London is baking under the blazing sun!
I am not complaining but I’ve found a bit too intense too soon?
Come on, we had been surviving in below 18 degree for a long time.
Then, all the sudden, this heatwave with almost 30 degree. It is a shock to my system.

Anyway, I decided to travel to the Olympic Park today for picking up the tickets I secured the other night.
I used Central Line. A word of caution: During the Olympic Game, use National Rail from Liverpool Street Station instead of Central Line.
The sign was clearly posted and the staff were there to direct any stray sheep…

After following the winding subway, I emerged to the entrance of Westfield Stratford City. There weren’t any obvious sign post for the ticket office. So I asked one of the guys with the bright pink vest with London 2012 logo.

The main entrance to the shopping centre was rather chaotic and confusing. Could we have more staff here for the visitors, perhaps? Eventually the staff directed me to go up the escalator. However, I wouldn’t have had a clue if he weren’t there…

On the upper level, I found another guy with the vest and he took me to the entrance of the Olympic Park.

Hooraaaaaaaaaaay! I am in the Olympic Park.
So excited to see that unmistakable Olympic symbol in my sight…

Then, I found the queue for the box office.
A baking hot tarmac and no shade in sight. Oh dear, how I wished if I brought my folding brolly…

After solving 3 crossword puzzles under the relentless sun, it was almost my turn to claim my tickets…

Apart from the tickets themselves, I only received a pair of return travelcards for the day. No map or any visitor’s information pack things. I suppose the Olympic organizers expect us to download and print from London 2112 site by ourselves?

Heading back towards Westfield.
I must admit that the staff attending the Olympic venue were superb. They were polite and helpful. One lady I encountered was especially pleasant. Keep up the good work, boys & girls!

On the way back to the station, I took the foot bridge adorned with Coca-Cola advert…

It’s so weird that I felt nothing special about London 2012 until one week ago.
Then, it dawned on me that the world’s biggest sporting event was about to come to London!
I am sure the people arround me must feel the same way. It’s kind of intoxicating…

Including me, a lot of pedestrians were stopping and taking snapshots on the bridge…

The end of the foot bridge was a bus terminal and Stratford Station.
Because of the Olympic Game, Stratford has transformed drastically.

At Itsu near Finsbury Square, I had a late sushi lunch.
It was so hot. I couldn’t face any latte or sandwich…