Olympic Park, Where the World Meets

We skipped class for the first time at LSE on Monday, using the time to explore the Eastern side of London, specifically Queen Elizabeth Park, the London Docklands, and the Meridian Line. We hopped on the tube to Stratford, which let us out in the huge Westfield shopping mall there, and then walked to the park. The first thing we saw walking in was the accelerometer and the opening/closing ceremonies stadium. The schizophrenic weather gave a cool twist to the giant twisty sculpture. The accelerometer looked so daunting walking in, silhouetted against the threatening gray clouds, but from the other side, set against a bright blue sky, the tower looked playful. Next, we stopped into the curvy Aquatic center where 2 years ago, Michael Phelps won 4 of his legendary 18 gold medals, and Vuke's cousin brought waterpolo gold back to Croatia, and then the curvy Velodrome. The curvy buildings seemed to be a theme, and if the Winter Olympics were held in London, the Yale Whale would fit in perfectly as a ice hockey rink. We took some pictures in front of the Olympic rings and stadiums, and then moved on to Greenwich.

Taking the tube to Greenwich, we got a quick moving tour of the London Docklands, another sort of downtown in London, home of a couple canals, tall skyscrapers, and the O2 arena. On the train platform I finally got Kevin in Odds Are. I bet he wouldn't jump onto the tracks, and he said 50, and in 1/2500 odds we both said 37. However, Kevin wussied out, claiming the tracks might be electrified or some lame excuse, so now I have free reign to get him to do anything I can come up with. 

We walked through another of London's beautiful parks, past the Maritime Museum and Queen's House, and up the hill to the spot where the Eastern Hemisphere meets the West, the Meridian line. There was a quick exhibit set up on the Rime of the Ancient Commodore that Kevin and I took turns walking through while the other waited in line to get to the line. We finally made it, took our creative pictures (Kevin was falling off the line, while I was skateboarding it) and moved on. 

I went straight across the city on the tube during rush hour, not the best idea, but made it just in time to Latimer Road station to finally try out parkour. Small problem, Maja didn't show up because it was raining. I stuck with it for about 30 minutes, but it was pretty lame (just falling over a railing and bunny hopping around a playground) and since Maja wasn't even there and it was a dreary day, I took off. Never really got the parkour experience here, but oh well.