The Security Olympics

[TObject]

Well, folks, I am back to the rainy San Diego. The Saturday spent at the Salt Lake City Olympic games was what I called "the most exciting day of my life".

We took off from work at about 11 o'clock on Friday, and soon thereafter we were on the road. A lot of car singing and loud music, a Stake and Lobster dinner at the Casablanca casino in Mesquite, through California, Nevada and Arizona, we made it to our lodging destination - Hampton Inn, Provo, Utah.

Early Saturday morning we got into the car and drove to the Salt Lake City E Center parking lot. E Center is the main place where hockey matches are held. It became very apparent, that tickets at the 2002 Olympics are a very hot commodity, and prices - not too low at all. We decided to take a shuttle to the train station and ride to the Downtown.

The Downtown Salt Lake City is a wonderful place. There were lots of people on the street. First we went to the Mormon Temple Visitors center, to get a little idea of the history and customs of the area. Then we tried to find some tickets, the Kwickee mart, had the tickets we wanted for $500 - yeah right. I pretty much coupled with the idea that we won't get to see any actual events.

Then the party started with... Budweiser Party. Let me say a couple of words about security at the Olympics, since that is pretty much what the current Olympics is about, just ask the friendly Somalian cab driver - the security sucks! Guess what, they took my Leatherman Micra away. Errr... I don't want to talk about it. In my non-professional opinion, there is so much security related stuff that does not make sense or even more harmful than helpful going on, it's not even funny.

All right, Budweiser party is the place where you can buy a plastic bottle of Budweiser for $5 and watch things of entertainment nature on the stage or on one of the big screen TVs, that they call "Jumbotron". If you are hungry, you can buy a "Bobsled Hamburger" for $6, a cup of "Spicy Slalom Chili" for $5 or a "Half Pipe Hotdog" for $4. There are also merchandise stores, some gaming activity for kids, a little ice area, and horses that pull a Budweiser wagon around the block, time to time. We watched the magic show performed by a couple from Saint Louis and left the place for something warmer and more fun.

After a fast stop in Starbucks we decided to go see what's up with the bars in the area. There are weird rules concerning drinking in Utah, something about you can only buy one drink at a time, and then for hard alcohol, you have to go to a club you are a member of.

First bar we went into was Squatters. It was warm all right, with a fireplace, but crowded and generally gay looking.

The next stop was the Port'O'Call. $5 one-day membership and a $13 pitcher of Guinness bought us a lot of fun time. The public there was interesting, the pool game moving. I did not know I could drink a whole pitcher of beer by myself.

Then we went to the Macaroni Grill for dinner (only $43.18 plus tip for three, not bad at all), and bumped into Scott Hamilton there. It was pretty cool, although I was paying more attention a cutest girl that I got to talk to, while I was chewing on some Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp. My friend said I would be kicking myself next morning that I hadn't gotten her number.

After that, the crowded train took us back to the bus station, and the shuttle back to the E Center where the USA vs. Russia hockey game was about to begin. There were many people looking for tickets with not much luck. I yelled, "Does anybody have extra tickets" (in Russian) two girls replied, "No, we are looking for some ourselves". They told me that the tickets around the place were going for $500..$400. Back in the town the tickets were changing hands for as much as $750. We did find a scalper, and got the tickets for $325/ each, and were in our places 5 minutes into the game. At the beginning of the 3-rd period, the tickets could be had for about $175 (at the face value $150), in fact that is what one guy from Iowa State got his ticket for. But we got to see the whole game, and I say it was worth it.

This was the first ice hockey game, I've been to, and I couldn't understand some technicalities of it, but sure, as hell was exciting. The Americans played faster, the Russians risked more - at the end it was a tie: 2:2. The game started around 9:40, and ended somewhere near the midnight. Fun. Fun. Fun.

Then, it was taxi (about $70) back to the motel ($365 for two nights). And the long way home next day, with a quick stop in Luxor, Las Vegas for buffet.

Overall the trip was a positive experience. I liked it a lot! Wish you could be there.

Utah is a beautiful place. The mountains are breathtaking. A gallon of gas only 99 cents. And how about all the funny names, Little Beaver Dam at the Virgin River, for example.

[Jeff Weston]

Sergey,

If that was your first hockey game ever you got quite a treat!!! That was one of better ones I've seen in quite awhile. I heard on the TV that the tix were going for $500, so at $325, you got a pretty good deal. I'm glad you guys had such a good time. As for getting a drink in Utah, you discovered what fun it is. BTW, there are only 37 liquor stores in UT where you can get the hard stuff. Like you said, it is a beatiful place, especially in winter.

Jeff

[Stu Olson]

Sergey,

Wow....what an adventure, to say the least!

