West Virginia - "Color is Magic"

Every couple of years, we have a business engagement that brings us to Virginia's Allegheny Mountains. Here in the middle of nowhere, and I mean NOWHERE, is the Greenbriar - a most unusual resort hotel.

What makes it unforgettable, from the moment you walk in the door, is color AND pattern - everywhere and in abundance - on floors, walls and ceilings. Imagine Lily Pulitzer on steroids and you'll get the general idea. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

In 1778 this resort's sulphur springs offered the cure for its first guests, it closed for the Civil War and was then purchased by the C&O Railway who named it the Greenbriar Hotel. Used as an army hospital in WWII, it was then repurchased by the C&O, who in 1946, gave Dorothy Draper 18 months to transform it. Inclusive of everything from rooms, to uniforms and china, it was the largest redecoration of an American hotel ever undertaken. Architectural Digest declared the end result to be Dorothy Draper's Masterpiece - the Greenbriar had been "Draperized". For fifteen years, Draper personally continued to oversee its design. In the 1960's Carleton Varney joined her firm and has guided the resort's Draperized look ever since.

Being met outside this statuesque, white pillared entrance by black groomsmen gives one pause and a glimpse into a time you thought to be long gone. Throw in a well recognized spa, golf, croquet, tennis, trout fishing, skeet, off roading and a half a dozen in-house restaurants, all in a beautifully landscaped, mountainous setting and you will feel transported into a unique, otherworldly place where somehow it all works. Oh, and of course there is the US government bunker which was secretly built built in1959 and was active until the Cold War's end in 1992. Really.

Want an escape from the ordinary? Can't get enough Lilly P? Then the Greenbriar is for you. But hurry. It has survived bankruptcy and is now owned by West Virginia entrepreneur Jim Justice. Who knows how long this unique ode to color will survive? Catch it while you can.

Record breaking events galore!

Okay, I agree that we've posted a paucity of "wow" photos this trip. But, to give a little perspective, we're in venues with 100,000 - 10,000 people and a LOT of activity. To give you an idea, heres a run down on the Thursday night athletics. It was a bevy of record breaking events. The men and women are simultaneously competing in the decathlon and the individual events that make up the sport, while medal ceremonies are being conducted. Focusing is a real adult ADD challenge!

Not to mention that most of these Olympians are there breaking SPEED records..... You try catching Usaine Bolt's season best 200-meter run, handily winning another gold, with the two other Jamaican teammates taking silver and bronze! Nearly 100,000 of us stood and cheered.

Fastest man in the world? Bolt's charisma certainly gets him press, but Kenya's Rudisha set a new world record that same night for his 800-meter distance. Hey, I can barely run to the end of the block to catch the mailman, so what do I know about running speed?

While javelins were flying, US won the gold and silver men's decathlon medals, with Cuba winning bronze. As all the decathlon competitors took a congratulatory lap, the men's triple jumpers led us in stadium wide claps as they completed their event. US Christian Taylor won that event, with a world record jump distance, followed closely in points by a US silver.

The women were right there with them. Kenya won the 800 meter and the US just missed bronze. Javelins continued to fly, while the races continued. We stood no less than four times that night to sing the American anthem. I think we've finally agreed on all the words!

So, with so much going on, the option was to focus on the field, not the camera. The image here is the queen as interpreted in a jellybean mosaic (seriously) and some of the 2012 Olympic mascots that are making a hit with the younger set.

We're possibly setting a record for most events seen. Steve's superb logistics, fired by his London tube ap, has been faultless!

Jump so high - crouch so low

Twenty events in 8-days of Olympic viewing makes for a wide variety and allowed us to try a few new things along the way.

Basketball matches were closer than predicted. France beat Nigeria 78:73, when just a few days before the US swamped Nigeria 156:73. The crowd was definitely supporting the underdog. We also saw Great Britain sweat it out with China, while the crowd roared for both sides.

Greco Roman versus Freestyle wrestling differences still alludes us. The guys were easily the most emotional we saw, with heads buried in the mat at match's end. Women's freestyle wrestling is a whole other sport - amazingly strong at barely 100 pounds, much more aggressive and with no hesitation at the match's end.

We're grateful that wrestling wasn't WWF style, but doubt we're going to start following the circuit. Basketball on the other hand, was a different game and lots of fun - with some previous US players showing up on unexpected teams.

