We forgot to tell you about our riotous experience trying to catch the train to Shanghai ages ago.
You need a bit of background. We were due to meet my sister at Shanghai airport the day after next. We had reassured her we would be there. Definately. We were in Xian. We had had difficulty getting tickets to Shanghai, but that is another story. We now had tickets for the 18.44 train to Shanghai. It was 17.30 We had time, in my estimation, to have a quick dinner in the Muslim Quarter, before heading back to collect our packs and walk the 10 mins to the train. Andy was panicking about time. He was reluctant to eat, but given I would have difficulty finding food on the 24 hour train journey, I insisted.
We found a restaurant. On sitting down, I had an argument with the chair. As tucked my self in, the seat of the chair lifted, and my finger slipped between the seat and the frame. I then sat down. On the seat, on my finger. Cue much comedy commotion and trying to get up, only to be held down by my trapped finger. It eventually emerged, somewhat chewed, and bleeding. I was offered a packet of tissues to clean up the cut, only for the restaurant to try to charge me for them. Needless to say, they backed off at my expostulations about it being their chair that had done the damage.
Waving my wounded finger about my head to stop the bleeding, we decided we didn't have time to find somewhere else to eat. We ordered food, and explained we were in a hurry. Andy was getting pretty twitchy by this time, as he always likes to have a leeway of at least 3 hours for anything. In fact he was getting really stressed and stroppy, so we agreed that if the food didn't arrive in 5 minutes we would go. My food arrived in time, and I dug in. Andy's was a little later, and proved to be some of the most delicious spicy beef he had tasted. So he said afterwards, ruefully, because at the time, he snatched a mouthful and insisted we leave to catch the train. After a bit of panicking and a forced march through central Xian, we collared a taxi back to our hotel. We arrived back at 18.15, in plenty of time. Half an hour to do a 10 minute walk. Enough time to have eaten dinner. And, funnily enough, just time for Andy to nip to the store down the road to buy some choccy to stave off the hunger pangs.
I got the packs, Andy went to the shop. (Can you see where this is going?) At 18.35 I was on the corner outside the hotel, backpack on, jumping up and down to see over the passersby, and cursing Andy soundly. At 18.36 Andy appears, muttering apologies, and we hoof it past astonished locals to the train station, Andy being very sheepish and apologetic about making us late.
I cannot go very fast, but Andy disappears though the waiting room yelling "I'll hold the train!". The gate is closing - first Andy then I bulldoze past and stagger off up the stairs to the platform, which is the last one. I loose sight of Andy as he turns down to the platform. The man on the barrier is yelling at me to hurry up. A little old lady, laden with bags steams past me. I am staggering - my backback weighs 20kg, and I'm not build for speed. Or stamina, come to think of it.
I wobble down the stairs, puffing, and dizzy. Which platform? The is a train at one, and NOOOOOOO! a train pulling out of the other! Where is Andy? Is he on the train? Do I have to get to Shanghai on my own?
"rrrrrrrrrrrllnnn!" What was that?
"LLLLLLLLLRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNNN" from down the paltform. Ahhh! Total relief as I spy Andy, essentially holding onto the train to stop it leaving. It seems to be working. He is bellowing down the platform at me. He is a few carriages down, but motioning for me to get on the nearest one. Hurry, hurry, the guard is saying. They have already taken in the steps, so I scramble and clamber into the nearest opening. I am exhausted and weighed down by my pack. As the engine jerks into motion, I fall through the doorway face-down onto the floor, with my feet hanging out the side of the train.
The packed crowd watches with inscrutable eyes as I am helped to my feet. We made it!!!! All I need to do now is make my way through a totally packed train to Andy and my bunk. I smile at everyone and the conductor has the presence of mind to unlock the toilet, creating the vital spare space for someone to move into....