Thursday, February 4, 2010

Last full day in Nanjing February 4, 2010

We have had a pretty good day today but I am really tired.    Both children slept well and we did pretty well getting ready and down to breakfast.   Isaac is now completely in love with the elevator and drags us to it.   You can see from the photo how he is pulling to get to the elevator - he loves going out and about.   Isaac again plowed through one enormous breakfast, whereas his big sister ate two yogurts (they are very tiny and really liquid - you can drink through a tiny straw) and I think she had some sausage and some required bites of watermelon - she gets blocked tummy issues so we do push the fruit.   Isaac had a steamed pork bun, sausage, egg, watermelon, pear, a spring roll, and part of a muffin and possibly more that I can't remember.   Our outing today was to the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge which is quite an impressive structure.  However, the drive there (and really any time we go out) is as interesting as the destination.    I just wish I had the words to convey the scenery we pass, the craziness of the traffic, the seeming complete lack of any road rules, the electric mopeds, the bicycles, the shops and the whole vibe - it's just like nothing else.   We saw a couple of pretty spots where you're just dying to jump out and be able to explore but on to the bridge we went.   The bridge was the first bridge to built across the Yangtze river in Nanjing - before that, everyone had to cross by boat.  It was completed in 1968 and was the first double-decker, double-track highway and railway bridge designed and constructed by Chinese without outside engineering experience.   It's 22,212 feet in length and has a span of 525 feet - it takes 15 minutes to cross in normal traffic.   The guide shared all this with us, including the fact that 50,000 cars cross every day, but I had to check wikipedia to remind me of all the stats - love the internet!   So, we took photos of the model so that you can see the section that we went up and all the photos of the views taken from there.   What is also interesting and you can kind of see from the one photo of the model is that as much as the bridge, if not more of it, is under the river, as is above the river - with regards to the footings etc. (I am no engineer so probably an inadequate description).   Isaac loved looking at the boats down on the river and was shouting something which Denise told us was "come" as in he wanted the boats to come to him, and he was furious that they were not.  He has a temper when things are not going his way.   There are fishing boats, you can see the railroad tracks on the lower part of the double-decker and also photos of what appear to be community gardens and also the boat yard.   There is a lot of smog so visibility is not terrific.   Inside, we went to see this "teacher" who is an artist who paints inside these crystal balls, bottles, teapots etc.   Completely amazing!   He hand paints these entire scenes in this tiny space, which he is pretty much doing upside down to get the brush up into the inside of the crystal ball.   The paint brush is so fine.   When the painting is done within the inner circle of the crystal ball, it looks quite large, but they showed us a ball cut in half and the center is really quite small, so how he creates these entire scenes is beyond incredible.   Had to take pictures without a flash and wish I had taken some more of the finished products but we were all impressed.   When we came down there were a bunch of hawkers selling wares and we bought a few things and there was a little carousel set up so Indigo was very keen to do that.  Isaac seemed to want to go too so David held him on a horse.  The ride went on and on - definitely had our money's worth (less than $2 for both kids).  It was hard to tell if Isaac liked it because he did not smile during the ride, however, I guess he did, because he had a big fit when the ride was over and he could not go again.    While we had been having our ride, our driver was purchasing fresh caught fish and so his purchases were flopping about in a bag in the van - hence the photo.  Indigo was fascinated and kept wanting to know what the fish were doing and she had seen a bit of Nemo on the flight over so she was saying how the pelican had saved the fish by putting water in it's mouth and carrying them - she said the driver's fish needed water.  Isaac conked out next to me and slept the rest of the time in the van - which included some stops so that I could hop out with Denise to try and find this bib overall (you'll see my purcase in the last picture on this upload - the greatest idea!).  
When we got back to the hotel we should have just put Isaac down in the crib, even though he had woken up, but we went to lunch and then he would not go back to sleep.   Indigo crashed so Isaac was up and playing and David took him in the hallway to do some running and then he went with David to get our laundry which we had left to be done yesterday and then he went down the grassy park area in the front of the hotel - he is all go-go-go.   We met Denise at 5 and went to do some shopping.   This area around our hotel, around the Confucius Temple is just a vibrant mecca of shops and people - David took a few shots to capture some scenes but really we should take some more and some video - perhaps we can fit it in before leaving tomorrow.  I had been telling Denise about a few specific type things I was looking for which is why she came along to help.  We did a fair bit of damage tonight - between Grandma and myself - I depleted David of all cash and had to have Grandma settle my last purchase.   A shop keeper had two bikes out from their kids and so Isaac and Indigo played on those.   When Isaac was taken off, he really lost it!    David has advised me that shopping when we have the kids is not working out and I will have to shop by myself - hmmm, sounds like free rein...  Indigo has not been eating at all well at lunch and dinner and so we caved and bought her and Isaac McDonalds nuggets and fries which we took with us to the restaurant where we had dinner.   Isaac seemed fascinated with the fries - wanted to suck them.   We had happy children.   We enjoyed a delicious meal and then returned to the hotel and put Isaac straight to bed.  David is fast asleep.  Indigo was up for a long time but has now fallen asleep - I think she was not ready to sleep yet after her long afternoon nap.  I am looking around the complete and utter chaos of our room and the packages we have bought and have no clue how we'll be packed and ready to leave here tomorrow - next stop, Guangzhou.    Photos for today:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7322989@N05/sets/72157623225003927/

7 comments:

  1. Sounds like things continue to go well, and that Isaac is 150% boy. My Davy will love to run with him!! Thank you for blogging and the pictures, as I really feel like I'm there, and like a good book, I keep wanting more, hating for the "story" to end. If you see something small for Year of the Tiger, bring it back, please. The boys mascot at school is the tiger. If we get another foot of snow this weekend, we may be dug out by the time you get home! Miss you all! Big hugs, Beck (and Momma Gloria sends her best, too!) I've moved back to the old desk, David. :-)

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  2. I feel like I am in China with you. I get lost reading your blog and feel like I am standing right beside you. You are wonderful at the description. Looks like everyone is having a blast!!!! Miss & Love you, Amy

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  3. Glad you are doing so well and it sounds like you re eating very well too! We are having tea and the kids decorrated cookies made from the Austrian bakery here at Trapp Family Lodge.
    I bet it's not snowing where you are!
    Bring us back some yummy pork buns.
    Best to you all, say hi to bobby for us.
    robyne et al.

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  4. I love reading your posts! Isaac is so cute and really looks very happy. Keep posting!

    Allyson

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  5. Nanjing looks to be a fascinating city! So glad you are enjoying your time there.
    Isaac sounds like he's a delightful little spitfire. I'm sure he will keep you hopping, but also that as he begins to learn your expectations that he will be a better listener. (Most of the time anyway).
    Good luck packing all your stuff and enjoy Guangzhou!

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  6. Everyone looks so happy and healthy!

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  7. What a great post! It sounds like the whole day was a blast!

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