I lived in northern Minnesota when I was in high school. They eat and breath hockey up there (kids start at age 5 on teams) and I still never figured it out! Don't feel bad!

Hey....so what happened to the Russian girls that answered you....I thought that might have amounted to something!

Were you able to get your Leatherman back? Geez, I hope so.

Last but not least, if you ever get over here to AZ, I'll take you up to Dry Beaver Creek.

The ONLY cabana boy in this community who has won a raffle!
http://www.stu-offroad.com

[Desert Fox]

Sergey,

Here is my view on expensive weekends. If you remember the adventures and not the cost, then it was worth every cent. However, if all you can think about is how much it cost and can't remeber what you did or saw, then you got taken.

Sounds to me like you had a great time, saw new things, met new people and had an "excellent adventure." That's all that really counts.

Fred

[TObject]

Oh no, it wasn't that expensive at all. A day in Johnson Valley is sometimes more expensive than a day at the Olympics. I just put the prices in the post so that somebody who plans on going has an idea what's up.

According to my friend I made two big mistakes:

a) I did not get the flight attendant cutie I met at the Macaroni Grill phone number
b) We should have hooked up with those Russian chicks from before the hockey game


Nope, I didn't get my Leatherman back; it went into a trash bin. I could say a thing or two about security, but I really don't want to. If you go, don't carry any objects containing metal except for these: coins, keys, working cell phone, camera, watch, flashlight and official Olympic merchandise. Be prepared for frisk searches. Flash photography is not allowed, but people do it anyway.


Even if you count all the negative things in, overall trip was the most enjoyable experience.

There are a lot of people from all over the [free] world (most of them are Canadians). And then when is the next time the Olympics are going to be so close to where we live?

[TJRON]

Hmmm, trash can full of knives and tools.........
I would go dumpster diving in that one!
Glad you had fun. Personally, I wouldn't go close to that place unless I was twenty years younger and then it would be to see the mogul runs and snow bunnys. Glad you had fun Segey!
Ron

I like the way my Jeep is now..... I'd just like it, well, a little higher off the ground with more ground clearance!

[TObject]

Ron, if not for anything else you could go to Salt Lake City for a session of trash diving. That should bring a lot of nice additions to your tools, knives and automatic rifles collection.

Oh, and here is what my hockey ticket looks like:



I will be posting some pictures from the Olympics soon, I just got the film dropped off for development...

[Robert J. Yates]

Sergey,
Glad you had a good time and are home safe. And yea, Utah is a pretty interesting place - I usually ski 2 weeks every year up there (I have friends in Park City) but passed this year due to the Olympics. My one friend rented out his house for $2500/week to some television station

98 TJ Sport
D44ARB/D30Detroit/Teralow/35" MTr's

[brent]

I'd get you a close up of the cauldren at the stadium, but I'd have to get off my butt and walk down there

[TObject]

---
===---
---



Me at the E Center

---
===---
---



My Friends

---
===---
---



Salt Lake City Train

---
===---
---



On the Street

---
===---
---



The Budweiser Party

---
===---
---



The Globe

---
===---
---



Bud Parade

---
===---
---



In the Bar

---
===---
---



Scott and Nina

---
===---
---



USA vs. Russia
---
===---
---

[Paradiddle]

Excellent pics - you drinking Guiness there?

mmmmmmm......

Jeff

99 WJ Laredo - lifted with accoutrements

[Joe Dillard]

Sounds like a fun trip you'll never forget! I like to travel too.

[Jeff Weston]

Sergey,

Either you had great seats or you had a high power lens. Is the E-center a new arena or is that what they are calling the Delta Center during the Olympics?

Jeff

[brent]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeff Weston:
Sergey,

Either you had great seats or you had a high power lens. Is the E-center a new arena or is that what they are calling the Delta Center during the Olympics?

Jeff[/quote]
the E center is where the salt lake grizzlies (hockey) play, it is in Kerns, southwest of SLC, the delta center is the home of the jazz, actually in town, this is where the figure skating is happening, then there is an olympic oval in worst valley city, also west of SLC. this is where the speed skating is happening,

the E center isn't that big, so you really can't have to bad of seats.

[TObject]

Yeh, we had good seats, right behind NBC guys. I used my “beater” Tamron 28-105mm f/4.0-5.6 lens, nothing special at all, except for all dust from the wheeling trips that accumulated inside.


The E Center is in the West Valley City, it is home of the Utah Grizzlies. I guess it is not very big.

Delta Center is in the Salt Lake City itself; they hold Figure Skating, and Short Track Speed Skating there.

Paradiddle, correcto mundo! That is Guinness, nothing beats Guinness...