Yesterday, our guides told us that today would be a light day, with nothing but a brief trip to a local garden. When we awoke to a gray, drizzly day, at least half of the families opted out. We had already seen the park across the street, which is very nice, and the weather just didn’t seem conducive to walking outside.
As Northwesterners, we knew we could handle a little rain so we jumped on the bus and, boy, are we glad we did. They said this 30-acre park was a little different and they were right. We went to Yuntai Garden, which apparently is where many couples go to have their wedding pictures taken. From the moment we stepped through the gate, I was stunned by the beauty of the place, which was enhanced further by decorations left over from the recent Festival of Lanterns celebration. Even on this dreary day early in the spring, it was probably the most beautiful park I’ve ever seen. Perhaps I’m wrong but I thought it was more scenic than Butchart Gardens in Victoria or the old Cypress Gardens in Florida. The fountain at the entrance was especially spectacular.
Midway through our stroll, we came upon a couple of employees with a cart filled with traditional Chinese costumes that you could put on for photographs for 10 yuan per person. The seven kids in our group—meaning the older siblings who had come along with their parents to get their new sisters—tried on outfits (Jameson was a samurai of some sort) and they looked great! It was a lot of fun for everyone and I’m sure we collectively snapped a hundred photos of them all. The setting was so lush and beautiful that when we looked at our pictures later, the background looked like it had to be a fake backdrop in a studio.
After our visit to the garden, I went to McDonald’s to grab lunch. When I walked into the restaurant, right next door to our hotel, I was kind of befuddled because the menu had changed since the first time I was there a few nights ago. At that time, there were only four options on the menu, all were value meals costing about $3.50 and each sandwich came with a box of six Chicken McNuggets. This time, there was a whole variety of meal choices, each one costing about $2, but with no McNuggets included. An employee in the lobby brought me a menu and then stood next to me while I looked at it. Finally, I realized she was waiting to help me so I pointed to the first meal I wanted and she whipped out a Palm Pilot and started writing my order down on it. When I finished giving her my three meal selections, she wrote a number on a small Post-It note and gave it to me. I got in line and when I got to the counter just handed the note to girl there. She put the order together, took my money and I was out of there. Cost us $6 for a Big Mac, double cheeseburger, six McNuggets, three fries and three drinks.
Laura and Jeannette are now down getting massages in the health center while I’m keeping my fingers crossed (well, when I’m not typing) that MJ will stay asleep. I think she’s starting to stir now, though, so I probably need to get back on duty. Tonight, she gets her picture taken for her visa (I think) and then tomorrow it’s time for the health inspection, er, medical check.
1 comment:
You crack me up! What would you do without your dear friend, "McDonalds"? You didn't mention if all that food was just for you, or if you were sharing...ha ha ha!
Have you noticed anything odd that they put on the pizza? In Guadalajara, hot dogs are a big hit on pizza! Go figure.
Post a Comment