Our flight didn’t leave Beijing until 4:20 PM so we were able to sleep in a little and take our time packing. We went down for breakfast around 8:30 AM and were able to say goodbye to some of the folks leaving for Hong Kong. Around lunchtime we walked over to the Hard Rock café and had a bit of lunch. We took two taxis to the airport at 1:30 PM and began the long journey home. Connections went smoothly and we got into Chicago at 4:30 PM. Interesting how the flight was 12 hours long but it was still the same time when we got to Chicago. Everyone went through customs smoothly, then we had a four hour wait until our Pittsburgh flight. We got into Pittsburgh around 12:00 AM, picked up the car, dropped mom and dad off and arrived home at 2:15 AM.
We spent the weekend doing laundry, going through the mail and trying to catch up on our sleep. I woke up Saturday morning and thought it is really strange that they have the same picture on the wall as I do at home. Not only that, they have the same nightstand lamp! It took me several minutes to realize that I wasn’t in China anymore!
The trip was very nice. We enjoyed ourselves and met some really interesting people. It was a good group and everyone got along with each other. We would do another trip like this again in the future.
You can view our pictures at: http://web.mac.com/wcochenour_efsd/iWeb
Sunday, June 18, 2006
The Ming Tombs and the Great Wall of China
On our last day of touring we headed out of Beijing to see the Ming Tombs and the Great Wall. First stop of the day was the jade factory. We had the opportunity to see how jade was cut and polished. Jade has special significance in China. Jade stands for beauty, grace and purity, it has been used in many Chinese idioms or phrases to denote beautiful things or people. The Chinese saying goes "Gold has a value; jade is invaluable." We bought Paige a beautiful jade bracelet and me a pair of earrings and pendant. Dad bought a jade ring that was quite nice.
The Ming Tombs are located 25 miles northwest of Beijing. In 1404 the third Ming emperor Yongle searched for a place for his tomb. He chose Shisanling Valley due to its perfect fengshui. Eleven of his successors are buried there also. Mostly you see just mounds of dirt and densely forested that depict the tombs. In 1954 the tomb of Yongle was excavated and many beautiful things including headdresses, bronze articles, weapons and the emperor himself. Unfortunately during the Cultural Revolution the Red Guard set fire to the body and destroyed it. The other artifacts do remain and are housed in a museum on the site. We also strolled along the Sacred Way, which marks the beginning of the way to the tombs. It is lined with statues of elephants, horses and mythical beasts carved in stone in the 15th century. Amazing.
On the way to the wall we stopped at a Cloisonné factory. It was interesting to see how they hand shape the piece out of copper and then hand glue on the copper filigree. We watched the young girls (you need to have excellent eye sight) add the color to the pieces and then fire the pieces in a kiln. The coloring and firing will be repeated 5 to 6 times before the piece is complete. After the final firing the pieces are polished to give them their beautiful finish. We ate lunch at the factory and then did some shopping. There were so many beautiful things. We showed restraint and purchased a ring for Paige and a Christmas ornament.
Pictures of the Great Wall simply don’t do it justice. No picture can depict how immense and steep this man made wonder is. We had a beautiful day. It was bright and very sunny (and hot). The group proceeded up to the wall and the first thing we did was take a group picture. The right side of the wall was less steep than the left side so most of us went up the right. A couple of folks went to the top where for a few Yuan you could purchase a book and stamp it for you. We did a bit of shopping – a kite for Bryer and two Olympic t-shirts. Two because one was a knock-off before we found the real thing!
We returned to the hotel to change and then go to a special Peking duck farewell dinner. Apparently this is a pretty famous place as there are pictures of politicians and dignitaries on the wall. The chef came out and carved the duck. Then a waitress came to each of the tables and showed us how the duck is eaten. Basically you take a small tortilla type pancake, dip the duck in brown sauce and put it on the tortilla with some scallions, then roll it up and eat it. Most everyone thought it was pretty good.
The night ended with folks talking about their favorite place to see.
Everyone had a different experience or thought about what was the best site to see.
The Ming Tombs are located 25 miles northwest of Beijing. In 1404 the third Ming emperor Yongle searched for a place for his tomb. He chose Shisanling Valley due to its perfect fengshui. Eleven of his successors are buried there also. Mostly you see just mounds of dirt and densely forested that depict the tombs. In 1954 the tomb of Yongle was excavated and many beautiful things including headdresses, bronze articles, weapons and the emperor himself. Unfortunately during the Cultural Revolution the Red Guard set fire to the body and destroyed it. The other artifacts do remain and are housed in a museum on the site. We also strolled along the Sacred Way, which marks the beginning of the way to the tombs. It is lined with statues of elephants, horses and mythical beasts carved in stone in the 15th century. Amazing.
On the way to the wall we stopped at a Cloisonné factory. It was interesting to see how they hand shape the piece out of copper and then hand glue on the copper filigree. We watched the young girls (you need to have excellent eye sight) add the color to the pieces and then fire the pieces in a kiln. The coloring and firing will be repeated 5 to 6 times before the piece is complete. After the final firing the pieces are polished to give them their beautiful finish. We ate lunch at the factory and then did some shopping. There were so many beautiful things. We showed restraint and purchased a ring for Paige and a Christmas ornament.
Pictures of the Great Wall simply don’t do it justice. No picture can depict how immense and steep this man made wonder is. We had a beautiful day. It was bright and very sunny (and hot). The group proceeded up to the wall and the first thing we did was take a group picture. The right side of the wall was less steep than the left side so most of us went up the right. A couple of folks went to the top where for a few Yuan you could purchase a book and stamp it for you. We did a bit of shopping – a kite for Bryer and two Olympic t-shirts. Two because one was a knock-off before we found the real thing!
We returned to the hotel to change and then go to a special Peking duck farewell dinner. Apparently this is a pretty famous place as there are pictures of politicians and dignitaries on the wall. The chef came out and carved the duck. Then a waitress came to each of the tables and showed us how the duck is eaten. Basically you take a small tortilla type pancake, dip the duck in brown sauce and put it on the tortilla with some scallions, then roll it up and eat it. Most everyone thought it was pretty good.
The night ended with folks talking about their favorite place to see.
Everyone had a different experience or thought about what was the best site to see.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
Wow! We got eight hours of sleep last night. It’s the first time we have slept past 5:30 and boy does it feel good.
