Today we decided to go with the group to tour a few places. Our first stop was the point where the Yangtze and the Jialing rivers meet. This is a major port for boats and a starting point for a 3 day river tour up the Yangtze river to the three gorges. Unfortunately, we do not have the time to take the cruise. Aerial photos we have seen of the point look like a boat, but from the ground it is too big to see. Next we traveled to the People's Hall (Chongqing's version of Beijing's Tiananmen Square) and the Three Gorges Museum. It was a very hot day out, and as you can see in the photos, Foggy/hazy also. Chongqing is known for 3 things: it is known as "foggy city", "mountain city", and "furnace city". While in the museum, we watched a man draw Savannah's Chinese name in calligraphy. We plan to frame it and give it to her when she is older. Savannah did pretty well all afternoon, considering the heat and humidity.
After a short bus ride back to the hotel, Haleigh and I walked to McDonald's and got lunch. It is funny to watch the people's faces when we walk in. When the people taking the orders see an American walk in, they get out a special menu that has both Chinese and English writing on them. All you have to do is point to what you want, and most of the time they have no trouble understanding it. For dinner Brian went to a restaurant with Marie, our guide, and 4 other people in our group to have a hot pot. The table has a hole in the middle and a burner. The pot is filled with oils, peppers, and spices, and the mixture is boiled. You order what kind of meat and/or vegetable you want, drop it in the boiling oil, and wait til it's done to eat it. There is a bowl of oil with ginger and garlic to dip your food in, and it is supposed to take some of the heat of it. We ordered the medium spice just to test the heat. Most of the guys could have handled the hot--maybe next time. Well, that is about all for tonight. Enjoy the pictures, and we will write again tomorrow.
Jordan and Tannor: Hope you both start feeling better. We hate to be away, but it won't be much longer. We Love You and will see you soon.
