We were up bright and early after our late arrival in Guangzhou the night before. We slept like rocks, even tho the beds are VERY firm. And we were pleasantly surprised by the really wonderful breakfast buffet served at the hotel. There was everything from eggs to dim sum to baked beans to fish sticks. And the view out the window was great! Our room faces the river, as does the dining room. It's fun for the kids to watch the tug boats and barges going up and down. We walked to the clinic and I couldn't believe how much I felt like I was in Savannah, Georgia! The island-portion of the city, where the hotel is, has many squares and the trees have Spanish moss dripping from them. Alot of the architecture is colonial. People were out doing tai chi in the squares. It was like something out of a magazine. The area is very pedestrian friendly, so the girls enjoyed riding in the stroller (that we never got to use in Zhengzhou). It is very humid, but you don't bake in the sun like in Zhengzhou.
The clinic was very noisy and crowded with adopted kids getting their US mandated exams. Ke Xin exercised on her stroller while she waited her turn. The whole physical was basically a "turn your head and cough" type thing, and she did great. Until the vaccinations. She had to get SIX, plus a TB skin test in which they inject something under the skin with a nasty needle. She fought like a lion and it took 2 nurses and me to hold her still and get the shots done, slowly, one by one. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She really had no use for me still, and having to hold her down didn't win me any points. But she survived and we were able to leave after the torture and take a nice stroll thru the area. The White Swan is a HUGE hotel on the waterfront. It is gorgeous inside, with a beautiful waterfall that falls from the 3rd floor and ends in a koi pond. The koi that swim in the pond are huge and go bananas if they think they're going to get food. Olivia and Ke Xin love to watch them. There are many jade sculptures around the hotel. Olivia is standing in front of an incredible ship in the main lobby.
Just outside the hotel are many shops and restaurants. The restaurant we like best so far is Lucy's. Because... they serve real hamburgers, quesadeas and turkey wraps (and it's a 2 minute walk). Bless Lucy's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes - I am a food-fickle westerner. I like the food from home and so does Olivia. Ke Xin does great with all the noodle and egg dishes and she is very independent, insisting on feeding herself most of the time. The picture of Debbi with the fat lady and pug is right next to Lucy's.
I've already bought the girls their Chinese dresses. Here's Olivia in hers. She was watching TV when I took the pic and couldn't tear her eyes away long enough for me to get a decent shot. But you get the idea. The dress cost 49 yuan - less than $10!!! My cheap heart is happy!
So after a successful day of eating and shopping, my attitude had improved about 100%. I can do this for a week! I hope Debbi can - her nose has been horribly stopped up since we were in Zhengzhou. I think she's become a nasal spray junkie!!!!!!
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