2016 Olympics - Rio de Janeiro

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Rio Day Four - Men's Individuals

Today started with a super lazy morning. We slept in, watched some rugby. Walked to the mall and ate our first fast food steak. Watched some swimming. Then it was off to the venue to see the Men's Individual elimination matches.

Jake shot against the home town hero Brazilian Marcos D'Almedia. The stands were packed and super loud!! He beat the Brazilian 6-2 and was on to the 1/32 round. Brady shot his first match against Ali El Ghari from Libya and won 6-0 after shooting eight 10s in a row!! Since both he and Jake won their 1/64 matches they were now shooting against one another next. I brought the umbrella today as we were on the afternoon sunny side and I did NOT want a replay of Saturday.

So disappointed that NBC couldn't televise it live but at least it is online for those who can stream it on their computers and I understand they did play it later (after FUTBOL was over!!) I was apparently caught on TV frantically texting scores to all the fans at home that couldn't see it live haha Brady shot so well and he won the match and is now going to the 1/8 match on Friday. His opponent will be decided by two matches tomorrow (one of them could be his OTHER teammate Zach - how likely is it that all three US boys ended up in the same bracket?)

Just before we left a man came up and asked Brady for his autograph on a drawing he had made of him... nice likeness!

Then we were off to the P&G (Proctor & Gamble) House. This place was really nice but I hear all the sponsor houses are... We of course made our way straight to the food. Tons of great seafood and desserts! Then we took a tour of the special rooms (you can have your laundry done, get a haircut or massage and of course find a place to watch events on the patio in the dining room or in the man cave. The patio was nice but we chose the man cave and their body sized pillows. Met KJ from the women's rugby team and got pulled in to a group photo with everyone in the room.

Talked to my great daughter who is holding down the fort at home (taking care of animals, business, and personal stuff for her mom) and then we caught our ride back to the hotel. The ride was pretty uneventful tonight and we are already in bed watching Michael Phelps win a couple more gold medals!!

Tomorrow USA Team member Zach is shooting in the afternoon. Then it is back to the USA House for a night of Smore's (sponsored by Olympic Sponsor Hersey) oh and a little concert by THE BAND PERRY!

Rio Day Three - Women's Individuals

This morning we headed to the Archery venue to watch MacKenzie Brown compete in the Women's Individual. She won her first match against Italy 6 - 4 but lost her second match to a woman from Myanmar 7-3.

Alfred and I had our driver take us to the Mall nearby our hotel where we had lunch (Alfred had the largest calzone I have ever seen), used the ATM, bought a phone case (I have dropped my phone at least 10 times a day since arriving here as I took it out of its wallet and brought just the phone) and then we had a much needed massage. We hoped to find the little street market on our walk back to the hotel but it was closed up when we walked by.

We came back to the room. I will admit I did a little workflow stuff for work (couldn't help it) and Alfred napped then it was off on a very LONG van ride to a kinda long bus ride to the Olympic Park where we had tickets to the Center Court Tennis match between Serena Williams and France. We passed our first Favela - what a place. From what our translator Lucy told us they are self sustaining. They have their own schools, banks, stores etc. Not the "shanty town" or slum that I was expecting.

The Olympic Village is super nice. Obviously recently built and well kept. The staff were helpful and we love they big sports fingers they all had on their hands to point the direction you needed to go when you asked them for directions. haha

I read the book they have here explaining every sport because though I knew the point of the game of tennis but I had no idea how it was scored.. I mean why do you give them 15 points, then 30 and then 40?? Why only 10 extra the 3rd time and what the heck does "Ad" mean??? I left there tonight totally understanding tennis!! Serena did well. Was unhappy to see her throw a fit and slam her racket into her seat and bend it when things were not going well but the French lady was such a little pill. She was so rude to the guy that kept running her a towel and she had to throw a fit too and throw a ball in the air. The crowd was great they were cheering for who ever did well and we met some American's in our nose bleed section too.

We did some shopping at the this enormous store for our new friend in Australia named Jai and headed back on the very long and very late trip back to the hotel. One minute before arriving at our hotel we were in our first auto accident (fender bender literally) which surprises me because we have had at least 25 near misses in the past four days and witnessed a couple vehicles make contact. The use of the road here is very different than home. Whether you want to stay in your lane or hog two of them is your choice. It is always a race to get to the next stoplight where you slam on your brakes and try to touch the fender of the guy in front of you. AND I HAVE NO IDEA how more motorcycle riders are not injured. They drive on the line between cars going very fast and it is very scary.

Tomorrow is Men's individuals and Brady shoots at 4:31pm Brazil time (12:31 AZ)!!!

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Rio Day Three - Touring

Last night we got into bed early so we didn't set an alarm. We thought we would wake up well before the van arrived for tour day... I did wake up. It was 530am here (130am at home) so I went back to bed. Woke up a second time it was 733am!!! The van was going to arrive at 8am. We rushed to get ready and downstairs and made our shuttle.

Our first stop was Mount Corcovado and Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). The last time I was here I took a bus half way up and walked the rest... I was happy to see we were taking a train to the top after yesterday's health issues.

We bought some souvenirs, took a selfie (we are getting better at these) and helped a couple visitors from the US and Equador take photos of themselves with the statue and a German visitor get a photo with the local military on duty there.

The train ride back down was nice as the temperature had cooled down quite a bit and we were able to see the countryside and the homes along the track.

Then it was off to the USA House just off of Copacabana Beach.

We did a little shopping and eating and touring and eating and watched most of the big 30+ big screen TVs playing the Olympic competitions of the day and then we shopped one more time and ate dinner.

We are in our room watching women's gymnastics in Portuguese at the moment and tomorrow we will be watching Women's Individual Archery (Cheering on MacKenzie Brown). Then if the weather cooperates we are hitting the beach!!

Rio Day Two - Competition Begins

This morning started what seemed like VERY early. We didn't sleep well. People here like to drive their motorcycles very fast up and down the streets in the middle of the night and our hotel room window faces the street. Then the alarm went off at 530am (130am Arizona) so we could grab breakfast before heading to the venue. The van arrived on time and dropped us off near the entrance of Sambodromo, which is not the best part of town.

We got into the venue pretty early and got our seat.

Unfortunately, the sun was staring us directly in the face and between getting dehydrated the two days prior and the heat and humidity I started going down hill fast. I now believe I had something darn close to Heat Stroke. No lie. Today was absolutely miserable for me but I was determined not to miss a second of it.

Our boys didn't shoot in the morning but they did amazing that afternoon!! Bringing home the silver medal.

We got a quick hello from Brady and then they were off to do their media interviews. Thanks to those of you who taped their TV screen for us... we didn't get them here.

Our group went to a local burger place, we were given a complementary shot (Against my better judgment after my heat related illness during the day I drank it anyway - you only live once), and then we walked home.

We are constantly reminded how great we have it as Americans. Many sad things witnessed on the roadways and tonight was no exception.

What a day! We were in bed by 4pm Arizona time!!