We had the BEST weekend. We've been anticipating going to London for months now. After failing to get tickets for the Olympics we decided to try the Paralympics ballot - and were lucky enough to get tickets for the athletics on Saturday morning. We then managed to buy tickets to see dressage, at Greenwich Park, in the afternoon.
We caught the train from Newcastle on Friday afternoon and crashed out in a family room at the Kings Cross YHA. Not very luxurious but actually very quiet and the en suite was really handy.
Finn is the real sport fanatic in our family - we all love most sports but Finn
really loves sports whether he's watching or taking part. He was in the bunk above me overnight and I don't think he slept more than an hour or two, he was soooooo excited.
Thanks to our multiple early risers we had no problem getting to the Olympic Park in time to have a wee look around, some breakfast (in Mcdonalds - their porridge isn't too bad!) and get to into the stadium for the start.
The park is as special as everyone has said. The regeneration and planting up of a derelict area is so good to see.
I painted union flags on the small people's faces - they read the day's sporting news and arranged our big flag.
The flame - wow.
The stadium was full.........and noisy.
We had to leave a little early to get over to Greenwich but were able to see
Richard Whitehead win his race and the gold medal ceremony first (men's 200m final).
The dressage had a very different feel, as we had to keep quiet most of the time so as not to unsettle the horses, but was very exciting.
Lee Pearson was in gold medal position for much of the event but was pushed down to silver towards the end. I caught Finn brushing away a few tears, he gets so caught up in things.
We passed the Cutty Sark on the way to the river and then caught a boat upriver to Westminster.
We went past so many wonderful sights.
I love Tower Bridge.
The Paralympic symbol has replaced the Olypmpic rings.
The Tower of London.....and many other wonderful buildings which I failed to capture.
And we spent the evening in Leicester Square catching up with some lovely friends. Bedtime was around 11pm for all. All of the children were wonderful, they enjoyed all the experiences and coped well with the late nights, lots of walking and so on. A weekend to remember.
11 comments:
Wow, it looks like you all had a super time. We are loving the Paralympics, they are so inspirational.
Great photos. Wish we had got tickets to either Olympics or Paralympics. Both events have been such a huge success and the athletes phenomenal.
June
What a fantastic day out! It'll be a lovely memory for (most of) the children in future, glad you had a good day.
Shame about Lee Pearson missing out, he's my local paralympian, always in the local paper, he lives around here. He did well though from what I've heard.
The photo of you altogether is great, though I'd crop out that woman on the left edge, hehe!
What a fabulous trip! We've loved the Olympics and Paralympics. Wishing now that we'd got tickets. Never mind. The TV coverage has been great and the children are already planning what to enter in 8 and 12 years time!
I wonderful to have taken the children to see the Paralympics. You looked as if you had such a great time and it will be something you will remember for ever. Your photos are lovely and give such a different feel to what you see on the television.
Sarah x
Sounds like a wonderful weekend. Although the rowing was amazing, it meant I didn't get to see the Olympic Park, which I rather wish I'd been able to, but c'est la vie!
Sounds like an amazing weekend! I can just imagine how excited your kids were :)
I'm so glad you got to see the Paralympics we saw them when they were in Sydney and had a fantastic time also.
Lucky you! What a wonderful memory for your kids to look back on. The stadium looks amazing.
Oh wow, looks like you had a very memorable weekend! So glad the kids coped so well :-)
Wow, looks like a fabulous weekend! I can cope with having missed out on tickets but I'm desperate to see the Olympic Park!!
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