Once again, the NFL was kind enough to bring a game to the UK this year so that D and I could get our fix of American football while living overseas. Yesterday's game was Tom Brady and the New England Patriots taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at London's Wembley Stadium. 
We made a full weekend out of it, starting with an NFL and Oktoberfest-themed party at Pete & Lisa's house on Saturday. 
Since Lisa is a life-long Patriots fan from New England, and Pete grew up a Bucs fan in Tampa Bay, the choice of teams couldn't have been any better for them. In the spirit of Oktoberfest, Pete and Lisa cooked up a German feast, and I made the decorated gingerbread cookies that were sold everywhere during Oktoberfest in Munich last year. In Munich last year: 
In England on Saturday: 
Dawn and Greg flew over from Virginia for the weekend; Dawn worked with me at Northrop Grumman, and grew up with Lisa in Massachusetts. On Sunday, we all met early at the NFL Tailgate party outside of Wembley Stadium. In Munich last year: 
Clockwise from top: D, Lisa, Carla, Steve, Dawn, Pete, and Greg
The same crowd at Wembley yesterday!
Clockwise from top: Dawn, Pete, Lisa, Carla, D, Steve, and Greg
Even Steve & Carla (the Brits) got into the spirit, wearing borrowed Patriots gear from head-to-toe. The tailgate featured food & drink, music, an NFL Hall of Fame pavillion with historical highlights: 
and the Super Bowl Trophy, 
exhibits for every NFL team, 
(That's D with Ray, and me with T-Sizzle!)
Pats and Bucs cheerleaders: 
the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, 
and lots and lots of fans. We saw jerseys from every NFL team (and lots of NFL Europe and college teams too!) and met lots of people with ties to Baltimore. All, day, everywhere we went in our Ravens gear we'd hear, "Hey Ravens!" and we'd turn to find someone else wearing a Ray Lewis or Ed Reed jersey. Many were American, but some were also Brits who've become NFL fans through TV. So festive! 
The game itself was a lot of fun, although the outcome was never in doubt. 
Tom Brady and the Patriots won, 35-7. Pete was just happy that it wasn't a shutout of his Bucs! 
Dawn's parents flew over from the US with a large group of fellow Patriots season ticket holders and were with us on Saturday and Sunday too. Here are Lisa and Dawn with Dawn's dad, Len.
A good time was had by all!
1 comments:
hahaha I love the picture of the cheerleaders walking by and the guy in the white shirt checking her out... CAUGHT YA! Too funny! Looks like yall had a blast! Very Jealous!
Post a Comment