"U-S-A! U-S-A!" (Day 28)

Saturday was a crazy day. To save some money, and in order to have plenty of time in London, my friend Megan and I took the 4am bus to London. We figured it'd be nice and quiet and we could just sleep the whole ride. And it was--until the drunk French couple got on. They held the bus up because they barely had enough money for fare, it took them a while to shut up and go to sleep, and about a half hour after they finally went to sleep, the girl's phone alarm went off for 15 minutes straight. We were kicking her feet, and trying to find her phone, but she was OUT. Lesson learned: French people in France = super nice. French people anywhere else = huge jerks.

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We got to northern London around 5:30, and caught the tube straight for Abbey Road. It was perfect. The sun rises at about 5am, so it was plenty bright, there were no people, and not many cars at all. And because everything was closed, we spent a long time walking, skipping, and moping across the road. We were shameless tourists--it was glorious. 

Did you know it isn't open to the public? Neither did we. 

They should really invest in a sign.

I forgot to bring a marker, so I carved my initials in the wall with a key.

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It was then off to Portobello Road, a famous shopping district filled with antiques and vintages clothing. 

Baker Street tube stop--Sherlock's favo(u)rite. And one of the original stops on the oldest underground system in the world.

"Do you wanna make tea at the BBC?"

The internet said it was best to get there around 8 or 9am, so we were only a little early. But the shops didn't open until 10. And we had things to do. So we did some window shopping and I took a picture of the street sign. My closet was sad, but my wallet was thrilled.

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Next, it was off to get super lost trying to find the Will Call for my Olympic beach volleyball tickets. Shout out to CoSport--you suck. 

At least we stumbled upon this!

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The afternoon was spent working out my neck muscles and calves. By this I mean that I visited (and climbed to the top of the dome of) St. Paul's Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Olympic mascot Wenlock, in the style of a phone booth. Don't ask, I have no idea.

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It was getting near lunchtime, but it wasn't time for food--it was time for poking around Olympic stuff in Hyde Park! They have a free area blocked off with giant screens to watch the games, and of course, a huge store.

Is this the aquatic centre? No. But it had swimming on it, so...

"Is that another palace?" 

Nope, it's Harrod's. The super absurd mall of stores Grace can't afford. Don't worry protestors outside--I won't be buying any furs while there.

It's Christmas in July! (and all the time)

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More Olympic stuff! MORE! We headed over to the Olympic Park to pick up our tickets for soccer. Why the different location? Because we had to act as UK residents to get them.  Shhh...

We couldn't go in, but the Aquatic Centre was right there!

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With time to kill before VB, we visited King's Cross train station to visit Harry Potter's platform 9 3/4. Turns out, it's not actually between platforms 9 & 10, but moved away from the trains, so silly tourists don't get in the way/fall off the platform and die.

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Finally! Time to go watch some beach volleyball! 

I'm really mature.

Jubilee shrubbery?

The line took forever to get in. Why? According to a cop (bobby) nearby, "The English just love to queue." I don't understand why there were only 3 entrances. Or why it was so slow, considering my security check took all of 30 seconds. TSA, take notes!

The stadium. It was put up in only a month, so as to not disturb Jubilee celebration stuff. It also looks like a glorified 15,000 person set of bleachers from the outside.

Not too shabby.

Whitehall

The Eye

This is why I don't take selfies....

the Horse Guards Parade dance crew

Norway v. Brasil. Wanted Norway, got Brasil.

Switzerland v Greece. Wanted Greece, got Switzerland.

full house!

USA v South Africa. All the silly Brits were for South Africa--one guy behind me kept chanting "We all hate the Yanks. We all hate the Yanks." They're just jealous. The men did great.

Just some guys chilling on the roof of Whitehall. Thought one might be Prince Harry, but it doesn't seem that way.

'Merica.

Wenlock, in metallic beach volleyball mode

A guy painting the scene of the crowd, from the roof of Whitehall. I wonder if I can find me!

USA v Australia. Not just any USA, but MISTY MAY and KERRY WALSH. I seriously have the best luck ever. It was awesome! (It was also scary close for most of it, but we still won!)

See?

It was freezing, I was underdressed (though not to the degree of the athletes!), but it was incredible. Once-in-a-lifetime for sure. :D