Day 8 - Nanjing/Guangzhou

April woke up for the first time without quiet crying.  This was helped by Daddy sleeping in her bed holding her all night until she woke up.  She is not quick to wake up and takes after her Mommy in that regard, but hopefully will not also be a zombie until she has coffee.

After the breakfast buffet in the hotel we went back to the room to pack.  Our guide brought our laundry (it is much cheaper to send it out and he recommends a place near where he lives).  Very nice of him - it was a heavy bag.  Due to a lack of cooperation, we were unable to finish packing in the planned timeframe and cancelled out trip to the department store for writing pads for the kids. 

April continues to amaze us with her resilience.  At one point while we were packing she was playing with 2 bunny dolls we brought, tucking them into beds and talking to them.  She still prefers Daddy and will cry or resist if handed to Mommy, but is fine once Daddy is out of sight.

On the plus side, we tried a different restaurant (branching out from the great Chinese restaurant around the corner).  Carl's Cafe was a big surprise.  Looks more like a clean hole in the wall next to the larger restaurants, but excellent food.  Bennett and April both chowed down.  We had beef short ribs on rice and dumplings.  The owner spoke good English and insisted on providing complimentary hot tea (the best tea we have had yet) and also brought out complimentary deserts for the kids after talking to us for a bit (red bean and rice pudding or something like that - Lisa keeps telling me I am listing the wrong bean so I probably remembered it wrong again).  April cleaned the bowl after I thought she was full.  What a great meal and experience.

Back to the hotel.  Our guide came to the room and showed the scrolls and chops he had ordered on our behalf after suggesting them.  We could not be happier with them.  Each scroll, one for April and one for Bennett, are done in calligraphy with old Chinese characters on handmade paper, listing their DOB, name, and birthplace.  The chops have their name & Chinese animal for the year they were born.

After driving to the airport, we got the usual escorted service through the check in, luggage check, etc. all the way to the end of the security line.  One could get used to this.  And yes, you also get met as you exit baggage claim by your guide with your name on a piece of cardboard, and are then led to your waiting bus or van.  Not a bad way to travel.

Most of the families we had met at our hotel or at the meeting/gotcha day were on our flight.  We enjoyed talking while waiting at the gate.

April was great on the plane and had a blast.  She also captivated the flight attendants and got an unsolicited kids book & playing cards.  I could have used less "Niah, Niah" or something like that which is Chinese for "I need to go potty now".  But the guy on the aisle seat was accomodating.

We are now in the White Swan ready to head out for the medical exam and start the U.S. consulate paperwork tomorrow.  We could not get a consulate appt until Wed so will be here for a week (it is Friday now, I think).  The A/C works!!!! YEAH!!! Even more important here since it is very hot & humid outside; much more so then Nanjing.

We are not traveling alone for a change.  Our group in Guangzhou has 4 families - 1 got in before us, 1 family arrived shortly after us, and another will get here later tonight.  Our consulate appt. dates vary from Mon - Wed which will be a challenge for our guide to handle sightseeing and the different official tasks for each family required on different days.

We are on the downtown island in Guangzhou.  Eating out will be less of an adventure/challenge, but we will eat well - highly recommended restaurants close by include a Thai, Cantonese, and Italian restaurant.  Not sure I'll get Lisa to try the pigeon the cantonese place is known for, but I'll try.