Travel Journal 9

February 14, 2013  -  Thursday  Valentine’s Day!

We rose for a 7:00 AM breakfast and then left for Guanzhou.  Our host took the kids in his car along with roses that they are going to sell.  His wife took the rest of us on a long walk to the bus stop.  [Deb and Jessica found a store nearby that had some towels, so we should be able to shower tonight!]

It was a long bus ride to the subway station.  Then it was a long subway ride to downtown.  Eventually we met up with her husband and the kids in an underground mall.  We have discovered that our host and his wife tend to make decisions and then unmake them in a very short time.  Gradually this became annoying to all of us.  Although they are a lovely couple, there seems to be some passive-aggressive stuff going on between them. 

A flowering tree at the bus stop!  

                 Debbie made friends with a young couple on the subway!

While the children attempted to sell roses, his wife took us on a tour around the plaza area which was decorated for the Chinese New Year!  We saw many shops, crafts, arts, displays, and shows.  It was delightful!

  

    We saw this tall skyscraper when we emerged from the subway!  

                             Beautiful flowers and tall buildings were everywhere!        

                          It was 8 degrees in Changchun today!  Glad we’re here!  J

            

 This was at the entrance to the plaza!       

After a while, we took a short subway ride to another area where we toured the Museum of Natural Science.  It was very well done and quite impressive!  We saw dinosaur bones and many other interesting things there.  We were probably inside for a couple of hours!

 

       A row of display areas like this on each side of the plaza. 

                                        An interesting looking artisan!

       

These trees drop tentacles that also take root!          



                                                                                   
                                                                       
This is the tallest building I have ever seen!  AMAZING!

The Guanzhou public library!  Incredibly beautiful!  

                           A by-passer offered to take our picture!

                                             The lights came on at dusk!

      

                            The darker it got, the prettier the displays became!

      

Children began flying kites as evening approached.                      

While we were waiting for the dark to come, we went shopping in the underground maul.  I got Debbie a nice crystal ring and earrings for Valentine’s Day!  Then we had a nice American meal at MacDonald’s.  Then we rejoined the group to view the lights!  Then came the long trip home via subways and bus.  Unfortunately, the children didn’t sell any of the roses!  So we had to haul them all home with us! 

While on the long subway ride I decided to entertain two sweet little girls sitting next to me.  I took out a balloon and blew it up.  That got their attention!  Then I pinched the neck and started making that squeaking noise.  Suddenly, everyone on the subway car was watching me – and their faces were all smiles!  Debbie was really glad that she wasn’t sitting near me!  It got a lot of laughter;  and then I gave each of the girls a balloon!  You should have seen them trying to do the same thing!  It was pretty funny!

When we got home we took showers!  Yay!  Feels so good to be clean again!  We sat and talked with Randy and Jessica a bit.  Then Deb read while I worked on this journal.  Bed at 11:30 PM.