After arriving Saturday, March 24 at 10:45 am our group of 16 boys hit the ground running...almost literally! 400 passengers in line and only 4 border lines, slowed our timeline down just a tad. Traveling en masse of 25, is an art form for sure.  By the time we made it out into the bright sunlight, the boys were on an adrenaline high and ready for action. We traveled  by coach to our hotel, stopped for a 10 minute break and headed for the Arsenal v. Aston Villa at the Arsenal's home stadium. Just our group of 30, plus 60,000 of our closest friends! We sat separated by family, and Steve, Owen, Kevin and I were in the thick of the home fans. Like American football fans these fans are passionate! Unlike American football fans, they have cheers, chants and taunts for everything! (The pimply-faced teenager behind us, was thrown out with 10 minutes left in the game for making an obscene gesture. I didn't see the gesture, but of course, Owen who doesn't miss a thing did. I played dumb, when asked what it meant and am hoping he won't be educating the rest of the team anytime soon.) The game was a blow out, 3-0-and thank goodness we were sitting in the winners section..."We see you sneaking out, we see you sneaking out.." after the last goal was scored, was chanted in unison as the Villa fans skulked out of the stadium. Hilarious, and fun and soooo entertaining. Owen announced that Arsenal is now his fave EPL team....Wondering how long that will last...

   Today, the boys have their first match against Reading FC at 10 am. After the game, we'll be dropped in the middle of London to find our way around,  eat a local meal, and squeeze in all of London's highlights in a quick 6 hours...