Tuesday-- Final Day in London

All good things must come to a close and today we catch our flight back to NC. We spent the day yesterday at Wimbledon and had a terrific time. As an official, I get a free pass that allowed me to go to any court so we positioned ourselves under the cover of court 12 and watched the Mardy Fish match. After a set I ventured off to Center Court to watch Rafael Nadal play Michael Russell (USA). Russell was up 4-2 in the first set and then suddenly, Nadal kicked into another gear and won the first set 6-4. There were some amazing rallies and diving shots by Russell but it just wasn't enough. I then watched most of the Shiavonne match. Around 5:15, the rains came and after doing some shopping in the Wimbledon store, we headed back to our hotel for dinner, pack, get boarding passes, etc. We've been gone a long time and I do look forward to coming home. I haven't gone for a run in 2 weeks and as much fun as it is to eat out, I look forward to home cooked meals and stuff from the garden. I have been tracking the NC weather and I am not sure if we are ready for the 90 degree plus temperatures back in NC. The temps have been low 60's here.

Good bye from London.......


posted by Rod Realon Tuesday 5:50 AM London Time

Good Friends in Foreign Places

Dear readers,

Over the past week you have been sitting at the edge of your seat in anticipation of future blog posts. Thank you for your support. The end of the trip is near, but there is more to share before we are stateside on Tuesday.

On Saturday, Mom and I went to a market which was full of stations featuring cheeses, meets, vegetables, take away lunches, and more. From there, we actually split ways where she went off to go yoga, and I met up with good friend and fraternity brother Jerry Yang who is studying/working in London. (MBA program)

Jerry and I exploreed the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The tower of london is where the crown jewels are featured, and what a sight they were! I saw the largest cut diamond ever as a part of a staff, and a magnificient display of crowns.

From the tower, Jerry and I explored the local watering hole, then I ventured back to the hotel. By that time, dad had finished the tennis (thankfully) and he and I ventured to a chinese restaurant nearby for an excellent sampling.

Today is Sunday. We woke up early to get to the Wimbledon grounds, which were closed off to the public, but we were still able to walk around the grounds and into the town of Wimbledon. In fact, we saw a few stars including Venus and Serena Williams practicing.

Happy Father's day.

From tennis, we ventured into main London to see Westminster Abbey, and attend a service there which was real nice. A few shops and other sights including St. Paul's Cathedral, and then back to Wandsworth.

Tomorrow promises to be a great day at Wimbledon where we have grounds passes. Weather is iffy, but my spirit is adament.

Enjoy the photos, see you soon.

Andrew

Wimbledon Qualifying tournament completed

Well, the tournanment for me has completed at around 7:00 PM Saturday evening. It was a marvelous, fantastic experience filled with great memories and many stories. I loved every second of the experience and I will definitely apply to come back next year. My next tennis events include include the NC Stated closed tournament, the Winston Salem Open (previously the Pilot Pen event in New Haven) and then the US Open. Retirement has been great although it has been very busy. Who would have ever thought I am where I am now.

Posted by Rod Realon 8:30 London time

Friday and proposed Saturday

Followers,
I remind you that you can follow the journey in a less comprehensive manner by following me on twitter @andrewrealon. If you need to get in touch with me, also you may send me an email adr528@aol.com
It is hard to make firm plans for a day with such unpredictable weather we have been dealing with. Rain, and more rain, make for tricky sightseeing. Yesterday, we made our way to the Bank of England sports complex to watch tennis. And we did watch 20 minutes of tennis before play was suspended due to rain. We would eventually leave the facility and head back to Wandsworth where our hotel is. Right behind us all the officials were released, so we ventured out all three of us to Westminster Chapel for a quick service. We also found this great place for dinner and met the owner. American Italian cuisine.
As for today, we leave the hotel soon in hopes of going to a market, the Tower of London (Crown Jewels) and mom has a Yoga-thon seminar near the London zoo. We’ll see what the rain allows.
Andrew

Raining in London

Worked about an hour today before the rains came. We got released around 3:30. We head back tomorrow (Saturday) trying to complete about 30 matches before the main draw starts on Monday. Got to have dinner with Julie and andrew in London and we attended a singing church service at Westminster Cathedral and saw Westminster Abby where the recent royal wedding occured.

