We all woke early, with Lydia announcing that it's "ling" (zero in Chinese) day on the countdown to Talia. She also shared that she has 3 big feelings today--happy, excited and a little bit nervous. Nervous that "I'll have to share my mommy/daddy." We posted a picture of Talia on yesterday's post that we hadn't seen before. It was in the adoption paperwork that we completed yesterday afternoon. As promised, Lydia then got to go to the indoor playground and Starbucks, where she had hot cocoa. It started to cool off last night, with rain today and a high of only 61 F. Luckily we've brought clothing for all weather possibilities, and only the cooler weather clothing is still clean. We sent out all of our laundry yesterday, and it's due back today. What's not to love about China? You eat out for every meal trying delicious new things, send the laundry out to be washed, daily maid service to make up beds and clean the room . . . it's great! We (and our guide) noted that our air conditioning wasn't working very well on arrival. Yesterday, we had management here, housekeeping and maintenance all at once. They have provided us with a floor model air conditioner that they fill with ice, which is cooling the room nicely. Then a huge fruit basket arrived "for our inconvenience!" The fruit is gorgeous--apple, orange, 2 mangoes, kiwi, 2 bananas and 2 pieces of fruit I can't identify; one looks like a kiwi but has a smooth green skin like an apple and the other is vaguely pineapple-like, but pink with smooth green tentacles that look like aloe. We should try to get a picture and will have to ask Anita what it is and how to eat it.
Last night, we ventured once again to the underground world, which our hotel and the adjourning park sit atop. The underground seems to be designed in a hub and spokes layout, with massive round columns in the centers, many restaurant, shops, amusements, and even a massage parlor that Donna is planning to visit. We ate dinner at a restaurant and bumbled through ordering a couple of entrees. We successfully order a chicken dish, which we wanted hot but not spicy - that was a challenge but our waitperson spoke enough English to eventually understand what we were saying. We also ordered "mien" (noodles), but got a sizzling beef and green/red pepper dish instead... regardless, it was quite good. The chicken dish came in a large bowl with tree ear mushrooms, chicken, and crispy rice crackers in a thick, soupy gravy. Hao chi! (delicious).
We've been amazed by how warm it has been, upper 70's to probably low 80's here in Chongqing, the warmest city we've visited so far, called one of the 3 "furnace cities" in China, because it's unbearably hot in the summer. Happily we're here in March! Our day is free until we go to get Talia. We've been told all the things to bring--gifts for the Orphanage Director and 2 nannies, a bottle of water and snacks for Talia, blankets and toys to distract and amuse her. Lydia is "breaking in" all of Talia's things, and we posted a picture of her trying out the crib, of which she approves. She's been playing with all the baby things just since we've arrived in Chongqing, we think to ready herself for a new baby in our life. She carries around a blanket, which she calls "pretty colors" and is pretending that it is her baby. She gives it a bottle, puts it in the crib and yesterday made it an appointment! We're all preparing in our own way. We'll probably hang out in the underground today, lots of shops and restaurants, but oddly very dimly lit and very smoky. Between the poor outdoor air quality and the indoor cigarette smoking, the air is bad here, and I'm glad for my inhaler and antihistamines. The big post with baby pictures will hopefully happen this evening . . . stay tuned! [We've added a few more pictures in our Changning City post below. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
Last night, we ventured once again to the underground world, which our hotel and the adjourning park sit atop. The underground seems to be designed in a hub and spokes layout, with massive round columns in the centers, many restaurant, shops, amusements, and even a massage parlor that Donna is planning to visit. We ate dinner at a restaurant and bumbled through ordering a couple of entrees. We successfully order a chicken dish, which we wanted hot but not spicy - that was a challenge but our waitperson spoke enough English to eventually understand what we were saying. We also ordered "mien" (noodles), but got a sizzling beef and green/red pepper dish instead... regardless, it was quite good. The chicken dish came in a large bowl with tree ear mushrooms, chicken, and crispy rice crackers in a thick, soupy gravy. Hao chi! (delicious).
We've been amazed by how warm it has been, upper 70's to probably low 80's here in Chongqing, the warmest city we've visited so far, called one of the 3 "furnace cities" in China, because it's unbearably hot in the summer. Happily we're here in March! Our day is free until we go to get Talia. We've been told all the things to bring--gifts for the Orphanage Director and 2 nannies, a bottle of water and snacks for Talia, blankets and toys to distract and amuse her. Lydia is "breaking in" all of Talia's things, and we posted a picture of her trying out the crib, of which she approves. She's been playing with all the baby things just since we've arrived in Chongqing, we think to ready herself for a new baby in our life. She carries around a blanket, which she calls "pretty colors" and is pretending that it is her baby. She gives it a bottle, puts it in the crib and yesterday made it an appointment! We're all preparing in our own way. We'll probably hang out in the underground today, lots of shops and restaurants, but oddly very dimly lit and very smoky. Between the poor outdoor air quality and the indoor cigarette smoking, the air is bad here, and I'm glad for my inhaler and antihistamines. The big post with baby pictures will hopefully happen this evening . . . stay tuned! [We've added a few more pictures in our Changning City post below. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
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