Net events

Our Olympic travel planner, Mr. SPK himself, has us zipping all over London for a wide variety events. Sports with nets was a recent theme.

Volleyball - pairs, teams, indoor and outside on the beach - we've seen it all! There were some absolute highlights.

Indoors - The US men's team was terrific. Japan women's went neck and neck for an overtime win over China.

Beach volleyball was held at the beautiful Horses Parade with the US pair facing Brazil. The rain held off until the first volley, then a mist turned into a drizzle and the rain gear came out. Everyone stayed. The energy was phenomenal! The US fans cheered, but the Brazilians were deafening. In the end of an incredibly close game, the US won. It was worth the drenching.

Table tennis - worldwide there is no other sport with more participants. 1.3 billion Chinese might be onto something! But you'll have to believe the judges because the ball moves so FAST you can barely see a thing.

Badminton - Is this the same sport we played in our backyards growing up? Fiercely competitive and countless shuttlecocks later a winner emerges.
Two of the best matches - China beats Korea in both singles and doubles. Do you think we could set up a net on Blue Chip?

Olympic friends and farewell

When we first arrived in London, Laurie and Ron Moss had us as their house guests in Notting Hill before we left for Scotland. Once we returned, we checked into a hotel, but joined back up with them for several events. We couldn't have asked for better hosts and had to include the photo of the four if us.

We also visited with Chris and John Incledon at their Weybridge home. Judith and Arthur Walsh shared a magnificent meal with us, as we reminisced about our time earlier this year in Myanmar.

Our Dutch friends were there to cheer on their country. We toasted Xander and Barbara's recent marriage before all leaving for an evening of record breaking athletics.

Kate Middleton joined us - and about 15,000 others - at the pommel horse. We waved, but alas, we had no time for tea. Maybe next time Kate.

Time with friends at the London Olympics will be remembered longer than any specific events. It's part of what made the time here so special. But now we're happy to be heading home to watch the closing celebration from Boston.

Rio? It's only 4 short years away!

Where do you actually go everyday?

The Olympic events are literally scattered in the city's far corners, with some venues much further afield. Many buildings were already here and retro fitted for these events, with the plan to remove the changes after the games are over. The result may be architecturally less astounding than Beijing, but the upside is simpler travel and much more access to amenities once you arrive.

This isn't to say the buildings are boring - far from it. Each is a combination of staid and quirky, like the Brits themselves.

The Olympic Park is host to eight buildings. Somewhat lackluster by day, the area becomes richly atmospheric as the sun goes down. The Aquatics Center's glass turns an elegant, tranquil gold in the evening, reflecting the River Lea that runs along its side. The nearby bubbled roof, belonging to the Water Polo Arena, has nighttime nautical inspired colored changing lights. The open roofed Olympic Stadium hosts athletics, track and field. Again, not much to speak of during the day, but a varied color light show in the evening.

The red "Orbit Tower" was designed by Anish Kapoor. Officially named the ArcelorMittal Orbit, it cost 29.8 million dollars, 25 million coming from Lakshmi Mittal, Britain's richest man. (Nice to have generously wealthy friends!) Standing 376 feet high, it's taller than the Statue of Liberty, but shorter than the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. Traveling to the top observatory platform takes 34 seconds, although many people opt to wind their way along its internal circular path. Put together by 4 men without scaffolding, the 2 tons of steel, 63% of which is recycled, is covered in 5,019 gallons of red paint. The overall affect goes from whimsical by day to dramatic at night, when the color comes to life and seems to turn the surrounding sky a rich lavender blue. Although many of the Park buildings will come down, this one is a keeper!

The interior photo here is from the inside of O2 Arena in North Greenwich. Holding up to 20,000, this music venue, is one of the largest venues in Europe and the second largest in the UK. Olympic Gymnastics are here and the light shows between events are amazing! Afterwards, you can suit up and climb to the top of this domed stadium, then celebrate at one of the many restaurants below.

These are just a few of the Olympic venues. The varied shapes and colored lights are reminiscent of the creative architecture associate with buildings all along the Thames - setting the mood for fun. US cities take note!

Six Gold Medals

The most ever in a single day for Britain and what was accomplished on day 10 of the 2012 Olympics.

