Exciting day of sightseeing in Rio with my good American friend Merri Daniel… Christ the Redeemer, Olympic Beach Volleyball (Brazil beat USA Men) & Olympic Boulevard… inspiring to see the Olympic Cauldron again at Candeleria Church… good to speek English all day without Google Translate… so much help from Cariocas along the way.. Rio is a great tourist destination with or without the Olympics… now I am taking a day off skipping hockey which I thought was ice hockey in the Summer Olympics, LOL… need to recover and rest up for tomorrow’s start of Women’s Olympic Golf! GO USA!   (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-16-16)

One of the best views in the world, perhaps the most inspiring…     (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-16-16)

CLICK HERE for Video View from Christ The Redeemer on Corcovoda Mountain in Rio!

Kind of a strange Olympic Beach Volleyball experience… arriving in a wind and sandstorm at Copacabana Beach…crazy windy in the grandstands… great volleyball game with Brazil defeating the USA in 3 games… enthusiastic local Brazil crowd… definitely one of the most exciting Olympic experiences other than the Olympic Golf Victory Ceremony with Kuch taking Bronze, Stenson Silver and Justin Rose Olympic Golf Gold!    (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-16-16)

Sadly, Brazil beat USA in this Men’s Olympic Beach Volleyball match…

CLICK HERE for Video of the Olympic Men’s Beach Volleyball Match USA vs. Brazil.

More pictures from this exciting sightseeing and beach volleyball day in the Olympic City of Rio!

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Nice afternoon at the beach! Water a bit nip and surf a bit rough but nice way to cool off. Decent surf and looked like some good surfers out there! Excited for the Women’s Olympic Golf, first tee time at 7:30 am. I will be there to see all tee off, then see all finish their first Olympic Round for women in 116 years… Paris 1900, no Women’s competition in 1904 in St. Louis. (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-16-16).

More pictures of the day including Barre Beach, Becco do Alemao, Claro, and a little grocery shopping at Carrefour!

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Women’s Olympic Golf is back after 116 years! Women competed in Paris 1900 but not St. Louis 1904. Brazil’s Miriam Nigel, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, & Malaysia’s Kelly Tan leading the way! (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-17-16)

With World Golf Hall of Famer Amy Alcott on the first tee. She co-designed the Olympic Golf Course with Gil Hanse.

WOW, what a first round of Women’s Olympic Golf! First in 116 years (last Paris 1900) & it was a doozie! Seemed like everybody that is anybody, player or golf business person was there on the first tee. Love the Ladies’ game! Tees were moved up for ladies so no grandstand to sit in. Stood for 4 hours straight watching the 20 threes ones tee off. No complaint. Just saying that I am getting worn off with these Olympic Games & Rio Sightseeing! Pretty cool being that close to the action! GO USA!

Gerina Pillar was the first American woman to play Olympic Golf in 116 years dating back to Paris 1902. She teed off in Group 9 at 9:03 am with Spain’s Azahara Munzo and Korea’s Imbee Park.

American Lexi Thompson was next to tee off in Group 10 at 9:14 am with Canada’s Brooke Henderson and Sweden’s Suzann Pettersen.

The third and final American woman was Stacy Lewis and she teed off in Group 19 at 10:58 am with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Korea’s Kim Selyoung.

Back home as a penthouse guest kicking back in the Splash Pool after another great day of Olympic Golf!

Home tonight by dark honey… first time I think in the 2 weeks that I have been in Rio… good Round 1 of the Women’s Golf. Olympics… forgot my adapter so ran out of power… beautiful sunset sky… I am told that is not fog but part of the Zika prevention protocol…don’t worry about fixing dinner honey, I picked something up for us on the way home… time for a shower & my first dip in the splash pool!   (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-17-16)

CLICK HERE for the Sunset Video showing the Zika Virus Fog Protection

Here are more pictures from Round 1 of Women’s Olympic Golf!

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CLICK HERE for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Fabiano Espinola at 2017 Summer Olympics!

Meeting up with Fabiano on the Olympic Golf Course in Round 1 of the Women’s Olympic Golf competition!

I first met Fabiano Pericles Gois Espinola on the original October 2013 initiated ‘Journey to Olympic Golf.’ After playing hickory golf on October 15th, my birthday, at Glen Echo CC in St. Louis. it took me another 33 days to drive down through Arkansas, Texas, Mexico, and Guatemala to San Salvador, El Salvador which is where I met Fabiano for the first time, courtesy of Perry Dye! We played ‘dirt golf’ at the Perry Dye newly designed, newly created El Enchanto, the Charm! Wow, what fun!

With Rick Moreno (L), Fabiano Espinosa (C) and Alejandro Lahrssen (R) at El Echantro in El Salvador in November 2013!

Although he wasn’t part of Gil Hanse’s ‘Merry Men’ when I continued on and made it to Rio to visit the well-designed sandbox of an Olympic Golf Course in January 2014, Fabiano’s irrigation expertise was needed shortly thereafter.

What a great surprise and good fun to connect again and meet during Round 1 of the Women’s Olympic Golf competition on the golf course he so expertly well-irrigated! Great to catch up and learn that he is staying on after the Olympics to care for the Olympic Golf Course and complete another chunk of his formal education.

