As if in celebration of my birthday, the Olympic torch passed through Vladimir yesterday. And, it typical Russian fashion, it was a big production. There was a gaudy ceremony, replete with songs, dancing, tributes to Vladimir's past Olympic champions, and glorious speeches by political leaders: The governor of Vladimir Oblast said that this day would shine out as one of the brightest and best in our lives, a day that we would tell our grandchildren about. Perhaps things were verging on hyperbole. Then, after a troupe of Russian folk dancers did their thing and children from sport-focused schools demonstrated Vladimir's future athletic prowess, the Olympic flame was run onto the stage by some future Olympians, and the torch was lit. The torch was then paraded around the city, which shut down all the major roads and completely stopped public transportation, stranding people at work from 3 until 9pm. I got some pictures of this most-memorable occurrence on my Ipod:

The Sochi Olympics--brought to you by Coke. Oh globalism 

The governor and mayor

The lighted torch

Vladimir's future athletes showing their stuff