Against the warning views of my global band managers, I board “Rockstar Jet” and head east over the pond. Without a guidebook or events ticket, I am off to experience if nothing else, “The Olympic Spirit” in London.

A visit to Buckingham Palace is planned with a possible lunch with Her Majesty then it's off to the Equestrian Events to meet some of my friends that I am sure will come along. It will sure be nice to see Jim Beam and have a pint or two with him.

Dave Matthews, is that you?

Welcome To London 2012

From stepping off the airplane, I know I have made the right choice in coming to London as members of London 2012 are standing in the hallway greeting passengers with friendly smiles as we deplane.

My only slight disappointment comes when the Customs official inquires “Why are you visiting The United Kingdom?” I respond, “Dude, for The Olympics”. Apparently, he was unaware it was going on or just being a proper official doing his job. Rock On!

With my hotel address in hand, not printed in Chinese, I head to “The Tube” Ticket Assistance window where the clerk is kind enough to confirm the proper station that I must exit “The Tube”. For UK$8,50, I purchase a ticket that will allow me to ride “The Tube” and bus system all day until 4am!

About an hour or so after leaving the airport, I surface from below The United Kingdom and start walking the streets of London. The weather is beautiful and the streets are filled with all kind of signs and volunteers of London 2012. I think I even pass a few hotels where some athletes and Olympic officials are staying as there is a small police presence visible and a few BMW London 2012 cars parked nearby.

I am glad that I slept a bit crossing the pond and as yet have no symptoms of jet lag. There is an excitement in the air here that is not to be missed and I cannot wait to experience more of it.

Suki,

"Are those ants marching or what would you say?"

"deplane" do you also "embus" and "hilawyer" and "uplunch"?
It's like some sort of weird Singaporean

Dude, for The Olympics”.

The Big Lebowski in London! Rock on!!

bilboburgler,

I do what I need to do to enjoy my traveling (embus and all) since it is all about living out a fantasy and I am from the islands...

"Boss, deplane, deplane"

emily71,

Look, nobody calls me Lebowski (except emily71). You got the wrong guy. I'm the Dude, man.

London 2012, Rocks!

i think that someone's been at Pal's paintstripper.

So DID you get to the equestrian events? The cross country coverage was so not good stateside--insight please!

best way to the stadium is via tuk tuk...

I knew it would not have taken too long for my equestrian friends to show up

Still don't understand why the long faces

Maybe you care to join me and Jim Beam for a pint or two, may cure your woes

Am I the only one who doesn't understand a word of this???

No, I haven't the foggiest either.

I think (<i>I think</i some American chap has come over to London to see if he can catch some of the Olympics. By all accounts he was surprised by the formality of the officials at Heathrow and also by the value afforded on public transport.
Beyond that... nothing. Haven't a clue...

Dr D.

"he was surprised by the formality of the officials at Heathrow"

He was surprised that, in the world's financial and cultural capital, and the commercial capital of the world's biggest trading body, people might be arriving for some reason other than to watch a tiddleywinks contest on steroids.

A very enjoyable tiddleywinks contest. But even in the contests' midst, most foreigners arriving here come for a reason utterly unrelated to watching sport. Selling things, forex dealing, illegal immigration, finding a job, going out clubbing, political negotiations, trolling around our museums and gardens and just seeing uncles and aunts unseen since Dad migrated to Sydney for £5 remain the motivation for the bulk of traffic across our borders - whatever's going on in a taekwondo arena.

I see you managed to get tickets notwithstanding the issues you raised in your other thread, DMBTraveler. Glad you seem to be enjoying London after all.

"I think (I think) some American chap has come over to London to see if he can catch some of the Olympics. By all accounts he was surprised by the formality of the officials at Heathrow and also by the value afforded on public transport.
Beyond that... nothing. Haven't a clue...

Yes, I got the jist of that bit, it was the posts after that were "confusing" (to say the least).

The OP's screen name is "Dave Matthews Band Traveler" and since he referenced his global managers and the Rock Star jet, I figured this must be the man himself.

I recently exchanged some words with him and I can tell you for sure tat he's no Dave Matthews. I think he wants people to believe that but at the same time he post videos, YouTube , of himself and you can clearly see that he's no rock star.

FYI this is the thread where I "met" him: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...m#last-comment

What wonderful fans, that just keep coming back for more torture from my postings and "You Tube" videos.

Got to love those that take life too serious and have little or no sense of humor

I will keep posting my travel stories to give you something to look forward to and make your days worthwhile