No doubt Fabiano Espinosa is somebody you will hear more about in the World of Golf and someone I look forward to seeing again as soon as possible!

CLICK HERE for JTOG Day 38: Playing Dirt Golf at El Encanto & First Meeting Fabiano!

Back home as a penthouse guest kicking back in the Splash Pool after another great day of Olympic Golf!

Home tonight by dark honey… first time I think in the 2 weeks that I have been in Rio… good Round 1 of the Women’s Golf. Olympics… forgot my adapter so ran out of power… beautiful sunset sky… I am told that is not fog but part of the Zika prevention protocol…don’t worry about fixing dinner honey, I picked something up for us on the way home… time for a shower & my first dip in the splash pool!

CLICK HERE for the Sunset Video showing the Zika Virus Fog Prevention

So I thought…

But when you are staying with a young German couple…

When in Rio do as the Germans do!

So what is one to do when your host young German couple invites you to go out to a biergarten to meet some other German friends with a home in Orlando who are golf nuts like you? Prost! PS plus the Olympic German House was next door and I was able to go in & look around for a bit…

Here are the pictures from the night out German-style!

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Stacy Lewis leading the Americans & everybody else today with a stunning 8-under par 63 today!

Yeah Stacy Lewis leading the Americans & everybody else today with a stunning 8-under par 63 today! Leader by one stroke. Gerina Piller T11, 3-under today thru 13. Lexi Thompson plus 2 today thru 12 playing in the last group of the day. Olympic Golf, TROML Baby! (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-18-16)

Gerina Piller saves par on 18, shoots a 67 to finish minus 6, T8. Inbee Park birdies the 18th to finish minus 10, 1 stroke better than Stacy Lewis. (Facebook Comment with 1 pic, Andy Reistetter, 8-18-16).

Gerina Piller saves par on 18, shoots a 67 to finish minus 6, T8.

Lexi Thompson fights back to shoot an even par 71 today & stands at minus 3, T22, needs a hot last 2 days to medal… (Facebook Comment with 1 pic, Andy Reistetter, 8-18-16)

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful golf course!!! (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-18-16)

CLICK HERE for VIDEO of Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful Olympic Golf Course!

Lexi Thompson fights back to shoot an even par 71 today & stands at minus 3, T22.

Stayed up late last night watching Olympic Golf on SporTV 15 Reprise! Aerial shots of golf course look fabulous! Great views & perspectives! All Photos credited to SporTV & OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Service). Great job women & men of SporTV & OBS though I wish it was in English! PS the women, at distance neutral tees, are playing a more difficult brown, firm & fast golf course than the men!   (Facebook Post with 18 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-19-16)

My day in pictures…

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With Fatima, her first time ever on a golf course!

Can’t tell you how much fun today was! Walked the front nine with Stacy Lewis with my Carioca friend Fatima, her first time on a golf course! Then with Gerina Piller on the back nine meeting her Mom Rita & father Alan. Stacy Lewis was fighting it all day, tragic double bogey on the last but don’t count her or Lexi out, remember Kuchar’s 63 to Bronze. Thinking Gold for Gerina! Hope to give her that 1904 Olympic Golf Gold Medal from Glen Echo CC Can’t tell you how well designed & how beautiful this golf course is when walking it! Hope to play it! ! GO USA!!!   (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-19-16)

Pictures from Round Three:

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Went to the Japan 2020 Olympic Hospitality House tonight Fascinating, as Tokyo is the next city to host the Summer Olympics. Very detailed & well done exhibits with several cultural experiences too. First media credential at Rio 2016 Olympics, LOL, like I need one! If you are here in Rio don’t miss this one! Five of 55 Hospitality Houses visited, 50 to go… maybe I need to stay for the Para-Olympics?   (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-19-16)

Pictures from Tokyo 2020 House:

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With Inbee Park, Olympic Golf Gold Medal Champion for the next four Years!

Wow, can’t believe this is the last day of Olympic Golf for the next 4 years… click on the link for the video & come along with me to the Olympic Golf Course this morning! GO USA!!! (Facebook Post with link to video, Andy Reistetter, 8-20-16)

Congratulations to Korea’s Inbee Park, Olympic Golf Golf Medalist, Champion Golfer of the World for the next four years! New Zealand’s Lydia Ko birdies the last for Silver, China’s Shanshan Feng takes Bronze!   (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-20-16)

What an inspiring experience to witness the return of Olympic Golf! TROML Baby!

Korea’s Inbee Park, Women’s Olympic Golf Gold Medalist, Champion Golfer of the World for the next four years!!!    (Facebook Post with 1 pic, Andy Reistetter, 8-20-16)

(Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-20-16)

Enjoyed watching the Brazil-Germany football (soccer) game at Outback Steakhouse New York City Center… can you tell who won the shootout? This was 5 minutes after the scoooorrrrreeeeee!    (Facebook Post with 1 video, Andy Reistetter, 8-22-16)

Pictures from the Final Round of the Women’s 2017 Summer Olympic Golf:

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I am 3/4s Slovak so I really enjoyed my visit to the Olympic Slovak House! Great people, great food, & great country! I treasure my two visits to Slovakia & being in the Slovak House made me realize how much I love where my grandparents came from. Go Slovakia!   (Facebook Post with 30 pics, Andy Reistetter, 8-21-16)

Pictures of the day!

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