After breakfast, we went to a local park that used to be the location of the Ming Emporer's palace (the same one from yesterday who was buried in the mausoleum).
(We have pics of Ben standing on big rocks all over the world!) Only the bases of the columns are still standing, but they have turned the grounds into a very nice place to relax and play. In one spot, there was a bounce house set up, so the kids got in with Tim and had fun. 
Kate LOVES to slide. She turns every ramp she finds into a slide, which makes for dirty pants and a smiling girl. I can't wait for her to see our slide at home.
We then were told we were going to the Qin Huai River, but when we got there, we realized we were in the Confucious Temple shopping area that is right behind our hotel. We had been there several times already, but we had been calling the river a canal. So our day at the river turned out to be a stroll through the market we had been to before. Once again, that was ok by us, because we were back at the hotel by noon. We ate lunch in the room, and mom took the kids down to BK for ice cream.
Tim has not had much "alone time" (for obvious reasons), so he went out to the market again by himself. I had an errand I needed done, and he was happy to comply. Kate slept the whole time, so she never even knew he was gone.
Tonight we are packing up so that we can leave the hotel by 5:30am. We are heading to Guangzhou, where we will file all of the immigration paperwork to bring Kate into the U.S. Our Consulate is there, so all US families adopting from China have to travel through Guangzhou. We will be staying at the fabled White Swan, where I hear they have a great breakfast buffet. (Can you tell where my priorities are?) I also hear there is an Italian restaurant near the hotel, so if any of my fellow adoptive families can help me out with a location and a review, I would be much obliged.
Tomorrow we are supposed to go to the medical clinic to have her checked out, which I hear is pretty basic. Then we can check into our hotel and hopefully reunite with the rest of our travel group. I am looking forward to seeing how they are all doing with their new children. Pray for travel mercies for all of us tomorrow, and that the doctor visit will go well. Also, Will and I have Kate's sore throat, and Kate is still coughing and has a fever. We have started her on the anitbiotic because I am afraid she has an ear infection, which cleft-affected kids are prone to do. Blessings to all.
2 comments:
We're jealous you get to stay at the White Swan! Have fun!
Myself and another family ate at the Italian restaraunt and were not all that impressed. It was OK-- maybe it was just the dish I had. Shamian Island basically has a road around the perimeter and then blocked grids within. The Italian place is on the perimeter road. If you locate the main Victory Hotel building (east-- there are 2), stand facing the front, the Italian is toward the left and around a corner, beside the train depot restaraunt. From the WS, exit to the right and just walk around the perimeter several blocks-- if I remember right? I stayed at the Victory) Most of the families in our group prefered Lucy's. It caters to Americans. The food is pretty basic, but pretty good. Some things were "almost American", but not quite. I don't know your tastes, but I'd recommend it. Exiting the WS front doors, turn right and walk a few blocks-- there's Lucy's. "Home of Love", also directly to the right of WS is a good place for laundry and they have loaner strollers free. Bank of China, exit WS to the left is the best place for money exchange. If you get time while on Shamian, get up early one morning and go to the waterfront park (area behind Lucy's) and watch morning excercises. When I was there, a lot of people excercised, swam, performed Tae Chi, played badmitton, etc. in the AM. (like maybe between 6-8am before it got hot). I found it interesting. Hope thats helpful.
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