Early in the afternoon, crowds of spectators and protesters with banners denouncing China's human rights issues as well as banners denouncing the denouncers flooded into Plaza de Mayo with great pomp and flashy garb. Initially I thought it was one of the daily demonstrations that take place in the downtown square; it was the helicopters, bright red Beijing propoganda, and Tibetan monks clued me into the fact that this show had international attention!
Heading down Reconquista after my afternoon class, I came upon the mess at an advantageous angle to penetrate the masses. I elbowed my way to the front of the spectators. Shoving and squeezing through the crowd, soon there were only some measley iron barricades between me and the torch-track. On my tiptoes, I twisted my neck round searching for the flame.
And did it ever come! Swift athletes careened towards us. The crowd surged to greet them. It was all sweat, cheers, jeers, and hot-blooded merriment! Just as the torch passed in front of my face, the horde became overwhelmed with passion. A hapless victim of the mass hysteria, I was flung over the barricade with animalistic fury. On my way to the pavement, my flailing arm struck the ancient torch! My sweater caught aflame! Who should be standing by but none other than THE Diego Maradona of Argentine futbol lore!! Diego expertly smothered me to the ground, speedy feet tap-dancing down my sparkling sleeves and extinguishing the perilous flames. I don't care what some people say about Maradona, in my eyes he's a 10.
That about sums up my story of the Olympic Torch passing through Buenos Aires on Friday. If you'd care for more objective coverage, you've come to the wrong place.
4 comments:
cari your story is amazing, however i am wondering why i did not hear about this over the dinner conversation last night where instead you decided to update me on your plan to purchase new socks and where you gave the play by play on how your newly painted fingernails came into existence.... the whole near death experience must have slipped your mind.....
nonetheless..... did you get maradona's autograph for me, you know i am a huge fan....
Hey thats true!
u are keeping the good stories for your blog. Instead we played "pass the Pig" with cheese calzones.
I think i'll keep my close encounters of the fourth kind only for my blog....
Wow! Talk about a story to tell to the grandkids. Sounds like one for the ages.
That shit is crazy!
I'm glad to see other countries are treating you so well...what with the setting you on fire and trampling you...
I've been keeping up with your blog! I'm very jealous of your other-worldly-ness.
Keep in touch!
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