Olympic Stamp Collecting

Stamp Collecting is very much a part of the Olympic Games.

I will be posting some of my preferred stamps. 

I was attracted to design and aesthetics. Not a

serious collector yet, after many Olympic Games, 

my collection grew, quite seriously!

After the games my parents were always excited when
mail arrived from far away places.  This one from the
Tunisia Prensa head, Mustapha Majoul 1968.

Arts and Crafts and Recycling at the Olympics

One of the reasons many of us head to the Olympic Games is to enjoy the culture and the art.  The craftiness of the locals, using whatever medium they enjoy and moreover, afford, is often delightful. The street vendors and street markets are my faves. Would love to see, during some future Olympics, some area  for artists of the country with no license fees! First come, first serve type of thing with NO RED TAPE FOR ARTISTS and even paying artists if they sell art using RECYCLED items to keep the Olympics GREEN. Here is one item I purchased at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.  The dove, yet again, the symbol of peace in the world!! Protocol; no olympic rings. The artist told me that she had very little money but had access to heaps of leftover yarn. Cool, aye?

Ellie Rogers...in our "National Geographic Photo"

In the center courtyard of Vidin Castle, Baba Vida...Opa!!

Vidin, Bulgaria

This medieval castle on the banks of the Danube was named "Baba Vida".  It endured centuries and avoided the sad destiny of the other medieval castles along the lower Danube because it was outside the scope of the Russian - Turkish Wars.

Up the Lower Danube River to Bulgaria

Both of us were in a bit of a daze, we made it to Bulgaria!

Along the Lower Danube...

Historic sites like this!

Up very early before dawn to enjoy tying up The River Concerto.

Another Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Elena placed a red and white ribbon on the tree in the main square.
 A custom that dates back to the 6th Century. (no doubt with...a little prayer.)

Made it to Bucharest and the Black Sea!!

Wonders never cease. Here I am on The Black Sea 

...almost two months AFTER the games!

After last minute decisions and a comedy of errors in airports with m’dear old friend Shirley Lind, we made it to Bucharest, Romania, the Paris of the East!  We had a royal look at tree lined boulevards, elegant mansions, lovely parks, dracula’s historic building, embassy row, the ‘arch d’triumph’, and orthodox churches with so many sacred icons and holy candles lighting the way for hopes and dreams of these lovely Romanian people who have suffered much in the past.

AND so many historic landmarks with heaps of ancient history along with an in-depth look at recent history as told to us by locals who lived through the 1989 revolution.

A bus ride from Bucharest to Constanta on the Black Sea where we boarded the awesome ship named Concerto with its upbeat crew and its UPBEAT PASSENGERS, (that would be us: ) AaiiiYA!  It is all too much for words.

Ah this  Eastern Orthodox holiness.

I could feel the goodness of the
local Romanians as I passed by.

Architecture grandeur

Ancient Roman...BABY BOTTLE!

Petrified wine, yup it really is!

Rolled m'trousers to feel The Black Sea

Happy Easter, m'luvs!

Shirley in our cabin on the Black Sea.

We're off. (The historic canal of the southern part of the Danube River)

The Black Sea and Eastern Europe

Although I enjoyed part of the Black Sea during my time in Turkey years ago, was thinking that an adventure to Sochi Olympics would have enabled me to broaden my understanding about the the eastern area of that sea.  Never made it to Sochi.

( Opted to be at a reunion with dear dear old college friends from Chestnut Hill College : )

Since the games, have heard from those returning, that Sochi was even more expensive than expected and not quite the usual upbeat crowd who knew about cueing up etc.  Am quite sure others enjoyed it of course, but it seemed that several that I spoke with were faced with more difficulties than usual.

As for me, because of Twitter and the IBC, although I did not attend the games in person, I definitely can say that I enjoyed Sochi.  Therefore feel a bit sad that some had some negative experiences.

A great part of attending ANY Olympics is meeting the people, which expands one's knowledge and appreciation about the culture and history of any part of our world.  Listening to their life stories, laughing with them, dancing with them.  Yah, I did miss THAT important part of the 2014 games.

Black Sea and Eastern Europe...to be continued...

Such a Social Sochi, Thanks Again Russia

Was able to imagine what is was like inside the Opening and Closing Ceremonies almost as if I was there, perhaps because I was fortunate enough to attend so many in the past.  The format quite similar to past Olympics, the content so diverse. Always SPECTACULAR.  (The ability to demonstrate a sense of humor made me think of Vancouver 2010.)

Here are a few “tweets” from watching, listening and computing:

Olympics go even more...mobile

Thousands of selfies

Whimsical uniforms

A visual fantasia, what a kick off

Shooting stars and classical visions 

Famous Russian authors’ flying pages

Terabites of pics per second

Segways

Halfpipe glory

Nail biter endings
Timing booths precision

Canada IS ice hockey

Super excited Russians, RUSHEEYA!
Team USA, stars were shining

A bit of blurry fog, mostly sunshiny days

Scott Hamilton’s got global appeal

I feel delight when smaller countries sparkle

Logog, sogog...rogog

Jellied meats and yah, McDonalds

Gotta love the geeky details
Athlete's tweets, everybody's tweets...so neat.

Was it an electric fan keeping those two flags looking pretty?

Heaps of sweeps

Holland so small, medals so many, evening celebration vibes could be felt everywhere

All athletes on all teams are winners

What a wonderful buzz it was. Thank you Russia, thank you world. 

More seeds for GLOBAL PEACE planted on our sacred earth.

Thank You Russia, Thank You Sochi!

Thank You Russia, Thank You Sochi, Job Well Done!!!

The highlight for many of us in the USA was ability to enjoy the games through the eyes of the athletes via Twitter. They shared with us what they saw from their perspective and they shared their thoughts, pulled us in closer to the Olympic Village. Such a buzz.  So many positives. We simply loved how the athletes from many countries tweeted and oh how we enjoyed their heartfelt posts and their positive comments.

The Opening, the excitement, the comments after the competitions were super. But most of all, the scenes of merriment outside of the venues and outside of the Olympic Park made us feel that we were there in Russia, as well.

People of the world celebrating in peace. Que Bravo!

And so so many of incredibly wonderful posts with photos that were posted via Twitter have been appreciated here in California and around the globe. 

Thank you Sochi, we were there in Spirit. Olympic Spirit.

Good Friends Looking for Olympic Housing in Adler

If per chance any of my Russian readers see this, please contact me if you know of a family in Adler who would love having three Olympic family friends from USA. Wendy, her mom and dad are delightful and will inevitably add to your Olympic enjoyment! Email me: ccadora@gmail.com

Will be happy to answer any questions!

Russian Memories at Past Olympics

Met so many Russians at past Olympics and the few that I knew quite well I lost contact.

Danced with one at the '68 Mexico Olympics.
Partied with a few pin traders at the '76 Olympics in Montreal.
My favorite street artist during the '92 Barcelona Games was Russian.
Lived down the street from their headquarters at the Vancouver Games so
often chatted at our favorite Russian Restaurant on the West End.
And my famous OLGA STORY, the beautiful Russian translator during Athens 2004!

Not going to Sochi but will be adding my Sochi thoughts to this blog.

After opening ceremony...everything good blankets the host city....