May 1st

It was so great to see Lori and Kari!! Last Thursday after school Dad and I went to Beijing on the bullet train. Our travel agent had made reservations for us at at 2 star motel. It was a Korean motel where no one spoke English or at least not very good English. The carpets were filthy, but our linens were OK. We had an address for the motel in English and Chinese. We took a subway to get close to the motel and then looked for a cab to take us to it. We could not get a cab to stop. Finally a pedicab (3 wheeled enclosed scooter) stopped and offered to take us. It was a memorable ride; like a taxi ride down the bike lanes. And then he couldn't find the motel. Luckily we had the phone number. The motel was down a back alley. We dropped off our bags and walked a block to get another taxi to take us to the airport. This driver was in one heck of a hurry! We knew the girls flight would be an hour late but it was 2 hrs. late. By the time we got back to our motel it was 2:30 a.m. There weren't many taxis running so we had to take a "rogue" taxi. They set their own prices. Friday morning started with a Korean breakfast at 7:00. I took 4 hard-boiled eggs for us and we went and got another taxi to go to Alice's and drop off the girls' luggage and then get to the train to Xi'an. The train left at 10:01. Dad wanted to stop and have a real breakfast. Then we had to take the subway and a taxi to the train station. The station is huge and the signs that were in English weren't helpful. Finally a young woman led us to the train. We got on with 6 min. to spare! I was a little anxious. We had to sit up in the train for 9 hours. So we napped and talked and ate PBJ's. There is no food on the train. We got to Xi'an (pronounced She On) at 7:00 at night and took another taxi to our hostel. The hostel was really nice! Saturday we had breakfast at the hostel and then decided to take a tour to the warriors that was offered by the hostel. We're glad we did. It was easier than trying to do it by ourselves. Our guide spoke English and there were other tourists to visit with. You know Dad! The Warriors were amazing! We got back to the hostel and then took a bus to the train station ( we went the wrong way first) and this time we were on the overnight train in a room for four. It wasn't too bad. PBJ's for dinner. ( we bought peanut butter, jam and bread and I had a knife) The noise from the train was so loud that our sleep wasn't very good. We got off the train at 7:00a.m. We had arranged to take a tour to the Great Wall and the tour guide had a heck of a time finding us at the train station. Another English speaking guide and a small bus of tourists. We only got to spend about 1 1/2 hours at the wall but it was very impressive and steep! If you're in China you have to see the Terra cota Warriors and the Great Wall;so we did! When we left the Wall the road in to it had been closed because of too much traffic; it was a national holiday. Then we went to ta jade factory and bought trinkets and had lunch. Afterwards we went to a silk factory. We left the tour at this point because of the time and got on a subway back to Alice's house to retrieve the girls luggage.With their 4 suitcases and backpacks and shopping bags we got on the subway, made 2 changes and got on the bullet train to come home to Tianjin. We got home about 9:30 in the evening. We were tired! Jeanne had dinner waiting for us! Monday we relaxed and just went around the neighborhood. We went out for dinner and had FHE at the Boren's. Lori and Kari sung a song for us. Tuesday we went to the Tianjin bell tower and a huge local shopping center. It's so big that you get lost and pass the same stalls 10 times. We didn't find what the girls wanted and Dad went home early. His feet hurt. We had dinner out again at a local dumpling house with Jennifer Lee, our Relief Society president. She really wanted to meet our daughters! Then home, packing and crashing! Lori and Kari left for the Beijing Airport this morning at 7:00. I know they had a good time in China and we had so much fun with them! Now we miss home more than ever!! We will arrive at PDX June 16 at 2:55 on Alaska! Don't be late!! Love you ALL !!!! MISS YOU !!! Mom XXOO