Our morning began with a trip to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is one of the world’s largest urban spaces with an area of 100 acres. The square takes its name from the Gate of Heavenly Peace on its north side. We saw, but were unable to go in due to the long line, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. This building houses the body of Mao. It is open in the morning during the week. Mao’s embalmed body is raised each day from a subterranean freezer for all to see.
Also in the square we saw the guards guarding the flag of the republic. It was here in front of the flag that Ward was approached by a Chinese man asking to take a picture. At first Ward didn’t understand and told him he already got a picture of the flag but it soon became apparent that this young guy, with his girlfriend looking on, wanted a picture with Ward. Most likely to show his family what a foreign devil looks like!
Our guide mentioned that the square is used for public celebrations. Some of the most recent include; Hong Kong’s return to China and when China qualified for the world cup.
We passed through several large gates until we reached the Forbidden City, officially known now as the Palace Museum. We entered the south gate and walked through the entire area and exited through the north gate. It was called the Forbidden City because ordinary people were not allowed in for over 500 years. The last emperor and his court lived in its palaces after the 1911 revolution, leaving in 1924 to flee to Tianjin. Our guide mentioned he was given two hours to leave the palace or a cannon that was trained on his quarters would be given the word to fire.
There are 9,999 ½ rooms in the structure. Their could not be 10,000 because the emperor’s father’s palace had 10,000 and you could never outdo your father. There are always an odd number of things in Chinese architecture because it was considered lucky. Many of the structures are under renovation for the Olympics. Over the ages some have been destroyed by lightening and/or war. We were able to see the emperor’s throne and bedroom. The people were very small back then. Some rooms contained beautiful clocks, tapestry and china.
We walked through the Imperial garden. It was very beautiful. The pavement had mosaic patterns made of pebbles. They were hand done and denoted stories in some cases.
It was a very long, but scenic walk. The sun was shining brightly and it was quite hot out. Apparently there are not many bright days due to the pollution but since it rained yesterday it helped clean the air.
After lunch we saw the panda bears at the Beijing zoo. Normally they are quite inactive but their keepers were feeding them when we got there so we were able to get some nice pictures.
Northwest of the Forbidden City is the Summer Palace built for Empress Cixi (Su-She) in the 1880s. There are 700 acres of landscaped park containing temples, bridges, fountains and a huge man made lake. We took a small boat ride around the lake to see the two-deck marble boat Empress Cixi had made. It is rumored that she suffered from motion sickness so she didn’t go out on the lake but liked to walk down and look at the boat. It is a very ornate and beautiful structure. Our guide explained that the empress used funds that were earmarked for modernizing the Chinese navy to create the Summer Palace. This error in judgment contributed to the defeat by the Japanese.
Our evening ended with a trip to the Chinese Opera. It was very good. The costumes and acrobatics were amazing. It wasn't a complete opera but two excerpts from two different operas. The stories were told in english on a monitor. The translations were very funny. The guide called them chinglese.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Xi'an to Beijing
Today was mostly a travel day. We rose early and took a flight from Xi’an to Beijing. Beijing has been the capital of China for 1000 years. It means northern capitol. It has a population similar to Shanghai of about 13 million people. Demolition and construction is evident throughout the city as they prepare for the 2008 summer Olympics.
We ate lunch and then took a pedicab (similar to a rickshaw but the driver pedals it like a bicycle) ride to a local hutong. Hutong is a kind of ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing, where the number of hutongs may run into several thousand. They are around the Forbidden City, many of which were built during the three dynasties of the Yuan, Ming and Qing. There have been two kinds of hutongs. One kind, usually referred to as the regular hutong, was centered closely to the east and west of the palace. Another kind, the simple and crude hutong, was mostly located to the north and south of the palace. The main buildings in the hutong were almost all quadrangles – a kind of enclosure of building complexes formed by four houses standing on the four sides.
We were taken to a hutong occupied by a couple and their 18-year-old son. The wife was employed by the tour group and volunteered to answer any questions we had through an interpreter. We asked her some very personal questions like when she got married (23), was her marriage arranged (yes) and what did she earn at the shoe factory where she used to work (depends on how many shoes you produced). She was very nice and got a kick out of some of the questions. It is unbelievable the small space this family lives in. It consists of 4 rooms, a small kitchen/utility room approximately 8” x 12”, a living/master bedroom approximately 8 x 12, the son’s room approximately 8 x 10, and a private bathroom which appeared to be about 5 x 8. It was a South-facing apartment so it was prime location. Her in-laws also lived in the same quadrangle and her son would also when he gets married. Today approximately 40 people live in the one quadrangle. In ancient times one extended family would occupy the entire quadrangle.
Our guide said he grew up and then lived in the hutong as a young adult. The government came and offered him, and everyone in the surrounding hutongs $28,500 US to move out. There was a $1500 bonus if they were out in 10 days. He was gone! The government tore down all the buildings and built high-rise apartments. The problem was to buy an apartment was $80,000. He put $20,000 down and mortgaged the rest. When the apartment was done they called him and said he would need to pay the maintenance fee, parking fee and hot water fee before they would give him the keys. That along with installing a sink, commode, tile in the bathroom and kitchen, and appliances took the $10,000 he had saved from the sale of his hutong.
Our tour director said that buying a hutong and fixing it up has become all the rage. He mentioned that Jackie Chan had bought one down the street and fixed it up into a $1,000,000 vacation home! Anyone want to invest??? Remember however that the government still owns the land……
By the way I forgot to mention it rained for the first time today while we were in the pedicabs. Luckily they had covers and we didn’t get too wet. They have four seasons like we do at home, with spring and autumn being the nicest. July will start their rainy season. Everyone is grateful for the rain as it washes the pollution out of the air.
We checked in at the Kempinski Hotel at the Lufthansa Center. It is a very nice 5 star hotel. Then many of us headed off to the Hard Rock Café Beijing for an old fashioned American meal.
We ate lunch and then took a pedicab (similar to a rickshaw but the driver pedals it like a bicycle) ride to a local hutong. Hutong is a kind of ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing, where the number of hutongs may run into several thousand. They are around the Forbidden City, many of which were built during the three dynasties of the Yuan, Ming and Qing. There have been two kinds of hutongs. One kind, usually referred to as the regular hutong, was centered closely to the east and west of the palace. Another kind, the simple and crude hutong, was mostly located to the north and south of the palace. The main buildings in the hutong were almost all quadrangles – a kind of enclosure of building complexes formed by four houses standing on the four sides.
