day 241: 嘉峪关 (jiayuguan) = 0km

I had to get up at six and run outside if I wanted to see the Olympic Torch Relay pass through.

My friend 谢老师 (Teacher Xie) was there too:

…and so was a multitude of volunteers in green T-shirts:

We roamed about the place for a little bit, but there was no way anyone could even get close to the action:

Nonetheless, many people had dressed up for the occasion:

Especially the little ones:

…but not only them:

So there we were, hundreds if not thousands of people surrounding this public square.

Waiting.

…

Then, at about 9:30am, there was some noise, and something happened:

A truck with some dancing chicks had appeared:

It passed by, and then there were some more trucks.

Everyone was trying to get a glimpse at the action:

…and then it was over:

…over?

No torch??

I think many of the little ones were thinking the same as me:

I could see it in their faces:

Why had nobody told us?

We had been waiting for so long:

…WTF??

…

But I was lucky though.

I got in touch with my friend 丁海笑 (Ding Haixiao) from Lanzhou (new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes new shoes):

He said he had a friend who was participating in the Torch Relay.

…I couldn’t believe it.

“Can you PLEASE call him up and tell him I’d like to take a picture with him?” I asked.

Sure thing:

This is 潘虎 (Pan Hu), the ninth runner in today’s Olympic Torch Relay, a very charming and kind man:

“Chris,” he asked me, “would you like to hold the torch for a picture?”

Would I?

:-)

Soundtrack: Celia Cruz – “Guantanamera”

—total: 3146,6km