Xian on Spring Break

Hi there, just got back from a trip to Xian, home of the famous Terra Cotta Soldiers. 
We had a good time, actually saw some sun and ate some non-oily, non-spicy Muslim Chinese food.

We stayed at a "5 Star Hotel" - the Chinese version of course.  There were no English channels on the TV (the satellite was "broken"), the room had a thermostat but no heat or a/c (engineering was consulted and it might come on at 11 PM), there was a gym that opened from noon to 5 PM and our tour had to start at 7AM with a 6 AM wake up call.  As we waited in the lobby, we were told the driver had some personal business and might be there around 8 AM.  So, I guess it isn't just the Du...

Pictures always tell the story better than I can so here are some snaps from Xian...

 Bike riding on the old city wall- it was pretty cool - yes, cold too.  The wall was built originally in the Quing dynasty, of course has been rebuilt, but makes a nice contrast to the ever present sky scrapers.

View of the local market from up on the wall - they sell everything from fruit, veg, and meat to toilet paper.

                                Local butcher - notice his cigarette - no refrigerators around here!

                                                     Who is that guy?  Where is Ronald?

                           Certainly a plus (and not easy to find) but ALWAYS bring your own TP.

Every tour has to take you shopping, many times.  This was where we could buy life size soldiers...they even ship them home for you, for a price of course.

The real deal - the picture doesn't do it justice.  Every face is different, they were smashed up by an angry mob 3000 years ago and every night at 7PM the Chinese work on putting more and more of them back together. 

The farmer who was digging a well and found them... we were very "lucky" and he was there that day, he signed our book and for a mere 20 RMB took this picture with us.

                                 People come from all over China to eat at this restaurant. 

A typical one child family -notice the boys trousers... they don't wear diapers, they wear split pants and just do their business whenever and wherever they are, usually on the sidewalk.  Guess it saves on landfill but watch where you walk!

Guess that is it for now, 71 more days but who is counting.  Bye for now!