Gay Games blog report, Aug. 1

We spent a day roaming Cologne like the walking dead. Everyone was up all night traveling, so it was a good day to get out and familiarize ourselves with the trains, trams and culture.

Everyone seemingly went through the same process of listening to German language tapes for three months before coming. It seemed a silly step since we were told that all Germans speak English. But it was a precaution worth taking! You can find the occasional German who will offer some instructions in English, but the rest? Nein. I became so confused on one train at all the German being spewed at me, that I inexplicably slipped into Spanish.

We eventually got our credentials and then got ready for the Team D.C. party, which was a blast. Olivia Cruise Lines joined us as a sponsor and there were teams from all over the world in attendance. Berlin, Copenhagen, Sydney, Paris, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Atlanta and more were represented. My favorites were the Icelandic swim team. They lit the place up and were adorable. A great time was had by all. The Iceland team is bidding on the 2012 International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics World Swimming Championships and I can’t think of a better reason to go there. Hot springs? Ya.

Image of the Day
I was sitting in Old Town Cologne after the party, in a dark plaza where many restaurants and bars are located, when a man walked by me with a burning torch. I didn’t see anyone with a pitchfork, so I guessed he wasn’t part of an angry mob. A German flashlight maybe?

Observation of the Day
Cologne really does smell like cologne. Body odor and cologne.