Free Day in GuangZhou

This morning we did the normal get up, get the troops dressed, get to breakfast, and meet our guide routine.  Today was a free day, more or less, so we all toured a local park (Yue Xiu Park) where we saw the statue of GuangZhou, part of the original city wall from 600 years ago, and more retired people dancing and playing hacky-sack with something that looks more like a lawn-dart (we bought one so you can see it for yourselves).  The park was beautiful.

Something I hadn't really paid attention to is the fact that at every metro area we've been to in China we haven't seen the first bird, cat, mouse, or dog other than a few random dogs that were clearly pets.  No critters at all.  Also haven't seen any cars, park benches, sidewalks or anything that's covered in bird poop.  I've never been in any town or city in the US where you don't see such things.  While at the park today our guide pointed out the lack of birds and he also reminded us that Chinese people eat everything that the land has to offer, all animals and all plants.  Ah ha!  I can dig it.

After the park we went to a local street market.  Actually most of it was inside but it was all small shops, most of which deal in wholesale merchandise from games to clothes to jewelry to arts-n-crafts type stuff.  It was like a small shopping mall but 6 floors tall.  We bought a few things for family and friends but can't tell you what, that would ruin the surprise.

Came back to the hotel and played with the kids a while.  I had to leave for a few hours to go get all our paperwork in order for our Consulate appointment.  Played with the kids some more and then we all went to dinner to a nearby Cantonese restaurant.  Heather actually didn't make it, her stomach was hurting.  So she and Joshua came back to the hotel and Lora and I had dinner.  She was feeling better by the time we got back.  We brought her some fried rice and she declared it the best fried rice ever.  Joshua was already sleeping when we got back from dinner, clearly wiped out.

Shortly after, the laundry guy dropped all our laundry off so we're back in clean clothes.  Lora is sitting on the couch watching Dora the Explorer in Chinese.  We have it on DVD so you can watch it in Chinese too when we get home.  We also have Bob the Builder in Chinese and an assortment of other Chinese cartoons.  Maybe she'll learn Chinese and then she can translate for Heather and I.

I must say that we have been especially blessed.  Nobody's been sick the whole time we've been here, every diaper blowout that Joshua's had has happened in the hotel room, our guides have been very helpful, we've enjoyed the people in our travel group, and we've had no problems with our paperwork.  Nevermind that Joshua is awesome!  I know it's not coincidence.  We've trusted God as much as we can through it all and we can feel all your prayers as well (thank you very much for that).

Our love to you all!