You sound like your from London!

        One of my favorite sites I think I will see on this trip was one that was not even mandatory to see: The Tower of London. Though this fortress is in almost no way related to the modern Olympics, I can undoubtedly say that I experienced the same awe at the Tower that I felt when I saw Wembley Stadium, despite the fact the the two structures were built centuries apart. I imagine this is due to the infamous atmosphere that engulfs the area around the Tower. Situated across the Thames River from the iconic Tower Bridge, certain sections like the Bloody Tower (where prisoners were tortured) are chilling when you realize the rooms tourists casually walk through with cameras in hand were the very same rooms where monarchs like Mary I a.k.a. "Bloody Mary" earned their monikers. It is impossible to liken the Tower of London to any American structures. Alcatraz and Sing Sing Prisons come close in terms of legend, but the sheer age of the Tower and its significance in English history trumps anything America has to offer. I look forward to traveling to Paris to measure the Tower of London's French counterpart -- the Bastille.

       As for modern buildings, we took a bus tour of the Olympic Park. Though we didn't get to go inside any of the facilites they are impressive nonetheless, especially those that are temporary. I didn't realize how much influence recycling and sustainability actually had on these games: the main stadium was intended to be broken down, shipped across the Atlantic, and reesembled in Chicago had they won the bid for the 2016 Games. I wish Chicago had won the bid. To be able to say you saw the same stadium in two different countries would be truly special. Even though this will not happen I am proud to say I saw these venues after they were completed as they are the culmination of seven years of planning and hard work. It is amazing to think that in just two months this entire area will be invaded by hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over the world.