Just Touched Down in London Town

Today has been one long day. I have now been awake for 20 hours. Although, I really don't even feel tired at all from all the excitement! The flight to London was 10 hours long. I read the book "The Five People you Meet in Heaven," watched a movie, and listened to some jams. After arriving in London, Natalie and I picked up our luggage and went to purchase an Oyster card that is used to get us places using the Tube. The Tube is the metro system here in London. We took the blue line called Picadilly to get to our flat where we are staying with Tony Azavedo's wife, Sarah, Peter Hudnut's fiance, Lacey, and some of their friends. Tony Azavedo is number 8 on the mens national water polo team and Peter Hudnut is number 3. Our flat is in a prime location in South Kensington that is pretty central to the the Olympic Venue and other touristy places we want to visit. After hauling our slightly overpacked suitcases up 3 flights of stairs, we changed clothes, washed our faces and were ready to explore. We went with Sarah and Lacey to register for the P&G House. The P&G house is for American athletes and their families to hang out, watch the games, drink, relax and eat. EVERYTHING IS FREE! It is amazing. There are huge screen TV's, enormous couches/bean bags, endless buffet food and drinks. Also there is a P&G Salon where anyone can go for free to get their hair, nails, and make up done. Men have what they call a "man cave" where there are pool tables, darts, and video games. The atmosphere is amazing. Everyone is just so prideful and cheering on every sport that is being displayed amongst multiple TV's in the building. Its also cool because the Olympic athletes are just walking around all around you; some of them fresh from competition. I saw many of the athletes that I had seen on TV previous to getting here. It was difficult not to freak out and act star struck but I maintained my cool for the most part. Nobody wants to hassle them in there because its suppose to be a peaceful place for them to chill with family. Natalie and I hung out in the P&G house for hours watching different sporting events on huge bean bags. Our main thing we wanted to watch was the men's polo game of coarse. Unfortunately they lost but are still in a good place where they can advance towards getting a medal. It's really fun to watch the mens team play because I grew up with a number of them being good friends with Dan. At the end of the night Dan came to visit us at the P&G House along with Jen whose the women's national team manager and Chris who is does the video, media and film for the USA girls. It was indescribable to be able to visit with them and watch some of the track and field events on the big screen. I also saw Kelsey Thornton and her mom and got to visit with them too. Kelsey Thornton will be joining me at UCI next year on the water polo team. Her brother is on the men's national indoor volleyball team competing here in London. Hopefully Natalie and I will be getting tickets to volleyball game on the 6th. After we were done hanging out at P&G, Natalie, Dan, Chris, Jen and I walked to the Tube and went our separate ways; Natalie and I to our flat in South Kensington and Dan, Chis and Jen to the Olympic Village. The girls play tomorrow at 7pm vs. Italy. I am so excited to watch them play. Now its time for much needed sleep. Here are some pictures from the day.