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Xian, Shaanxi ProvenceMay 5, 2009
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The South Gate of Xian's wall - right outside our GH
The Drum Tower...taken from the Bell Tower
Performance at the Bell Tower
05/05/09 - 09/05/09
Xian is a large city compared to the areas we had been in Yunnan. The flights were good and our ride was there at the airport. We shared the taxi with 2 sisters from Manchester - Keeley and Lauren Slack, who we met waiting for luggage - they are going to the same hostel.
We stayed at the Shuyuan Hostel (near the South Gate of the city wall). Nice room and a very busy place.
We took off towards the Drum and Bell Towers. We were able to see performances in both towers. All done with period costume. Then if was off for "world famous" dumplings - really good.
Back at the hostel, we made plans to take a tour the next day out to the Terracotta Warriors - the tour also included a stop at the Large Wild Goose Pagoda and the Banpo Neolithic Museum.
Sleep that night did not come easy. There is a bar downstairs at the hostel and even though it closed at 12m - the partying did not. We were up 3-4 til about 3am. We talked with the front desk the next am and found out that a number of theres had also.
06/05/09.......off to Terracotta Warriors - see next entry
When we got back from our tour, the hostel had a BBQ. You pick the dishes you want - they BBQ it. It was really good. We had beefsteak (for the 1st time in 5 months), veggies and a duck breast. The duck breast was awesome....we ordered a 2nd one.
That night was a little better. Bar was pretty quiet but about 0230 there were a group in the courtyard below - loud enough to wake us up. This time I just went to the door and asked them to "please be quiet" - I'm sure I was sight at 0230 but they quieted down after a few minutes - we got the desired results.
07/05/09
Another city "wandering" day. We found the Muslim Quarter and an internet cafe. While I downloaded photos, Jim wandered the area and found great food. He came and got me and we visited "The Great Mosque" and had lunch and did a little shopping. It was back to the internet cafe (this place was huge - probably over 400 computers and it looked like a disco).
That evening was quiet - all the way around. We had dinner at the hostel and I started reading "The Kite Runner" - read til 0030.
08/05/09
Our last day in Xian and we wanted to do the wall. There is a wall that surrounds the old city. It's about 8 miles around. We rented bikes and started off. We should know better. The bikes are build for small Asian people - but we made it with only one slight mishap on my part. OK...I fell off the bike. It's not like I haven't been riding since I was 5 years old but I stopped on a small hill and just tipped over and fell on my butt - of course in front of a group of Chinese who came running to my aid. Very embarrassing!!!!!
That evening we went to a dinner show which was really good. The entertainment was traditional Chinese dance and music. The food was wonderful dumplings - the fish dumpling looked like a fish, the duck - a duck etc. They just kept bringing them - about 3-4 dozen that looked like what was inside, then a large place of boiled dumplings and a couple of fried - even Jim was full.
We met a group of Canadians who were on a tour/cruise. Chatted with them and enjoyed the show.
09/05/09......off to Beijing
