Breakfast at 8 and the day begins.Actually we have already been on the balcony for a while.The Brit across from us is thrilled with the discovery of toast and we have a good laugh about his culinary find in this land of such delights.Ann settles in for what is later described as her bets manicure ever and i chat on deck with a couple from denmark.The river slips by and ships come and go.We enter the first gorge at about 10 and thoough it is a short one only 8 kms in length it is spectacular with towering peaks and sheer cliffs dropping down to the great river.Lots of pictures are taken and we all agree this is great. The next gorge is much longer,about 45 kms and we are comfortable settled on the foredeck watching ... read more

Well bloggers we have surfaced.Actually we have been on the surface of the Yangzi river since I last wrote. Actually that isn't really right as the yang tzee was the colonial name and not in favour here any more the proper name is now the Chang Jiang,bot I am ahead of myself again.When I last wrote we had been waiting in the hotel in Xi'an.The plane took off at about 7:30 and a short pleasant flight deposited us in the city of Chongqing.Another friendly smiling face attached to a Speak sign greeted us at the airport.A very articulate young woman was there to greet us and along with the driver was certainly serving above and beyond as they had both waited out our flight delay in the airport waiting for our three hour delayed flight.Pangs ... read more

I forgot to tell you about last night's supper. We walked down the road to get some hot pot.,not far from workers stadium, and also not far from the embassy.Hot pot is really fondue in another land.The waitress had great patience and spoke to us in mandarin with pointing and understanding looks.She really didn't care that we could not understand and she was unphased that she could not understand us.She hung in and pointed and waved at pictures on the menu.The end result was an excellent meal with plates of thinly sliced beef and some vegetables,mushrooms,squid,vermicelli noodles,some wagon wheel like sliced vegetable (Lotus root) and sauces of unknown origin. The pots of broth are placed before each diner and the sterno lit to produce a satisfying bubbling cooking broth to slip the various delights into.Large beers ... read more

Saturday is here Bob and Nadia and Carlo are all free of responsibility and able to join us on the great adventure,The enbassy vehicle and driver have been conscripted/hired for out excursion to the Great Wall.Ann makes a quick cycle to the tailor to get her new jacket.It is lovely and everyone is pleased. After breakfast we load into the van and head off to the Wall.The drive is about an hour and a half.We have chosen to go to a place the guide books say is less of a tourist scene.Our driver is a little unclear near the end about the route but after a couple of passing opinions and the views of a group of navigators sitting around infront of a bar/restaurant we see signs for the Great wall and are back on track.The ... read more

After a few days of walking around I've noticed a few unusual things about the gardens and I've come to the conclusion that annuals must be very inexpensive in China. Most everywhere you look, there are potted plants - intersections, along the main highways and boulevards. In Tiannamon Square there are huge installations involving thousands of plants - huge pots of crimson bougainvilla, pointsiettas, yellow crysanthemums and asperagus ferns. Inspite of the pollution, dust and sand (we're close to the Gobi desert) there are bursts of colour along the main inter-city highways. First they erect a wire structure with holes in it, then they add pots to every hole - voila, a wall of colour - gorgeous. next gardening report to come as we make ourselves south. A... read more