Saw a bit of the World Pyro Olympics this evening. I say "a bit" because the closest my friend and I got was about 3 or 4 kilometers from the actual site, and not for lack of trying either.
We left Quezon City at a little past 6, arriving at Taft Avenue in less than an hour’s time. Things seemed to be going pretty well until we hit Pasay City, where traffic was reaching Woodstockian proportions. The 6-laner leading to and from the as-yet-unfinished Mall of Asia was reduced to two, with cars parked and double-parked on both sides of the road. Blue Wave, the quaint little resto complex along Macapal Highway, was like Eastwood City on Fete night. All around me, families were hopping out of their vans and SUVs, breaking out foldable chairs and coolers and laying claim to picnic space on the sidewalks or traffic islands. Vendors, beggars and snatchers alike were having a field day. Two academic-ovals away, Russia was showering the sky with fire. I resisted saying, "Well, at least we’re comfortable inside the car."
Eventually, after over an hour in this impromptu Black Nazarene procession, we decided to call it a night and turn back. As we drove off, I noted sadly that the United Kingdom had just started their performance. Friggin’ brilliant.