We were taken to a hutong occupied by a couple and their 18-year-old son. The wife was employed by the tour group and volunteered to answer any questions we had through an interpreter. We asked her some very personal questions like when she got married (23), was her marriage arranged (yes) and what did she earn at the shoe factory where she used to work (depends on how many shoes you produced). She was very nice and got a kick out of some of the questions. It is unbelievable the small space this family lives in. It consists of 4 rooms, a small kitchen/utility room approximately 8” x 12”, a living/master bedroom approximately 8 x 12, the son’s room approximately 8 x 10, and a private bathroom which appeared to be about 5 x 8. It was a South-facing apartment so it was prime location. Her in-laws also lived in the same quadrangle and her son would also when he gets married. Today approximately 40 people live in the one quadrangle. In ancient times one extended family would occupy the entire quadrangle.
Our guide said he grew up and then lived in the hutong as a young adult. The government came and offered him, and everyone in the surrounding hutongs $28,500 US to move out. There was a $1500 bonus if they were out in 10 days. He was gone! The government tore down all the buildings and built high-rise apartments. The problem was to buy an apartment was $80,000. He put $20,000 down and mortgaged the rest. When the apartment was done they called him and said he would need to pay the maintenance fee, parking fee and hot water fee before they would give him the keys. That along with installing a sink, commode, tile in the bathroom and kitchen, and appliances took the $10,000 he had saved from the sale of his hutong.
Our tour director said that buying a hutong and fixing it up has become all the rage. He mentioned that Jackie Chan had bought one down the street and fixed it up into a $1,000,000 vacation home! Anyone want to invest??? Remember however that the government still owns the land……
By the way I forgot to mention it rained for the first time today while we were in the pedicabs. Luckily they had covers and we didn’t get too wet. They have four seasons like we do at home, with spring and autumn being the nicest. July will start their rainy season. Everyone is grateful for the rain as it washes the pollution out of the air.
We checked in at the Kempinski Hotel at the Lufthansa Center. It is a very nice 5 star hotel. Then many of us headed off to the Hard Rock Café Beijing for an old fashioned American meal.
Xi'an - Terra Cotta Warriors
Today we received quite a history lesson. On our way to see the terra cotta warriors we learned about the rise of the first Chinese unified empire. In 246 BC Qin Shihuang become the first emperor of China. He was only 13 years old at the time. His mother rules until he took the throne when he was 22. He began construction of his mausoleum shortly after. When he died in 210 BC the mausoleum was still not quite complete. The site consists of an underground city with another city on top of that and then a mound of earth 115 m high covering that. The burial site has not been uncovered because of high levels of mercury in the earth. It was rumored that the underground city had a river of mercury running through it. The tomb is the largest tomb in the world. To give you an idea it is 3 football fields long by 2 football fields wide.
About a mile away from the burial site is where the terra cotta warriors were discovered in 1974. Three local farmers were digging a well and brought up pieces of broken pottery. They alerted the government and the terra cotta warriors were found. One of the farmers was at the gift shop and we bought a book, which he signed, and let us take his picture (for 10 Yuan). There are 3 pits, which are in large buildings containing various formations of warriors. The first pit is the most famous and the one you see pictures of all the time. This is the original find. They have excavated most of it and you can see the various stages from what it looks like before to reconstructed figures. This first pit has foot warriors. It is amazing that none of the warriors (approximately 6000) are the same. They have different bodies and completely different faces. In the second pit we saw the cavalry warriors. Much of this pit has not been uncovered yet. You can see samples from different areas of the pit that have been uncovered. The third pit has the infantry warriors. Here you can see the archers and chariots being uncovered.
We also went to a museum in the complex that had two bronze chariots that were discovered just outside the actual mausoleum. They also had examples of some of the bronze weapons found with the warriors. The chariots were unbelievable.
Next stop was the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda is the oldest building in all of China. The pagoda is slightly leaning to the left due to the decrease in the water table. Our guide teased that anyone going up in the Pagoda should walk up on the right hand site to prevent it from tipping over. There are monks throughout the area praying. Many books and artifacts are housed there.
We then traveled to the Xi’an city wall. This is the oldest intact wall in China. It encircles what used to be the ancient city. It is 9 miles long and quite beautiful. There is a moat, watchtowers and huge gates. The gates open into a courtyard where there is another gate to the watchtowers. The Chinese would let the enemy into the first gate, close it behind them and trap them in the courtyard and kill them.
We then went to the Tang Dynasty show. It was quite colorful and the music was very interesting. We were quite taken with the costumes and the majesty.
Everyone returned to the hotel exhausted and ready to get a good night’s sleep. Most folks haven’t been able to sleep past 5:00 am each day– including us!
About a mile away from the burial site is where the terra cotta warriors were discovered in 1974. Three local farmers were digging a well and brought up pieces of broken pottery. They alerted the government and the terra cotta warriors were found. One of the farmers was at the gift shop and we bought a book, which he signed, and let us take his picture (for 10 Yuan). There are 3 pits, which are in large buildings containing various formations of warriors. The first pit is the most famous and the one you see pictures of all the time. This is the original find. They have excavated most of it and you can see the various stages from what it looks like before to reconstructed figures. This first pit has foot warriors. It is amazing that none of the warriors (approximately 6000) are the same. They have different bodies and completely different faces. In the second pit we saw the cavalry warriors. Much of this pit has not been uncovered yet. You can see samples from different areas of the pit that have been uncovered. The third pit has the infantry warriors. Here you can see the archers and chariots being uncovered.
We also went to a museum in the complex that had two bronze chariots that were discovered just outside the actual mausoleum. They also had examples of some of the bronze weapons found with the warriors. The chariots were unbelievable.
Next stop was the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda is the oldest building in all of China. The pagoda is slightly leaning to the left due to the decrease in the water table. Our guide teased that anyone going up in the Pagoda should walk up on the right hand site to prevent it from tipping over. There are monks throughout the area praying. Many books and artifacts are housed there.
We then traveled to the Xi’an city wall. This is the oldest intact wall in China. It encircles what used to be the ancient city. It is 9 miles long and quite beautiful. There is a moat, watchtowers and huge gates. The gates open into a courtyard where there is another gate to the watchtowers. The Chinese would let the enemy into the first gate, close it behind them and trap them in the courtyard and kill them.
We then went to the Tang Dynasty show. It was quite colorful and the music was very interesting. We were quite taken with the costumes and the majesty.
