Prison Break!

Today was our great escape from the inner chambers of the IBC. Our team started off with our first real-life visit to the Olympic Stadium. There was a lot to take in. The torch. The people. The loudspeakers blasting directions in a litany of different languages. During our 4 hours in the event, we caught long jumping, 100m women's race heats, the hammer throw, shot put and even the women's race walk. A race-walk is basically a group of well-trained athletes engaged in a constant hip-swinging effort to avoid running. If you've ever watched your dog dry off after the shower horror, you get a very similar impression.

Leaving the stadium (rumor has it Athens signed off on a hefty $200 million + euro to a French architect simply to slap a roof on the existing structure) I parted ways with my group to go exploring. A few hundred yards away, The Today Show was broadcasting live from an outdoor venue. Katie Couric was working an interview angle with Phelps while Al Roker was working an angle with crowds. Al rarely has to work an angle as a meteorologist here. The weather is about as sure as the need for Aspirin after 3 hours of Dick Vitale play-by-play.

Moving on, the next discovery was a visit to the World Championship McDonald's (consult a recent blog). Imagine your McSandwich arriving in 30 seconds and fried in olive oil. Efharisto poli!