Sydney Olympics

2000

After five wonderful days in L.A. with Ethelann we arrived at LAX to await a ten o’clock flight on New Zealand Air Lines. Aaron Ross, Robert’s father was also going to the Olympics. He took pictures of us and our boys, and later downloaded them to us.

After 18 hrs of travel & air time we arrived in beautiful Sydney. Naturally my suitcase was the one marked “heavy… Bend your knees to pick up!” New Zealand Airline’s seats are roomy & have movable parts that come around your head so you can sleep. They also have movable foot rests … How come USA airlines don’t? The service was exceptional as was the food. We knew we were back in the states when Delta served cold drinks & peanuts! Sydney is very beautiful & reminiscent of Miami with it’s magnificent harbors.

The AT&T hospitality center was located directly across from the opera house ( by water). If you look at the pictures it is the three story yellow building next to the lavender one. Robert had called us in L.A. to tell us to buy Monday’s U.S.A. Today, as he and three other Olympians were featured on the cover. No one could find any paper with such a picture … It was only shown in Sydney! Pic 4

Our first stop was an overnight stay at the “Kirketon Hotel”. We had arrived at 7:30 in the morning. It was Monday there …. What had happened to Sunday? We were assured we would get it back going home! To our surprise the young man who greeted our arrival was the same fellow we had seen on TV. In L.A. he is the chef “Katie Couric” was interviewing on “Good Morning America”. He couldn’t have been nicer. He brought us coffee & later helped bring our bags to our super modern ($500.00 a night) room.

Al came over with his duffel bag on his back. He had slept in a hostel for his first night, and was to room with us when we moved into our assigned hotel the next day. On his ride in from the airport he met a young artist who, along with his wife, took all but Herb on a walking trip of the Sydney harbor etc … His wife came along. They even had us up to see their apartment & his paintings. That evening Al, Herb & I dined at “Salt”, which is a restaurant in our hotel. Dinner for three had been 235.50 …. I felt a little better when we found out we were paying Australian prices … American was half! Al said he would rather sleep on an innertube then pay $500.00 a night, so he stayed in a hostel for $300, with a bathroom down the hall.

On the 26th. We started our ritual 2 hour & 20 minute ride to ” Hemsley Park Equestrian Center”… and it was pouring! As you can see we had on our AT&T hats & ponchos … Unfortunately they only reached to our knees, so from there down & underneath to the skin we were soaked. It stopped raining for the six minutes Robert rode. We were beaming when we waited for the award ceremony. His team received a bronze medal. Al ran around to the other side to take a picture of the presentation. A guard came up & said only press was allowed down near the arena. Al said.” o.k. you can arrest me after I take a picture of my brother. He just won a medal”.

Poor Al had to wear my back pack in front & his on his back! It was heavy for me empty! AT&T gave us identifying picture badges to wear around our neck. They got us free public transportation everywhere, & free lunch & dinner at the entertainment center. They also provided free use of their computers & web site, & last but not least free tickets to some other events. Al went to wrestling. I went to boxing with him. It was fun to see Cuba against Russia or the U.S.A. Al paid 12.00 dollars for the three of us to take the train, and I said “I think it is free with our badges ~ . ‘~Thanks for telling me now, mom”! He didn’t repeat that mistake.

The next Olympics, Al said, should have an event called “Taking Care of Your Parents”. I thought someone had cut my purse off! After alerting security & making everyone wild a sweet volunteer asked if I had looked in my seat … Of course there it was .. A nice man said he wondered why I had left it! It must have been the heat.

Dad had his day also. He left his backpack on the floor of a cab we had taken so he wouldn’t have to walk from the train to our hotel. Al made a mad dash after it, but it got away!. A Chinese man asked if I’d had the license number. I said no, so he gave it to us, but all the calls did not get it back.

Al & Lynne treated us to “New Zealand”, but that’s another story I promise to tell you.

Posted: Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Filed under: Mom