Everyone returned to the hotel exhausted and ready to get a good night’s sleep. Most folks haven’t been able to sleep past 5:00 am each day– including us!
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Chongqing - The City of Fog
This morning was our last breakfast on board the Katerina. We left the ship at 8:30 and climbed a steep rise of steps to board our bus for a brief tour of Chongqing (Chong-cheen). Our local guide was Tony. Chongqing has 33 million people and is known as the “City of Fog”. Today was no exception. The city is covered by fog about 100 days of the year! The city was a target of the Japanese during WWII. All along the streets you can still see concrete bunkers dug into the hillside. The Chinese have converted most of them into storage, small stores and even car washes! The entire downtown portion is on the mountain. The roads are very narrow and steep.
Our first stop was a square at the top of the mountain. It was very interesting. This was the most direct contact we had with the Chinese people to date. They were openly checking us out (staring). There were special events in the square today so we were able to see crafts from the local people and watch them dance.
Our next stop was a museum dedicated to the Flying Tigers. When the Japanese started bombing Chongqing, the US was asked informally to help. Because we weren’t yet in the war, a group of volunteers from various parts of the armed services resigned their commission and went to train under the leadership of a two star general named Stilwell. Stilwell was very successful and some 2500 Japanese planes were destroyed compared to 500 US planes. The recovery rate of crew on our downed planes was 95% - amazing. Near the museum is a reconstruction of General Stilwell’s residence and headquarters. While the building was reconstructed, the furniture inside was original. The museum was just given first class status in the last year and is visited quite often especially by the US. Interesting side note, one of the gentlemen in our group grew up on the same street where General Stilwell lived!
We then stopped at a local restaurant and ate lunch. Either the food is becoming more western or we are getting used to Chinese food. The food was very good and I ate the entire meal with chopsticks. Given I haven’t been able to do this since we’ve been here, I’m quite proud of myself.
Next stop – Xi’an (She-ann) – the home of the Terracotta warriors. We left Chongqing airport and arrived at Xi’an around 4:30. The area is very flat and we saw tractors for the first time. Here, like Chongqing, the air was very foggy, which we didn’t expect. Our guide explained that the farmers are cutting the winter wheat. It isn’t fog in the air but wheat chaff. It blankets the entire city! Needless to say everyone with allergies is starting to have a rough time. This is a city of 7 million people – one of the smaller large cities in China. It is known for its agriculture, history, education (there are 35 universities) and most recently tourism. This is the home of the first emperor of China. 1 million foreigners and 15 million Chinese come to this site. Our guide thanked us for his job because he is now able to provide for his needs.
One of the down sides that we have seen in China is the pollution. This town is has two rivers. One is so polluted that the water cannot be drunk nor can it be used for swimming. Xi’an has many industries; aeronautics, paper mills etc. China is a major contributor to global warming. Many feel that not enough emphasis is being put on cleaning up the rivers and air.
We arrived at the Shangri-La Golden Flower hotel around 6:00 and had what was definitely the most western meal we’ve had so far. It was very good. Until dinner tonight we haven't see anything chocolate. There was more chocolate than we could have hoped for.
Our first stop was a square at the top of the mountain. It was very interesting. This was the most direct contact we had with the Chinese people to date. They were openly checking us out (staring). There were special events in the square today so we were able to see crafts from the local people and watch them dance.
Our next stop was a museum dedicated to the Flying Tigers. When the Japanese started bombing Chongqing, the US was asked informally to help. Because we weren’t yet in the war, a group of volunteers from various parts of the armed services resigned their commission and went to train under the leadership of a two star general named Stilwell. Stilwell was very successful and some 2500 Japanese planes were destroyed compared to 500 US planes. The recovery rate of crew on our downed planes was 95% - amazing. Near the museum is a reconstruction of General Stilwell’s residence and headquarters. While the building was reconstructed, the furniture inside was original. The museum was just given first class status in the last year and is visited quite often especially by the US. Interesting side note, one of the gentlemen in our group grew up on the same street where General Stilwell lived!
We then stopped at a local restaurant and ate lunch. Either the food is becoming more western or we are getting used to Chinese food. The food was very good and I ate the entire meal with chopsticks. Given I haven’t been able to do this since we’ve been here, I’m quite proud of myself.
Next stop – Xi’an (She-ann) – the home of the Terracotta warriors. We left Chongqing airport and arrived at Xi’an around 4:30. The area is very flat and we saw tractors for the first time. Here, like Chongqing, the air was very foggy, which we didn’t expect. Our guide explained that the farmers are cutting the winter wheat. It isn’t fog in the air but wheat chaff. It blankets the entire city! Needless to say everyone with allergies is starting to have a rough time. This is a city of 7 million people – one of the smaller large cities in China. It is known for its agriculture, history, education (there are 35 universities) and most recently tourism. This is the home of the first emperor of China. 1 million foreigners and 15 million Chinese come to this site. Our guide thanked us for his job because he is now able to provide for his needs.
One of the down sides that we have seen in China is the pollution. This town is has two rivers. One is so polluted that the water cannot be drunk nor can it be used for swimming. Xi’an has many industries; aeronautics, paper mills etc. China is a major contributor to global warming. Many feel that not enough emphasis is being put on cleaning up the rivers and air.
We arrived at the Shangri-La Golden Flower hotel around 6:00 and had what was definitely the most western meal we’ve had so far. It was very good. Until dinner tonight we haven't see anything chocolate. There was more chocolate than we could have hoped for.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Fengdu
Today is the last full day on the ship. We docked at night at Fengdu, the "City of Ghosts". This is the number one tourist attraction on the upper reaches of the Yangtze. The temple area on top of Ming Mountain pays tribute to the "King of the Underworld". Ther are many displays portraying interpretations of the Afterlife. You can choose to take a chair lift up to the top of the hill or go up about 350 stairs. Of course Ward and I choose to walk up the stairs. Part way up are three stone bridges. Our guide explained that we must choose one of the three to walk over. The first is the bridge of health, the second, judgment and the third, wealth. The second also had another meaning. If a couple walked over the bridge in 9 steps they would be together forever. Ward and I choose the second bridge. The site is under construction again due to the destruction during the cultural revolution. We haven't spoken to one Chinese individual that hasn't expressed how terrible that time was. The have lost so many ancient treasures.
The Chinese are not very religious. The are extremely superstitious. Near the City of Ghosts sits an unfinished hotel in the shape of a goddess - by the way there is only one goddess. The owner, in his 40s, was killed in an automobile accident. No one will complete the project because they feel there is bad karma there.