posted by Rod Realon 10:00 PM London time

Cool and rainy from Wimbledon Qualifying Friday morning

It rained virtually all day yesterday (Thursday). In the morning it was so bad that there was a river running through the area and the water was at least 3 inches deep. We had several false starts where we would go to the courts and then it would start raining. I officially was on court for a warm-up and 1 point. I guess that counts as working one professional line day. We will try things again today. England has been in a drought so the rain is welcomed by everyone except tennis people.

posted by Rod Realon 7:00 AM London Time

Thursday from Wimbledon Qualifying

I had a great evening with the Americans and Brits at a pub called Halfway House. Had 2 pints of a beer called London Pride and a Bacon (the bacon here is like a ham and it is not crispy) and Brie baguette with chips. Great meal with lots of fun conversations. Julie and Andrew got in around 11:30 PM from Paris. Weather permitting, today will be the last day of the qualifying tournament. More later. I need to get my chocolate croissants and Cafe Au Lait.

from Rod Realon 6:30 AM

Wednesday from England 4:50

Finished at 3:30 today! Yippee!!! Got the bus back to my hotel and I'm getting ready to head to a pub with all of the Americans and some of the Brits at a local pub around 6:00. Should be lots of fun. :) The days are shorter as the main draw gets reduced each day. Julie and Andrew will return to London around 11:00 tonight. I'm sure they will have numerous stories and plenty of pictures for all to hear and see. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the ultimate experience, this is by far 10 plus. I've met some marvelous people and contiue to learn bunches about the culture. It is hard to believe that tomorrow is my last day of officiating. On a positive note, I get a free day pass to the big Wimbledon tournament on Monday. Can't wait and I plan to take many pictures.

sent from Rod Realon 4:55 London time

Tuesday- Winbledon Qualifying

Tuesday was a long day and the team I was on finished at 8:45 PM. We did 6 matches. The caliber of tennis continues to be top notch. Tomorrow the Americans (N= 11-12) will be joining some of the locals for a night at a local pub. Yes, I plan to be there and I will have a pint or two. I do not know the details but Julie and Andrew have been enjoying Paris. They saw Mona and much, much more. They did a walking tour that was especially good. It is late and I am headed off to bed. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be overcast and a bit cooler than today. I think we got up to 68-70 degrees.

Rod Realon 10:30 PM London Time

Tuesday Morning from London

The sun rises at around 4:30 AM London time. Amazing. Today is a gorgeous day with clear skies. I will be using lots of sun screen today. I am going to have an early breakfast and walk around the city before heading to work this morning.

Rod Realon 6:05 AM London Time

Winbledon Qualifying Tournament Day 1

The cloudy skies gave way to some beautiful weather and the start of the men's draw. The women start tomorrow. Each has a 128 draw (I think). I was on a great crew. The format is a chair and 7 line umpires. Today was a great day for everyone. You work 80 minutes and get a 40 minute break. I got to do all lines today (baseline, long line and serve). Tomorrow will probably be a longer day than today. I got off around 7:00 today. I am going to guess that there are 175-200 officials working. I know some from the US Open last year but most I am just now getting to meet. Being at Wimbledon was everything that I could have imagined and much, much more. This year is especially significant because it is the 125th Wimbledon tournament.

Julie and Andrew are having a great time in Paris. They are seeing the sites and eating well..........

Rod Realon..... 8:19 London time

Rain, Rain Rain, and More Rain

It has rained all day today. Got my uniform for tomorrow so hopefully the rain will have stopped. The grass courts are covered so hopefully tennis will be played. Julie and Andrew left for Paris this morning and I got a message from Andrew that they arrived and were on their way to the to the Eifel tower.

Rod Realon 7:15 PM London Time

Sunday Morning from London

I've been up early to see some of the sights and to enjoy the British breakfast (unlimited chocolate croisants, sausages, fruit, coffee, etc). Andrew did not mention that yesterday was the Queen's birthday and we did not see her but we were lucky enough to see her motorcade and her Bentley as she was driving through Trafalgar Square. London is incredible. Today I'm off to get my uniform and look forward to the start of the Wimbledon Qualifying tournament tomorrow. I haven't had fish and chips yet but I have sampled some of the other local malt beverages. Quite tasty!

from Rod Realon 7:45 AM London time

There and back again: A Traveler's Journal

Avid readers, thank you for following our trip on this blog.

