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 - June 18th 2008) 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 (May 1st 2008):

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