In the afternoon we attended a lecture on silk carpets. We have now learned everything we need to know if we ever purchase a rug. Density and number of knots - these are the keys.
Today the kite expert tried to fly one of his kites and Wards. Unfortunately there was very little wind. Too much yesterday, not enough today. Ward has been feeling kind of down since he found out that his kite wasn't the best quality. I told him to go buy another one. Well he bought two and will have them shipped home. One is a dragon, the other a peacock (it is very pretty).
Dinner was a farewell dinner with lots of good food and wine. The captain was introduced once again and the chef. We have very good waiters.
The evening ended with a Karaoke Kontest. I've never seen one, let alone participated. People that can't sing, play handbells! I tried all afternoon to get someone to do it with me but no takers -can't imagine why! Well at the contest we pulled it together and the Avalon women (that's the name of our tour group) got up and sang Bye Bye Love. We weren't half bad! Real teamwork took place tonight!
Tomorrow we leave the ship (I'm ready)and get off at Chongqing.
The Chinese are not very religious. The are extremely superstitious. Near the City of Ghosts sits an unfinished hotel in the shape of a goddess - by the way there is only one goddess. The owner, in his 40s, was killed in an automobile accident. No one will complete the project because they feel there is bad karma there.
In the afternoon we attended a lecture on silk carpets. We have now learned everything we need to know if we ever purchase a rug. Density and number of knots - these are the keys.
Today the kite expert tried to fly one of his kites and Wards. Unfortunately there was very little wind. Too much yesterday, not enough today. Ward has been feeling kind of down since he found out that his kite wasn't the best quality. I told him to go buy another one. Well he bought two and will have them shipped home. One is a dragon, the other a peacock (it is very pretty).
Dinner was a farewell dinner with lots of good food and wine. The captain was introduced once again and the chef. We have very good waiters.
The evening ended with a Karaoke Kontest. I've never seen one, let alone participated. People that can't sing, play handbells! I tried all afternoon to get someone to do it with me but no takers -can't imagine why! Well at the contest we pulled it together and the Avalon women (that's the name of our tour group) got up and sang Bye Bye Love. We weren't half bad! Real teamwork took place tonight!
Tomorrow we leave the ship (I'm ready)and get off at Chongqing.
Shennong Stream
Today we started our day with a trip up Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze. We transfered to a smaller boat and started up through a very steep picturesque gorge. As we entered the gorge there were acrobats performing on a high wire overhead. Then we were told to look to the cliffs and find a coffin cave. They are not sure how these coffins were placed in the caves but they are about 2000 years old. Many of them are gone now and many more will be covered by the flooding of the gorge. We saw many empty caves and a few with coffins still intact. (John lots of climbing rock!) As we continued up stream we saw a huge cave called swallow cave where, what else, the swallows nest. We saw monkeys playing along the shore. We docked and transfered a sampan to continue up the stream further. The water is extremely clear and the locals directly drink from it. The sampans were guided by local girls and rowed/towed by local men. These men are farmers and work as towers to make money. The towers range in age from 14 - 80. About ten years ago they stopped the practice of towing naked. The women were all disappointed! They rowed us about a 1/2 mile upstream and then when the water got very shallow they got out and pulled us upsteam using rope made of bamboo. Four men pulled from shore while the first and second captain steered the boat from in the water at the front and back. They towed us up through a rapid about 200 yards then we turned and rode the rapids down on the other side of the stream. On the way back they sang some traditional song for us. It was very interesting and fun. As the water rises they have had to move farther up the stream to "find" rapids, which at this point are obviously man made. It seems like a tremendous amount of work but it is the only way for these people to make money.
We returned to the ship and continued to and through the Wu Gorge. This part of the trip took about two hours. It is beatiful scenery but everywhere you look you see abandoned/raised buildings near the water level and brand new buildings above the 176 m mark. By 2009 everything below 176 meters will be underwater!
The BEST part of the whole trip was this afternoon when the kite boy did a presentation and demonstration of Chinese kites. He showed us some of the things to look for in a good kite and how to adjust them to fly correctly. Then we went up on the topdeck and flew a few. It was very windy so there were some that we could not fly, including the one I bought at the silk factory. I did find out that the kite I bought is not a very good one and that I paid too much. Hopefully I will be ably to fly it today if the winds die down.
We sailed through the last of the gorges, the Qutang Gorge before dinner. We passed Dax Village, site of some 74 tombs containing 5000 - 6000 year old archeological finds. Terri unfortunately missed it as first she had a massage, then had her nails done. She also made an appointment for a foot massage for mom. At first mom resisted but she went and the gentleman was able to get the swelling down in her first. She begrudgingly admitted it felt really good.
The evening ended with a Victoria Katarina Cabaret. It was very nice as the staff performed some local dances and there were a few acts from the passengers. At the end they asked folks to join in a circle dance. Terri choose to sit in the front so we participated. Just want everyone to know that I danced during the trip. After the circle dance the evening ended with none other than the macarana!
One final note - congratulations to our nephew Robert that graduated yesterday from high school. At least we think it was yesterday!!
We returned to the ship and continued to and through the Wu Gorge. This part of the trip took about two hours. It is beatiful scenery but everywhere you look you see abandoned/raised buildings near the water level and brand new buildings above the 176 m mark. By 2009 everything below 176 meters will be underwater!
The BEST part of the whole trip was this afternoon when the kite boy did a presentation and demonstration of Chinese kites. He showed us some of the things to look for in a good kite and how to adjust them to fly correctly. Then we went up on the topdeck and flew a few. It was very windy so there were some that we could not fly, including the one I bought at the silk factory. I did find out that the kite I bought is not a very good one and that I paid too much. Hopefully I will be ably to fly it today if the winds die down.
We sailed through the last of the gorges, the Qutang Gorge before dinner. We passed Dax Village, site of some 74 tombs containing 5000 - 6000 year old archeological finds. Terri unfortunately missed it as first she had a massage, then had her nails done. She also made an appointment for a foot massage for mom. At first mom resisted but she went and the gentleman was able to get the swelling down in her first. She begrudgingly admitted it felt really good.
The evening ended with a Victoria Katarina Cabaret. It was very nice as the staff performed some local dances and there were a few acts from the passengers. At the end they asked folks to join in a circle dance. Terri choose to sit in the front so we participated. Just want everyone to know that I danced during the trip. After the circle dance the evening ended with none other than the macarana!