You will notice an addition of about 8 posts from Paris. While in France, we had difficulty finding open WIFI, so there are some stories and pictures that have been delayed.

Rain in London. Headed to Harrod's store to spend the day indoors.

Always available by email : adr528@aol.com

Andrew

paris pictures

Julie with Perfume and Eurostar Station






Andrew

Delayed Paris Post #4

Our last day in Paris…and our last chance to hit the art museums. As our hostess, Mona, said, if we came all the way to Paris and did not go to the Louvre, what would people think!? So, we got up really early to be in line when the Louvre opened. It was amazing, and I was glad to have gotten the advice to make it a focused visit as to not burn out. We saw the Mona Lisa and a few other DaVincis, some well known sculptures, and a special Rembrandt exhibit. From there, it was our last chance for macaroons at Ladure, so we ended up on their sidewalk for lunch and a box of macaroons to take with us – yum! Then it was off to the Musee D’Orsay and the amazing collection of art there, including a wonderful temporary Manet exhibit that was attracting huge crowds. We had to wait in line for 30 minutes just to get into that section. After 2 hours, we were both ready to drop, but there was one more important destination – Berthillon ice cream. So, we made our way for their famous caramel ice cream, and then back to collect our bags to head to the train station. As we crossed the bridge one last time, we saw a fashion shoot taking place. (by the way, in terms of the fashion scene in Europe: round toed flats/ballet flats and scarves are seen a lot on women of all ages, and short skirts/shorts with tights/hose are seen a lot on younger women and teens.) Au revoir, Paris! We love you, but now we are broke!

Julie

Paris Pictures

Andrew

Delayed Paris Post #3

Day 3 in Paris (Julie and Andrew) started with another sumptuous basket of French breads, coffee, and juice, from our wonderful hostess, Mona. Afterwards, we checked out the market on Rue Cler, then the Notre Dame cathedral, and shared a chocolate crepe, before meeting Wendy Lyn for our culinary tour of the 5th and 6th arrondissements. Wendy knows Paris food and is clearly a “rock star” in the culinary scene. We visited and enjoyed samples at her favorite, and the best, bread, cheese, chocolate, and wine shops. Our time with her ended after sharing a glass of wine and a plate of delicious food at l’avant-comptoir. The chef at the wine bar and the restaurant (le comptoir), Yves Camdeborde, came out to speak to Wendy before we went to his wine bar. We were told we had just met the greatest chef of Paris at the moment! We were lucky to get a table outside for an early evening snack before they closed for dinner service. We unloaded all of the goodies from our tour, and had a little rest before visiting Place des Vosges and then taking a sunset cruise up and down the Seine. Another amazing day in Paris, perhaps our best, especially since there was little rain today!

Julie

Paris Pictures 2

Andrew

Delayed Paris Post #2

Thanks to Bev, we had a great itinerary for today! Yes, we strolled down the Champs-Elysees (Rod, can I buy some perfume from Guerlain?) all the way down to the Arc de Triomphe, where there were street dancers performing. Yes, we had lunch at Angelina’s with the decadent hot chocolate for dessert. Yes, Lady Gaga’s motorcade stopped right in front of us (with paparazzi and crazy teenagers rushing to get photos at her window, and her 10 or so motorcycles around her protecting her) on our way to Fauchon (like a Dean and Deluca on steroids, and with Madeleines!) Yes we bought 2 bottles of wine from Lavinia and truffles from La Maison du Chocolate. It was a gorgeous day to walk through the Jardin des Tuileries on the way back to drop our things back at our room before heading out again to a café near the Eiffel tower, and because it was raining, stayed and had lots of wine and met a couple from Toronto and a documentary filmmaker from LA (on couch surfing). The more it rained, the more wine I drank, and then it finally stopped and we got another look at the tower all lit up before returning “home”.
Julie

