Belmore Park
9/15/00
5:00 PM
Belmore Park
And now the excitement has faded a bit. Kind of bored at the moment. I went back to the hostel after being unable to locate the USOC House and buying some zinestics to paint my face. I changed into some warmer clothes, grabbed my blanket, and came here. The place is now beginning to fill, the vendors have emerged, and I’ve been here for three and a half hours. One hour, fifty two minutes left. I’ve managed to read my telegraph and spot a woman breast-feeding. OK, Woolies was better than this. As I was looking in the toy section for face paint, a woman with an East European accent asked me if I was “from the Village.” How cool! Mistaken for an athlete! She is apparently a trainer or what not for the Slovenian rowing team. She said they’ve been there for four weeks & she had to get out. Too boring, according to her. She obviously hasn’t spent four hours here. I’m beginning to think I should have gone down to a museum or something. Ah, well. I’m in the Olympic City.
So more about my return to Sydney. Greeted by a soldier as I walked off the plane. Security has been everywhere here. At the baggage claim I saw a guy wearing a Son of Beast shirt. He was from Detroit. Why would he bring that shirt here? As I waited in line for a taxi I met Stef and … um … I forgot. They were two tall guys from Germany. They were here for the Games, and Stef got pissed about the cabs. “Mafie!” he yelled. We all three split a cab to Central Station. They were staying at someone’s flat for $150 a week. Bastards. They gave me their number to go out for a drink. We’ll see.
I need an American flag. Everyone’s got their flag.
Yeah, these live sites are going to be pretty cool. Oh, and I don’t want to hear any crap about Yanks stereotyping Aussies on OZ; their precious Channel 7 has shoveled out the same crap.
Marc shows up tomorrow. He should be over the Pacific soon. Hope he’s got money.
KC