One final note - congratulations to our nephew Robert that graduated yesterday from high school. At least we think it was yesterday!!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Three Gorges Dam
We left the dock at 5:30 am for the Three Gorges Dam. We reached Gezhouba Dam, the first dam built on the Yangtze River around 6:00 am. We reached Sandouping and went ashore to visit the largest hydroelectricity project in the world, the Three Gorges Dam. It was unbelievable. Ward said it would like damming up the Colorado River and filling up the Grand Canyon. 2/3 of the dam is complete. All told there will be 24 turbines, the largest turbines in the world. Four turbines were provided by Germany, France, GE in Canada and Sweden. The Chinese then took the best of each design and built the rest. There is a series of 5 locks. Four are in operation now, the fifth will be when filling the resevoir is complete. This dam will provide China with 50% of their electricity needs. It is an immense structure. There also is a ship lift for smaller boats. It is not in operation at the moment due to "techinical" problems. They have determined that the size and construction of the cable may not bear the weight without breaking. Over 1.1 million people were displaced as a result of the construction. Not only did the government move the people but trees as well - especially orange trees. As we passed through the western section of the Xiling Gorge you could see the old villages that have been torn down and new buildings built further up the Gorge. I don't know how these folks can walk let along farm on the steep hillsides.
The gorges are beautiful. There is normally a fog that surrounds them. I can see how this area would be talked about as magical and mystical.
The was a captain's welcome reception in the evening and the night wrapped up with the crew modeling a varioety of Chinese traditional costumes, from various regions and eras of China. They were beautiful.
Everone seems to be feeling better! Last night was the first good nights sleep. The key is early to bed early to rise. Things get noisy at about 5:30 every morning.
The gorges are beautiful. There is normally a fog that surrounds them. I can see how this area would be talked about as magical and mystical.
The was a captain's welcome reception in the evening and the night wrapped up with the crew modeling a varioety of Chinese traditional costumes, from various regions and eras of China. They were beautiful.
Everone seems to be feeling better! Last night was the first good nights sleep. The key is early to bed early to rise. Things get noisy at about 5:30 every morning.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
The Silk Road
We left the hotel at 9:00 to visit a silk factory. The process that they use to produce the silk and find the beginning of the thread is really interesting. The silk worm only lives about 25 days and eats only mulberry leaves. When the cocoons are gathered, the worm inside is killed and they put several cocoons in water and stir it with a stick quickly. The beginning of the thread naturally clings to stick and they've found the beginning. Eight strands are twisted together to produce a thread that is used to create the fabric.
The shop had many articles to sell. Silk everything. I bought a duvet cover - it is beautiful and silk comforter (I think this is my one and only major purchase on the trip). Ward bought a dragon kite - it's pretty neat and several ties, one for John. Paige I bought you a silk scarf. I hope you like it.
The rest of the day was mainly travel. We left the factory to go to Shanghai airport. The morning started a little rough. Mom had a problem with her hip that made it difficult to walk. We ended up getting a wheelchair for her through the airport. She is feeling better now. We're glad that we decided to go with them as they definitely could not have made this trip themselves. We're especially glad that we decided on backpacks (John, mine is working out perfectly, thank you) for us and nothing else as this gave us free hands to help carry their stuff.
We flew for about 1 1/2 hours to reach our boat, the Katerina. There were several other tour groups that joined us. Most everyone was in bed by 10:00, exhausted. Early this morning at 5:30 the boat left for the Three Gorges. We're pretty sure that there won't be any 8 hours of sleep at one time on the entire trip!
Just a small note to anyone reading this---to date TERRI has done all the blogging- supposedly because I type faster - Hah! How did I know this would happen?
Ward asked me to mention that we won't be able to publish any pictures until we reach a hotel that has internet service. Coming soon!
The shop had many articles to sell. Silk everything. I bought a duvet cover - it is beautiful and silk comforter (I think this is my one and only major purchase on the trip). Ward bought a dragon kite - it's pretty neat and several ties, one for John. Paige I bought you a silk scarf. I hope you like it.
The rest of the day was mainly travel. We left the factory to go to Shanghai airport. The morning started a little rough. Mom had a problem with her hip that made it difficult to walk. We ended up getting a wheelchair for her through the airport. She is feeling better now. We're glad that we decided to go with them as they definitely could not have made this trip themselves. We're especially glad that we decided on backpacks (John, mine is working out perfectly, thank you) for us and nothing else as this gave us free hands to help carry their stuff.
We flew for about 1 1/2 hours to reach our boat, the Katerina. There were several other tour groups that joined us. Most everyone was in bed by 10:00, exhausted. Early this morning at 5:30 the boat left for the Three Gorges. We're pretty sure that there won't be any 8 hours of sleep at one time on the entire trip!
Just a small note to anyone reading this---to date TERRI has done all the blogging- supposedly because I type faster - Hah! How did I know this would happen?
Ward asked me to mention that we won't be able to publish any pictures until we reach a hotel that has internet service. Coming soon!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
First Full Day in China
We're back in our room after an exhausting day touring Shanghai. We had an very early start. Ward woke up at 2:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep so he played poker online and watch the rest of Mission Impossible 3. Terri woke up at 3:00 and tried to go back to sleep but got up at 6:00 to get ready for breakfast. Hopefully that the last of the jet lag. Breakfast was a feast of mostly western food, omelets, rolls, bacon, ham etc. Little did Terri know that this would be the best meal all day! Our bus picked us up at 8:30. First stop was a children's kindergarten where children ages 3-6 performed on various musical instruments for us: the piano, hammer dulcimer, violin and an oriental violin. They were unbelievable. China pays for their education through the ninth grade. They have to pay tuition after that. The kindergarten we saw was for gifted children. In recent time during China's history parents were permitted to have only one child. Since every child was their one and only parents wanted all their "gifted" children to go to these schools. The school is located in the French Quarter. During the cultural revolution, no one wanted the beautiful buildings due to them not being occupied by Chinese. In an effort to spare the buildings they were given as schools since the children wouldn't "know" that foreigners once occupied them. By the way the decision to mandate only one child has come back to haunt China. There are not enough young workers to support the population as they begin to age.
All throughout Shanghai you see laundry everywhere. Our guide Richard mentioned that while the washing machine has caught on and many people have them, the dryer has not. Shanghai's laundry is sometimes referred to as China's national flag.
