February 19, Sunday

I had to call in the big guns, Hotel Technical Support, and I am back online. The laptop must have a virus because it is still acting up and I can not download the pictures from the camera. At least this post will not cost me 41 yuan. I will have to post the pictures when I am back in the States.

Molly and Zac are doing great. We are packing up and getting ready for the last portion of our trip, Guangzhou! Zac does not want this trip to end, he has been hanging out by the pool or in the boys room (another family brought their two sons ages 13 &14) most of this week. They have been up late most nights watching movies. He came into the room long enough to have the pizza hut pizza I ordered for dinner. Every night this week we have been having group dinners at local resturants. Most families enjoyed Pizza Hut this evening!

Today we ventured out to the Pedestrian Walk, it is a very long street closed to cars and bikes filled with shops. This is where many of the locals do their shopping. It was very busy considering it was Sunday. We were four families all walking together with Chinese babies in strollers. Everytime we stopped we were surrounded by people wanting to talk to us and look at the babies. I have heard of this happening but to actually experience it is soo bizarre. The grannies all had to make sure the babies were bundled up enough and if they felt they weren't they would scold you. I was scolded for not holding Molly. They don't believe in having babies in strollers here. If she only knew how badly my back is killing me from holding her all of the time. The boys spotted a McDonald's and we had lunch.

This afternoon we took a cab to the Porcelean Street. Jiangxi Prov is know for its rice and porcelean. I wanted to buy Molly something from where she was born. We had our Holt guide write down in Chinese where we wanted to go and hopped in a cab. Pia and her husband with their boys hopped in the one behind us. Have a mentioned what the driving is like here? Think New york city 100times worse. There are no rules to driving here, the other day our bus made a u-turn in the middle of a very busy intersection. It is amazing that there are not more car accidents here. Intersections are like playing chicken, whomever goes first wins. Now don't forget about the bikes too. They are weaving in and out of cars going in all different directions, there is no such thing as the right side of the road. We saw a moped going down the wrong way into oncoming traffic, just weaving in between like in the movies. Needless to say it is all an adventure. While Pia and I were a store looking for tea sets, the babies were in their carriers attached to us, the boys were waiting on the step outside. When we came out, there was this hugh crowd of teenagers and adults around them. They were all talking to each other (sort of) and giving each other the thumbs up. The boys had a blast with this. One of the adults was trying to set them up with Chinese girls. They all want to go back tomorrow!

Another group of Americans checked in today and received their babies this evening. The family staying next door is very nice but their baby has been screaming for the last 3 hours. Oh boy, it is going to be a long night.

I can't wait to get to Guangzhou, I checked online and the next couple of days will be in the high 70's. The weather has been horrible since arriving here. We have a 9:30am appointment to pick up Molly's passport. We will be leaving at 2:00pm for the airport. This will be a good test to see how Molly will act on the plane. The ride is approx an hour, I might be testing the benedryl on her.