Of course we are extremely excited when the US wins, but what makes the Olympics so special is the enthusiastic cheers and standing ovations by everyone for all outstanding athletes and the excitement at an unexpected upset.

Trampoline was our first sport of the day. The US held on, but then it was Canada and Japan. The last competitor was the favored to win Japanese. She fell off the tramp to gasps from the crowd. Cheers then went up for what was surely two Canadian medals. Then a huge unexpected upset - Gold to a first time Canadian medal winner, with silver and bronze going to Japan, pushing out the 2008 Canadian medal winner. A hum of surprise and then huge cheers all around.

Simultaneously an off the radar event. The synchronized filming event as dozens of cameras move up and down to the movement of the gymnasts. Medal winners TBD.

Swimming in the evening ended that sport for the 2012 Olympic. The events were many, with several outstanding highlights. Women's relay resulted in a strong US gold with Australia and Japan medaling.

The Men's events held the show stoppers. The men's 1500 meter Chinese winner was nearly disqualified when he mistakenly dove into the pool before the start. Sun Yang set a new world record, winning by a full 8 seconds! His boyish excitement sent the entire stadium into non-ending cheers, something to long remember.

Men's relay was the long awaited event of the night. A close US win, included Michael Phelps in what is considered to be his last Olympic trial. A standing ovation from all countries at the win and while team US took their victory walk around the pool. A special Phelp's Olympic tribute followed.

How loud is the cheering? We could hear swells in our the aquatic hiuse from the track stadium on the other side of the red reporting tower - a good 5-7 minute walk. Records were being broken there. British gold was collected by Jessica Ennis for women's heptathlon. Mo Farah's for the 10,000 meter - the first Brit runner to ever win Gold. No wonder the stadium screamed itself hoarse.

What can we say. Win or loose, everyone goes home smiling and inspired.

Nae Grub or Swally on the Bus

.... So leave that tea and scone behind.

Its not the accent, it's the Scottish that will have you saying "excuse me" every few minutes. You "fit out" your house or a picnic basket but "kit out" yourself when going to a party.

The "Tattoo" that was beginning as we leave Edinburgh has nothing to do with needles and ink. Instead, for three weeks 12,000 people will gather daily to watch 1,000 military musicians, dancers and bagpipers from around the world perform at the base of Edinburgh castle. Recognize our piper?

Need something more contemporary? The Fringe Festival, the worlds largest annual art festival, runs during the same time. Dozens of comedy and mostly avant guard and nearly free theater performances are available daily. Art exhibitions and a book festival offer something for everyone.

Want something in between? The Edinburgh Festival offers several weeks of classical music, dance and ballet.

Bottom line - although we enjoyed Glasgow, Edinburgh is the place to be, at least in August. But book ahead. There's a lot "on".

PS. Haggis, a wee bit is a tasty addition to any meal. But, like hot dogs, just don't think too much about how or what there made of.

Icons of Scotland

After nearly a week, we are happy to report that Scotland delivers MOST of what you'd expect.

Want to fit in here linguistically? Add the word "wee" to every other sentence. When a man weighing 225 pounds, or 16 stones, says "you'll be seeing a wee bit o the loch through the rough at the top of the brae", it's hard not to smile. Naturally, he saying that you'll get a glimpse of the lake through the uncultivated land at the top of the hill. You'll also wait a wee bit, sit on a wee chair, walk a wee bit, fill out a wee form and after a long day need a wee dram before a wee rest.

The Kilt and piper live on. We confess, not on every street corner, but enough that we know we're in the UK's northern land. The piper appears in traditional dress, but if you want a kilt in goth black or NYC west village red vinyl, we can fit you out!

Braveheart and the Scotts blue and white flag carry proudly on. It's interesting that after a long and bloody history, there is little reference to those years gone by. However, the vote for succession is again up for referendum. You never know.

Scottish terroirs? Dogs there are a plenty, but we've yet to see a Scotty being walked about.

Scottish food has evolved. Haggis often appears on the menu. Lamb, steak pie and venison abound. We've also had wonderful smoked salmon, smoked poached haddock - both for breakfast. But stovies, cullen skink and cock a leekie soup seem to be meant for country dining. We'll keep searching.

It's light at 5AM and still light now at nearly 10PM. Days are long, which suits us fine because there is much to do. Stay tuned.