Next stop was the Yu Yuan garden. The garden is five acres and originally housed one very wealthy family. Our guide explained that there are always four elements to the gardens in China: water, rock, plants and architecture. Many paths are in zig zags to ward off evil sprits. The structures have very ornate carvings and huge dragons carved atop walls and buildings. Terri had her first interesting experience going to the rest room in the park. Toilet paper is hung outside the stalls, You take what you are going to need then open the stall only to find that you stand to go to the bathroom. Men are used to this, American women are not! Much coordination is needed to pull this off, when you are not used to it. The gardens were lovely. Many of the plants you would recognize from home: boxwood, azalea bushes, flower clover and a type of maple tree to name a few.
Before lunch we stopped at a Buddhist temple. Incense was flowing freely and folks were coming to the temple to pray. Mr. Woo our local guide said that if you have seen one Buddhist temple they are all similar. The unique part of this one was the huge Jade Buddha. I am assuming most temples have smaller Buddha's or copies of original Buddha's. Many of the Buddhist treasures were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 - 1976. Unfortunately you are not permitted to take pictures of the Buddha but it is very impressive. A footnote about the Cultural revolution. Mr. Woo said it was a terrible time for the Chinese people. The youth went crazy and torn down and/or burned many of the artifacts from centuries past. He himself was affected and was not allowed to attend school for a year. Most of the teachers were driven out to the countryside to be put to work in the fields. When school did resume he said they didn't learn anything since the text books were replaced by the "Mao bible". With no substantial education for 10 years he is considered a lost generation.
Lunch was at the Seagull hotel down by the river. Many dishes were served and put on a lazy susan to be passed among the folks at the table. It was okay, even our guide mentioned that dinner would be better.
During the afternoon we went to the new Shanghai museum. It was very nice. The have the best bronze collection in the world. Also housed there was a jade collection, furniture from the Ming and Qing? dynasties. There is a striking resemblance between Ming and Arts & Crafts furniture. By this time folks were beginning to get tired.
Dinner was a true Chinese meal, fish heads and all. Neither Terri nor Ward found much to eat although there was lots to choose from. John - you would have been in heaven trying all the different foods. Drinks do not seem to be a priority with the Chinese. With a meal you get two small glasses of soft drink or beer and that's it! Terri almost created a international incident when she asked for a second glass of Coke. Apparently the non-English speaking waitress' thought she already had 2. We had met our quota and that was that. Richard offered to pay for another Coke but they didn't seem to understand that. In the end Mr Woo intervened and Terri got some more to drink.
The evening ended with an acrobatic show at the Grand Theatre. It was very good - what parts Ward saw of it! Terri went to say something to him and he had eyes closed and head down. Still can't beat Bob Holders ability to sleep during a performance of Blue Man group with screaming eighth graders and beating drums. This performance was a little bit more subdued.
On our way back to the hotel we went through the Bund district which was lit up for the night. It was breathtaking. People say it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world at night.
All throughout Shanghai you see laundry everywhere. Our guide Richard mentioned that while the washing machine has caught on and many people have them, the dryer has not. Shanghai's laundry is sometimes referred to as China's national flag.
Next stop was the Yu Yuan garden. The garden is five acres and originally housed one very wealthy family. Our guide explained that there are always four elements to the gardens in China: water, rock, plants and architecture. Many paths are in zig zags to ward off evil sprits. The structures have very ornate carvings and huge dragons carved atop walls and buildings. Terri had her first interesting experience going to the rest room in the park. Toilet paper is hung outside the stalls, You take what you are going to need then open the stall only to find that you stand to go to the bathroom. Men are used to this, American women are not! Much coordination is needed to pull this off, when you are not used to it. The gardens were lovely. Many of the plants you would recognize from home: boxwood, azalea bushes, flower clover and a type of maple tree to name a few.
Before lunch we stopped at a Buddhist temple. Incense was flowing freely and folks were coming to the temple to pray. Mr. Woo our local guide said that if you have seen one Buddhist temple they are all similar. The unique part of this one was the huge Jade Buddha. I am assuming most temples have smaller Buddha's or copies of original Buddha's. Many of the Buddhist treasures were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 - 1976. Unfortunately you are not permitted to take pictures of the Buddha but it is very impressive. A footnote about the Cultural revolution. Mr. Woo said it was a terrible time for the Chinese people. The youth went crazy and torn down and/or burned many of the artifacts from centuries past. He himself was affected and was not allowed to attend school for a year. Most of the teachers were driven out to the countryside to be put to work in the fields. When school did resume he said they didn't learn anything since the text books were replaced by the "Mao bible". With no substantial education for 10 years he is considered a lost generation.
Lunch was at the Seagull hotel down by the river. Many dishes were served and put on a lazy susan to be passed among the folks at the table. It was okay, even our guide mentioned that dinner would be better.
During the afternoon we went to the new Shanghai museum. It was very nice. The have the best bronze collection in the world. Also housed there was a jade collection, furniture from the Ming and Qing? dynasties. There is a striking resemblance between Ming and Arts & Crafts furniture. By this time folks were beginning to get tired.
Dinner was a true Chinese meal, fish heads and all. Neither Terri nor Ward found much to eat although there was lots to choose from. John - you would have been in heaven trying all the different foods. Drinks do not seem to be a priority with the Chinese. With a meal you get two small glasses of soft drink or beer and that's it! Terri almost created a international incident when she asked for a second glass of Coke. Apparently the non-English speaking waitress' thought she already had 2. We had met our quota and that was that. Richard offered to pay for another Coke but they didn't seem to understand that. In the end Mr Woo intervened and Terri got some more to drink.
The evening ended with an acrobatic show at the Grand Theatre. It was very good - what parts Ward saw of it! Terri went to say something to him and he had eyes closed and head down. Still can't beat Bob Holders ability to sleep during a performance of Blue Man group with screaming eighth graders and beating drums. This performance was a little bit more subdued.
On our way back to the hotel we went through the Bund district which was lit up for the night. It was breathtaking. People say it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world at night.
Monday, June 05, 2006
We're here!
Well, we're here. We left the Four Points Sheraton at 3:30 AM on Sunday, the 5th and arrived at our hotel, The St. Regis on Monday, June 5th around 7:15 pm. That would be 7:15 am at home on Monday, the 6th. It's all very confusing keeping the days and times straight. Our connections went very smoothly. The longest leg of course was from San Francisco to China. The flight was 11 hours, 55 minutes. It was pretty long and dad was about the only one that got any sleep.
