A Semi-Guided Tour
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 
Maybe you and Doug should shack-up before you get a drunk Aussie of your own.
Oh, if it were only that easy. One would think you could just say, “We have 22 people staying in the mountains, please put these 11 pairs together”. For reasons unknown to us, that is not within their grasp. Jason has worked nonstop on this for three days now and every time someone new arrives, he has to deal with it all over again.
And I don’ know why there are small thumbnail pictures with this post on the front page, but it is 4 a.m. here and they will just have to stay that way for now.
Thanks to those who are playing along!
Joe this is as bad as Venezuela in 83 but St Petersburg in 94 we had hot water and real hotel rooms but bad transportation in Venezuela no hot water for 3 weeks I still appreciate a hot shower
The pictures are gorgeous, but the accommodations sound horrendous. Maybe you could get…oh, I don’t know…Lindsey Vonn as a random roommate?? (Don’t read that, Anne of the Babushkas!)
Wow, that is just plain crazy! Was looking for your room anything like looking for your car in the mall parking lot?
Great stories! I saw that interview with the bobsled team…and I actually watched for you,,,not thinking you were REALLY there! The pictures are beautiful. We know the room situation – what is the food like? Is there food?
Amy, did you really have to go there? But, yes it was very much like looking for my car in the mall parking lot. Although I found my room without the help of security.
As for the food, it is mostly beige. We do get breakfast with our room and it is pretty extensive except that it is not exactly the breakfast I am used to. I don’t usually enjoy a nice cauliflower casserole in the morning, which was one of the offerings today. But I’ll get used to it. I ate a steady diet of chicken stir fry for breakfast at the Beijing Games. But very much looking forward to our Times dinner which we always have the night before the opening ceremony. This year it is at the Georgian place I ate at with John Branch and James Hill when i was here last year. Really delicious food, although, like last time, I will skip the fried mutton testicles. https://eatatjoesblog.com/2013/02/27/sahib-venison-carpaccio-and-red-square/
Not many people in the photos. I know the games haven’t started, but you would think there would be a great deal more activity. I guess everyone is busy finishing hotels. Joe, I say forget The New York Times, find yourself a Russian who speaks English and buy up all the tents you can find. I think there is some real money to be made here. If you’re not up for that, get a web site going, like a Match.com for roommates. You could specify, language spoken, drunk, not drunk, you get my drift. If all else fails, buy some raw meat for the stray dogs in case you wind up sleeping outdoors. Good luck, I fear you might need it. Hey, do you have running water? We keep you in our thoughts and hope you continue to find all of this funny. Let the games begin!
Clearly, the story of needing security to find your car in the mall was left out of the London blog, but definitely needs to be told. It’s never too late. DM, you never seem to sleep…you might want to try to schedule that in…just a thought. As you know, we always have an Opening Ceremony party with food native to the host country. I sure hope this year’s hostess, Patricia, has picked up some of those delish testicles at ShopRite. Wouldn’t be a party without them!
Hey Liza, Love the money-making ideas. I’ll head over to LL Beanikov and get some of those tents. As for the people, it is a little bit early, but it will be interesting to see if there are crowds. You couldn’t get a ticket without a background check, which also means that there is no secondary ticket market like ebay, or stub hub. There are two main companies that sell tickets and they are scrambling because they sold Olympic packages and now people are showing up to find they don’t have the hotel room. And many people sold tickets back to them after the security scares over the last two months. And even for Russians, Sochi is not near any other population centers and the only real way in is by plane. All in all, it might be tough to get crowds. They could do what the Chinese did and fill the stands with military to make it look like large crowds on TV. Stay tuned.
Well, I have attempted 3 comments but they have failed to appear. I am either being censored by the Ruskies, the blog-meister or more likely, my ineptness at following the simplest of directions! The pics are nice jw but how about a shot or two of Tatiana Borodulina or other Russian athletes, just to warm us up to native culture?Is the mud as bad as some stories are saying? Temps dropping? Have you seen (or used) the 2 toilet/ single stall restrooms? What’s the vodka of choice for the Russian’s, Green Label? What clothes will you jettison to fit a bottle in your suitcase to bring home to any close friend who happens to be11 days younger than you? The news release that there is an all out war and bounty on all stray dogs and they are being shot on sight is troubling and should ruffle some feathers. Watch the menu, stay clear of the Shepherd’s pie and toasted beagles. Lastly, I would think that if you or any of your bud’s who are missing doors just put the infamous duck smack in the center of the threshold, people will think you are just crazy enough to steer clear of.
HA! Good one! Twonka, I’d know that sense of humor anywhere. No censoring on this end, not yet anyway. I haven’t seen many Russian athletes yet or Russian vodka for that matter. But I will keep my eye out for both.
Thanks for the photo of the volunteers/Komanda! Also just read yesterday’s Times article “First Event of Sochi Olympics: The Hotel Construction Sprint”. The reporter was allowed to work ‘bungling’ into his description and also had an awkward double-booked room situation! “It’s Russia…” does seem like a good response to just about any observation?
