Consulate Appt All Clear As Well
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Happy Last Day in Guangzhou to you! (It's been a LOOONG trip and we're finally almost on our way to Hong Kong to spend tonight before leaving for home in just 24 hours!) These last few days in Guangzhou have been somewhat relaxing, but somewhat stressed as well.
Future Traveler FYI--What was one of the most enjoyable parts of my last trip (souvenir shopping) has been disappointing this time...not because there isn't still a WIDE selection of souvenir stuff, but because the atmosphere has changed significantly since 05. I think a combination of bad economy and fewer adoptive families getting processed are joining forces to make prices much higher and shopkeepers much more agressive and high pressure...Not Fun! With one exception---Jordon's Place...Jordon is a very happy and very friendly guy; he sets his prices where most other places make you engage in a long, tiring haggle to get to (and he's actually lower than the haggle most of the time...) I gave up on the other shops pretty quickly and just went to Jordon!
G's not a patient shopper either, so that made the souvenir hunt much more challenging as well. So, in short, I bought much less this time (which isn't a bad thing for my pocketbook)
We've finally had a few days of moderately warm weather, so we got to ditch the coats. G enjoyed the park on Shamian Island for about an hour yesterday and we had dinner with our travel group the last 2 nights at the Cantonese restaurant across the street from Lucy's (Spicy Green Beans are to die for!!)
We figured out yesterday that our hotel location was just a couple blocks (on a pedestrian-only shopping street) from a HUGE square...KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and THOUSANDS of people out roaming around at 2 in the afternoon on a work/school day...we've yet to figure out why it's so busy in the middle of the day :-)
Well, the family is stirring and we need to get moving for the day...Red Couch photo after breakfast; check out of the hotel; Oath at the Consulate in the early afternoon; Train to Hong Kong; a few hours of touring Hong Kong; one more night of sleep (probably restless for me); EARLY flight out Friday morning (Thursday night at home) and we'll be home on Friday evening!
Thanks for following along and for praying us a safe and meaningful trip! Much love, d
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 10:04:00 PM EDT
It's been fun following your journey. That's too bad about the shops on Shamian Island. I really enjoyed visiting them and just assumed they'd always be the same. A few days ago I looked at some of the photos from our trip ... I miss China.
Take Care.
Jerry
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 5:36:00 AM EDT
GLad you are in the final stretch coming home! Enjoy these last 24 hours. We are heading to Colorado to the mountains for a few days and then into Denver for Nate's appointment on Monday. We'll catch up with you once you are home!
Blessings,
Gayly
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 7:52:00 AM EDT
SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY HOME!!!! I SO ENJOYED YOUR TRIP. YOU DID A GREAT JOB KEEPING US POSTED. HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE YOU ALL ON SUNDAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOUR LITTLE GUY. BE SAFE ON THIS LAST LEG OF YOUR JOURNEY. MOM AND I WILL KEEP THE PRAYERS COMMING. SAY HI TO S AND J.
LOVE YA
LA VONNE
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 9:11:00 AM EDT
Wooooohooooo - the home stretch! Safe travels and I sooo hope we can see you in person at the reunion this summer. What a wonderful year we've all had, huh?! Hugs and prayers for a great flight!
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 9:44:00 AM EDT
Little G is coming HOME! Thank you D, for letting us all follow along on your trip, you did a great job sharing with us.
Blessings as you prepare to fly and as you travel home. Praying that G does as well as can be expected (or even better) on the long journey to his brand new life!
Blessings as you leave China ~
Love,
Tina
We loved Jordan too, he's the best!