Monday, July 9, 2007

Guangzhou

Well, it's Monday night and we got into Guangzhou (GZ) at noon on Saturday. It's amazing at this time in the travel how fast everything seems to go. Saturday was just settling in, finding our way around, etc.

On Sunday we got to do some sightseeing - we visited the Six Banyan Buddhist Temple and got to tour, and have the babies blessed by the monks. Very cute. We also went to the Chen Family Academy (was a home, then a school, now a museum/gift shop). I've been to both places 3 times now, so the initial suprise is sort of gone. At the temple I just went shopping - found a great Tanka (Buddhist silk and painted hanging) at the Tibetian Buddhist shop near the temple.

At the Chen Academy I have been enthralled every time I've been there. They continue to restore the building and the amazing ceramics that are on the ridges.

They also have updated their museum displays, and it was really interesting this time around. They had puppets, displays of furniture that were in the home, embroidery (very cool) and lots of carvings.

After the Academy we were off to the local Jade carving factory. These stores are government run, but sell the highest quality of jade that is guaranteed in writing. It is very, very expensive. It is fun to look, but I will stick with the "B" or "C" quality jade and be quite happy, thank you very much.
Sunday afternoon after naps (2 hours this time) we met as a group to do paperwork. The dads took the kids to the play room here at the hotel, while the moms took off to do the paperwork. A grueling 2.5 hours later, we were done - thank goodness. Lucy held it together while I was gone, which was great - and then we grabbed dinner and went to bed.
Today was Monday, and it flew by. We met at 8:30a to head to the medical appointment. It was tough being ready so early, but I'm so glad we did. By the time we left at 9:30, there was a HUGE line of adoptive parents waiting to have their kiddos checked out.
At the medical office, there are 3 basic stations - height/weight; ENT; general health. Passed all with flying colors and the doctor who saw Lucy liked her - and thinks she has "spirit". Too bad she isn't around when her "spirit" is in full force... then maybe she wouldn't think Lucy is so cute!
After we were done getting our approvals for medical, we were off to walk through the traditional medicine market - they had all sorts of stuff there, and you could have medicines mixed for you based on what a doctor prescribed. You could also purchase pets near the market, and you could also get animals - snakes, turtles, scorpions - to purchase for medicine.
We walked for less than 50 minutes, and I was soaked straight through. We went to the pearl market and looked around - but the prices were FAR more expensive than the Hongqiao Market in BJ. Far better deals there for same or better quality pearls.
After that, Lucy was toast (literally) and we came back and went straight to bed for our nap. She slept today for 3.5 hours! We got up and went to the pool, and swam for another 2 hours, had dinner and went right back to bed. And, that is a typical day here. Up, eat, paperwork, nap (lunch if we are lucky), small play, dinner, bed.
Tomorrow is the consulate appointment #1. This one we don't go to, but we are around the hotel in case they need us for something. We go to the consulate on Weds and swear our oath that we will be great parents to our children. I wonder if our children would always agree to what we said we'd do... I guess that is why they don't always have choices in these matters...

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