Suzhou

Today we traveled by several modes of transportation on our journey to Suzhou and back. First our bus took us to the train station and we got to experience why it is called mass transit! We went into waiting room 4 which you had to have a ticket to enter. This photo was made on the platform as we were starting to get on the train. I have a photo of room 4 but that doesn't do it justice. The sheer number of people in one place was definitely a Discovery Experience, as GCT likes to say. The train itself was wonderful and brand new and modern. The ride only took 35 minutes but the bus ride home in the afternoon took 2 hours. It was fast! After we exited the train (we had 2 minutes to do so) we managed to get across a street and dodge the cars, bicycles, buses, etc. They do not stop! All of this involved a LOT of walking for Jim. I can't say enough about how stoic he has been to go and do on this trip. Everyone is so impressed and I certainly am. He could not have done it without the trusty cane seat. It attracts attention everywhere because it is so unique. Ok back to Suzhou. We took a canal ride and it was a very different view of life. The boat was fun and we all really did enjoy this tour.

Then we went to lunch in the buffet restaurant at the silk factory. Afterwards, we toured the silk factory and saw the silkworms eating the mulberry leaves and all the stages -very interesting. Then we got to shop in their sales rooms -surprise, surprise! Actually, their things were just lovely and it is a good thing for most bank accounts that we had a limited time there. I did manage to do some damage in the allotted time. From there, we went to the famous gardens there but honestly, they were not as nice as the ones in Shanghai and it was so humid that we were all just dripping and not terribly interested. But the way in and back to the bus was a short lane of shops full of assorted wonderful buys. I, myself, got a "genuine" fake North Face backpack. We did not bring a backpack on this trip and have missed it when we go out for the day so for $12, this works great. We are all enjoying the Mao watches and the fans and the post cards and the hats that the "salespeople" crowd around us to sell us. Barbara, you asked about the shopping. We are managing to find things to shop for but to be honest, we do where the bus takes us. The city is huge and there is something about going into a store and not being able to read the prices or even the signs at all......sort of takes the thrill of the hunt out of things!

Speaking of shopping, we went to the grocery store/market next to our hotel tonight to get assorted things to make a light supper in our room. It is truly an experience to go to the grocery here. The deli had cooked chicken feet or you could go buy them uncooked across the aisle. We have had fun guessing at the flavor of some things and there is just so much unusual stuff for sale in them. There is a clothing and other stuff store attached to the grocery store-it is a really big one. Anyway it was fun until we paid and went to the door and wondered why there was a huge crowd at the door. Then we realized it was pouring rain and lightning to beat the band. Now if you know me, you know that I am very afraid of lightning! So we waited inside for about 10 min with no signs of it letting up. Allen found a way to go part way under a big overhang. Then my caring son, the physics teacher, put his arm around me and assured me that I was safe among all those tall buildings and we made a dash for it!

Well have gone on much too long so will post another photo and head to bed. On to Xian tomorrow. Steven has assured us our luggage is being weighed as a group so not to worry!