one was coming to save me or at least check on the place, I went back in.
But of course the elevators were now shut off so I hoofed it up to the fourth floor. And while I am on the subject of the fourth floor, can you tell me why my room number is 121?
I didn’t pay much attention the first night I arrived when the guy brought me to my room. I was busy looking around for stray dogs, or maybe a stray lightbulb. So when I returned the next day to go to my room it took me forever to find it. I kept expecting a hidden hallway to lead me to my room. I knew I wasn’t on the first floor because I remember taking the elevator. I went outside several times to see if I was in the right building. After exploring every nook and cranny of the place (believe me when I tell you that you do not want to look in every nook and cranny) I just started wandering up the stairs. I found 121 on the fourth floor. Right where I had left it.
On the bright side, the venues appear ready and the transportation to and from them is smooth and fast.
Went to the Alpine venue and then Bedel and i went down to the coast to check out the venues there.
Patricia was happy when I emailed her a picture of the Today Show set with her boy Matt Lauer interviewing the bobsled teams.
A much different scene down there at the Black Sea with its warm temps and palm trees.
Have a look around.
Eat at Joe’s 
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