Now the water!!!!!!!!!!! No showers until they figure it out! OMG
Hi everyone, was hoping to get a post up tonight but it’s getting late and I have to get up early to go to the men’s downhill. Went to the sliding track and the ski jump over the past two days. First time ever to a ski jump. Went to the top. Holy Cow it is high and steep. Those people are nuts. TV and pictures don’t begin to do it justice. Posted a picture on twitter yesterday from up there. my twitter handle is @wardnyt if you want to follow. Everything is good here, but getting pretty busy. Tomorrow night is the Times dinner so you may not get a post then either. I know, i hear the grumbling already, but they have fried mutton testicles, remember!
They’re Fried!
Good to know that in a competition between family/friends and fried mutton testicles, the gonads win. Just saying.
Did I mention they are fried!
This is shaping up to be the most entertaining Olympics yet and it hasn’t even started! Thank you again for my Matt! I feel that over the years you have been getting closer to him and by Rio you’ll be having a few beers together on your off time. (Is it too early to start hoping you go to Rio?) Keep us updated on the food situation! Here in the states the Olympic party planning committee decided to take some liberties with the “Russian” food as much of it seemed either repulsive or required an old Russian grandmother and several days to make. And, being that much of our audience is in their golden years and have to drive home, the vodka will be in short supply. Can’t wait for Friday though!
Keep up the good work Joseph!!!
I do understand they’re fried…how much more delectable that makes them sound! At the risk of being a tad inappropriate, thank heavens they’re not duck testicles. There would be a LOT of duck eunuchs around donating their man parts to fill a plate! And Patricia, I hope that by people in their “golden years,” you do not refer to me, but to your elderly grandparents who have completely gone past golden into perhaps diamond years, which is of course a euphemism for “ancient.”
Pretty darn entertaining here also, Patricia. I expect more from your menu than just Russian dressing. Start making the pelmeni now! Or have ravioli and call it pelmeni.
Hey everyone, check out this little piece of fun from your friends at NYT graphics: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/04/sports/olympic-venues.html
Once again, I’m jealous. The location looks magnificent! Be safe and take it all in. Your Friend, John Filzen
ps. After reading the entry from Twonka, I looked up who Tatiiana Borodulina was… I agree with him that a picture of her would be appreciated!
So how do we know this is really you keeping us up to date. I just read an article at yahoo.com saying that everyone attending the Olympics should expect to be hacked. They even did an experiment and were hacked immediately. So you’ll have to prove to us every so often that it’s really you. You can start by naming the person who won this years Maine golf outing challenge. If it’s really you, you’ll remember because we walked more than originally planned.
After reading Twonka’s and Filzen’s posts, I say (and I think I can speak for all the girls out there), YES photos of athletes would be quite nice… Matt Margetts, Andreas Wank and Ludwig Fjallstrom will do for a start.
I agree with “minephew”, I think we need to know it’s you. Please name your favorite sister-in-law!
Just a comment on the shower thing, I remember Russia as being aromatic, I can’t imagine what it will be like if people can’t shower for two or three weeks. Safe travels Joe
nastrovia from CP to our summer family and friends.
Pictures of venues are beautiful sorry the accommodations aren’t the same.
John wants pics of the women’s hockey team, he thinks you have locker room access. Women’s ski jumping is what I’m looking forward to.
Will break out my Russian grandmother’s recipes for latkes , golumpki, and kapoustoy.
Thinking of you all especially you,JW
The Maniacs, Deb,John and our own Katherine the great 🙂
I will be moving on to new posts soon, but these comments have been too good, so I need to respond first. Plus it buys me some time to finish posts.
First, I will keep you guessing as to whether this is really me or not, or just some REALLY clever hack job. And to minephew, I can’t say that I remember who won that day but what i do remember is that I will never entrust the golf cart again to someone who gave the keys to a total stranger on the second hole. Then the total stranger proceeds to drive the cart off the course and down the road, never to return. ti was a nice walk for the 16 holes though.
Liza, if I say you are my favorite sister-in-law, do you promise not to tell anyone?
So I see that in addition to all the other things I have to shoot, I have to scope out the babes and the hunks and an entire hockey team for my loyal blog followers. Gee, that should be no problem.
However, to Annabanushka, you will be very happy to know that when I get on the elevator every day at the media center I am greeted with a life-size picture of the biathlete of your dreams, Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
Dave, the aromatic quotient (AQ, for those in the know) seems tolerable — so far.
Always great to hear from the Mainiacs.
Deb, i actually had delicious golumpki last night at the Georgian restaurant where we had our Olympic Times dinner. I think our friends in Orange County who will be at Patricia’s opening ceremony party should make that part of their Russian menu.
It was delicious and very garlicky! For those who may be wondering, I did have some mutton, but it was a different part of the body than previously discussed. Also can’t beat the khachapuri, chess-filled dough vaguely similar to pizza.
John, I’ll put in a request to take a team photo. Should I have them sign it for you?
And beware Mainiacs, Annabanushka and I will be heading up there as soon as this carnival is over!! And please the Empress we said hello.
Enjoy the Opening Ceremony everyone watching from wherever. Already watching here in 2012 host city. Oops on the 5th ring – you’ll see if you haven’t already!
And the Opening Ceremony has begun! And a girl who looks an awful lot like Christa is singing!
four rings and an asterisk, right 2012?
I don’t think I’ll be downloading the Parade of Athletes music mix anytime soon.
Saw a picture of it…still pretty cool looking, even missing a ring. Can’t wait for tonight!
I didn’t realize that Terry was Twonka… It makes sense now!