Bikes, pins and mountains?
Good morning Maine. Well, got a little surprise today. The sky was blue. The sun was high. And I discovered Beijing is surrounded by mountains!
I've been here eight days and this was the first time I've seen the mountains.
I've been telling you that citizens here love to ride their bikes. Well, this is where they leave them.
Long bike racks are set up throughout the city. And when you get to a busy spot, the line of bikes just stretches and stretches.
And finally, today's good weather really brought out the pin traders. They set up in front of the Main Press Center and barter about their pins.
It's really an interesting sight to watch. You'll be reading more about it in a future Press Herald.
I was told to make sure I got some pins to trade. So I did. And I made a couple of trades today, getting a Great Britain team pin from the 2000 Games for a 2008 IOC pin and getting a Bank of China pin for a Washington Post pin.
But my most popular pin is by far this one:
It's by Coca Cola and everyone wants it because it is limited edition.
Sorry, keeping it.
Off to watch Anna Willard of Greenwood compete in the steeplecase.
Later
Posted at 05:32 AM
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My family is going to be pinned to the television for the men's 100 fly. Phelps going for more gold, fellow Portlander Crocker trying to derail him, and...
Then there's Ryan Pini.
Who's he? Well, he's the third fellow citizen swimming in this final for our family.
My husband is from Papua New Guinea, so all three of our children - who were born there - are dual citizens. Although two of them swim at Deering High School with a couple of swimmers who know Ian and his family, and they've never swum with Ryan or anyone who knows him, they -and the rest of us - were nearly jumping up and down as he placed in the top eight in the semifinals. (Sorry, neighbors.)
PNG doesn't get much representation at an event as competitive as the Olympics, and many of those who make it are never shown on television in the US because they're not competing with the prominent Americans.
But Ryan Pini is. He may be in lane 8. His chances of winning a medal of any color against the swimming celebrities battling it out in the middle lanes are negligible at best. And it's a sure bet that no more than one or two reporters will show any interest in interviewing him when his swim is over. But in this household, we will be cheering just as loudly for him as for the Americans.
If you get a chance, say hi to Ryan Pini from his fans and fellow countrymen in Maine. Better yet, get a picture of Pini, Crocker, and Phelps together for us!
Posted by
BonnieAugust 15, 2008 07:39 AM
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