Shanghai is the second largest city in China, 19 million people. The area we are in is very modern. Only 10 years ago all of the surrounding countryside was rice fields. The billboards are huge and very glitzy. The skyscrapers are all new and extremely modern. Most signs are in Chinese and English. There isn't a lot of traffic on the roads at this time of night. Bicycles are plentiful. The room at the hotel is beautiful and we are ready to shower and try to catch up on our sleep.
The tour director, Richard says we have a full day tomorrow. We leave at 8:30 and don't get back until 10:00 pm. On the agenda is a temple, welcome dinner, acrobats and more fun stuff!
Goodnight from China, the journey - Day1!!
Shanghai is the second largest city in China, 19 million people. The area we are in is very modern. Only 10 years ago all of the surrounding countryside was rice fields. The billboards are huge and very glitzy. The skyscrapers are all new and extremely modern. Most signs are in Chinese and English. There isn't a lot of traffic on the roads at this time of night. Bicycles are plentiful. The room at the hotel is beautiful and we are ready to shower and try to catch up on our sleep.
The tour director, Richard says we have a full day tomorrow. We leave at 8:30 and don't get back until 10:00 pm. On the agenda is a temple, welcome dinner, acrobats and more fun stuff!
Goodnight from China, the journey - Day1!!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Today's the day!
We have packed everything we can think of. Hopefully we have everything and haven't packed to much we don't need. The grass is cut, the fridge is cleaned out, the pond is in good shape, the spa is taken care of - hopefully we have taken care of everything. Shortly we will leave to stay overnight close to the airport. That should make our 6:00 AM departure a little easier.
The plan is to take the dog to the kennel at 5:00 then pickup mom and dad and head to the hotel. Get to bed early and get up early. Tomorrow should be a long exciting day.
We will post our next blog (from China) as soon as we have an opportunity.
The plan is to take the dog to the kennel at 5:00 then pickup mom and dad and head to the hotel. Get to bed early and get up early. Tomorrow should be a long exciting day.
We will post our next blog (from China) as soon as we have an opportunity.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Itinerary
Here is our itinerary for the trip. I will try to update the blog when I have the opportunity. I plan on adding pictures but I'm not sure how well that is going to work. I may have to go to an alternative plan for that. I'll let you know.
Sunday, we will leave Pittsburgh for our flight to Shanghai, China.
Monday, we arrive in Shanghai and check-in for some well deserved rest.
Tuesday, we will visit the Shanghai Museum, Yu Yuan Gardens, Children's Palace then in the evening we will see an acrobatic show.
Wednesday, we see the Temple of the Jade Buddha then fly to Yichang where we board the Victoria Katarina for the Yangtze River Cruise.
Thursday, we visit the Three Gorges Dam Site then lock through the dam and through the Xiling Gorge.
Friday, today we will take a boat excursion down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. Then we will head up stream through the Qutang Gorge and the Wu Gorge.
Saturday, today will be dependent on the river conditions. We will visit Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu.
Sunday, we leave the boat and fly to Xi'an, Chiina's capitol during World War II.
Monday, today is spent in Xi'an. We visit the Dayan Pagoda, see the Terra-cotta Warriors and the "Tang Dynasty" dinner show.
Tuesday, in Xi'an we visit the City South Gate then board our flight to Beijing.
Wednesday, sightseeing in Beijing. We visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian'anmen Square, Zoo, Summer Palace and then see the Peking Opera.
Thursday, today we visit the Great Wall, Ming Tombs and then a Peking Duck farewell dinner.
Friday, we leave China for home via Chicago.
Sunday, we will leave Pittsburgh for our flight to Shanghai, China.
Monday, we arrive in Shanghai and check-in for some well deserved rest.
Tuesday, we will visit the Shanghai Museum, Yu Yuan Gardens, Children's Palace then in the evening we will see an acrobatic show.
Wednesday, we see the Temple of the Jade Buddha then fly to Yichang where we board the Victoria Katarina for the Yangtze River Cruise.
Thursday, we visit the Three Gorges Dam Site then lock through the dam and through the Xiling Gorge.
Friday, today we will take a boat excursion down either the Daning River or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions. Then we will head up stream through the Qutang Gorge and the Wu Gorge.
Saturday, today will be dependent on the river conditions. We will visit Wanxian or Shibaozhai or Fengdu.
Sunday, we leave the boat and fly to Xi'an, Chiina's capitol during World War II.
Monday, today is spent in Xi'an. We visit the Dayan Pagoda, see the Terra-cotta Warriors and the "Tang Dynasty" dinner show.
Tuesday, in Xi'an we visit the City South Gate then board our flight to Beijing.
Wednesday, sightseeing in Beijing. We visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian'anmen Square, Zoo, Summer Palace and then see the Peking Opera.
Thursday, today we visit the Great Wall, Ming Tombs and then a Peking Duck farewell dinner.
Friday, we leave China for home via Chicago.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
One week till we leave
This is the first post of our China trip blog. I will try to keep everyone updated as we make final preparations and throughout the trip.
Last night we read through a lot of the documentation that came from the travel agent. There is a lot to comprehend. This is a new experience. Trying to plan for two weeks is not easy. Especially when your not sure of what to expect. We want to be prepared but not over pack. I'm sure we will be adding and deleting items as the week goes along.
Today we are going to get all are paperwork in order. We need to make copies of our passport, itinerary, emergency contacts and airline ticket information so we have backups if needed. I think we will get the suitcases out and measure them to make sure they meet the airline requirements. We are also going to start laying out our cloths and anything else we plan on taking that we won't need during the week. The plan is to keep things to a minimum. We'll see how well we follow the plan as the week goes on.
Having this holiday weekend is a blessing. I think next week will fly by. The excitement is starting to build.
Last night we read through a lot of the documentation that came from the travel agent. There is a lot to comprehend. This is a new experience. Trying to plan for two weeks is not easy. Especially when your not sure of what to expect. We want to be prepared but not over pack. I'm sure we will be adding and deleting items as the week goes along.
Today we are going to get all are paperwork in order. We need to make copies of our passport, itinerary, emergency contacts and airline ticket information so we have backups if needed. I think we will get the suitcases out and measure them to make sure they meet the airline requirements. We are also going to start laying out our cloths and anything else we plan on taking that we won't need during the week. The plan is to keep things to a minimum. We'll see how well we follow the plan as the week goes on.
Having this holiday weekend is a blessing. I think next week will fly by. The excitement is starting to build.
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