Paris Pictures #1

Andrew

Delayed France Post #1

Paris via Eurostar was very easy and smooth! Taking the metro in Paris to get to our hosts’ home was just as easy. We are in a room in a nice apartment home in the 1st arrondissement, the “heart of Paris”. We hit the ground ambling…stopping anywhere that seemed interesting: a few of the many pet stores along the street, then crossing the Pont Neuf bridge over the Seine on the way to dinner at Cosi, recommended by Bev and also April’s friend (yes, the smoked salmon and ricotta sandwich with walnuts was amazing!), then along the Seine to the pyramid at the Louvre, through the gardens and all the way around to the Eiffel tower. Even the intermittent rain could not dampen our spirits! Back on the metro, we rode to the stop at the Arc de Triumph. Boy, you learn about these places in French class, but to see them in person is surreal! Now we are back in our cozy and quaint room, after visiting with our host couple and their 2 cats to recap our adventures. Bon nuit!

Julie

Saturday Play and Food Discussions, et al.

Devoted readers,

We went to a TKTS today and got tickets to 'We Will Rock You' a new musical featuring music by Queen. The performance was great, the venue beautiful, and the audienced well engaged. Great show.

Food has been great. For dinner tonight we went to some Noodle place Mom knew about. She also directed us to lunch to a place she read about in a magazine that was great.

Running out of battery power, but I hope to write again in Paris -- soon.

Carpe Diem, my friends.

Andrew

Adv. London 101: Pictures

having issues getting pictures up via internet connection I have... here are two though...

London 101: An Overview

My followers,
It is hard to write about all that has happened since the last post. My apologies for not writing sooner, but we have been on the go for the past two days.
The first few days have been a survey of the major attractions of London. We’ve been using a hop on hop off bus, which has allowed us to see much of the city, including Big Ben, the Eye (Ferris Wheel), Wesminster Abbey, Parliament, Museums, and more.
We got lost tonight, but due to the grace of a woman we ran into on the street, we were taxi’d back to our hotel due to her gracious hospitality.
Words hardly capture the experiences we have had, so over the next few posts I’m going to try and simply upload photos.
Mom and I leave for Paris tomorrow. More to come.
Andrew

We arrived

Followers,
Someone famous once wrote ‘luck is when preparation meets opportunity.’ I write to you today to offer an exploration of that definition, as I recount the process by which I arrived in London this morning.
But before the story begins, you must know that it is low 60’s in London, partly cloudy, with good chance of Jet Lag Feel across the area.
The flight was supposed to leave RDU via Delta at 3:30p sharp. And we did, in fact, board a Delta flight and begin taxing at 3:30. However, the captain announced with a regretful tone that there were some unexpected difficulties, he had little information, and we would be stalling on the tarmac for a bit. An hour later, we re-approached the gate, unboarded the plane, and the chaos of rebooking tickets due to a cancelled flight began. According to the captain, poor weather prevented air travel into Boston, which would mean we would miss our connecting flight to Heathrow.
So, like little sheep, we formed a queue to commence the frustrating process. And this is when the exploration of the idiom regarding luck begins. I would like to point out that dad did a fantastic job coordinating flight details. Jessica similarly did a swell job getting us to the airport. However, unforeseen circumstances provided the worst of luck, regardless of our preparation.
Upon calling the Delta 1-800 number (this being around 5:15p), I eventually met the woman who would work with my father to get us on a direct flight to Heathrow leaving RDU at 6:15p (in one hour). The deal was worked out, and we were on our way. I would like to thank the staff American Airlines for making this possible. Sometimes, luck is just luck, and has nothing to do with preparation. That was the moral of the story.
The flight. The plane was huge, probably carrying 350 passengers. The flight attendents offered plenty of refreshments and even a dinner meal. I mean, there’s really nothing useful I can write about unless you want to hearing groaning about trying to sleep on a plane.
We arrive in London just before 7a, and our luggage made the transfer! Feeling the luck, we dare to attempt the public transport system, and take a train/bus to our hotel.
And that’s where we are, folks. Waiting to check into our room, freshen up, and hopefully make the 11:30a changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
More later.
Andrew

New Blog

Hey folks, looking forward to spending time in Europe in June 2011. I will be using this blog to post more detailed accounts and pictures of time in London and Paris. For brief tidbits and pictures, follow me on twitter @andrewrealon.

More information to come. Please feel free to share this link with others!