Tokyo — This has been the strangest Olympics.
Olympic diary: At these Games many normal things are missed, including pizza
The Tokyo Games are starting to feel like an experimentation in regimentation, and everyday things feel very far away.
July 31, 2021 at 10:56PM
![What's becoming a signature feature of Daniel del Prado's restaurant's - a wood fired pizza oven - is the centerpiece of a seating area off the bar and main dining room. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/CKRMJADVGYOK34ZT34CH63FLCY.jpg?&w=712)
Three of my favorite personal Olympic memories, not involving events, are visiting the Great Wall of China during the 2008 Beijing Games, wandering around the historical and architectural marvels of London in 2012, and visiting the mountains of Brazil in 2020.
Sightseeing is not possible in Tokyo, or at least it hasn't been yet.
In terms of daily life, this has turned into an experiment, and I'm the subject.
So far here is what I have done without, that I take for granted at home:
Television. Driving. Pizza. Nachos. Tacos. Alcohol. Pop.
My streaming services won't work here and I'm not a fan of Japanese games shows, especially without translation. I only have time and access to media-center food, which is fine but offers limited choices. Haven't had the time for or access to alcohol, which is fine because I don't have time to feel fuzzy in the morning.
Decided not to drink pop, sticking to water, and that seems to be good for my energy levels.
What I miss most, besides my wife, dogs and bed is…
Drumroll…
Pizza.
Craving one right now, and pizza will be my first meal when I get back to the States.
Mikaela Shiffrin is 100% the best in skiing's World Cup history book.
