Taiyuan 2013

 

Taiyuan is the capital city of Shanxi, China.  It is quite similar to Beijing, however there are a lot more people biking or driving electrical bikes and scooters.  The weather is much cooler than Beijing and I was incredibly grateful for that.  We had a few days of rain and I could have used a hoody, although I was never really cold.

 

This is the hotel we stayed at.  Our room was on the fourth floor facing a very busy street.  It was very loud every night almost all night long...even with earplugs!  The constant honking only stopped for a few short hours at night.  Needless to say, by the fourth night I was ready for a quieter room!  This country bumpkin does not do well with constant noise!

Jackson loved the fountain that surrounded the statues in front of the hotel.  He would point, babble and smile...something he rarely does. 

 

 

This is the street scene right in front of our hotel.

 



 

You'll have to excuse me cause I'm posting lots of pictures of Jackson...he's just so adorable!

 

As I mentioned earlier, our guide was not very helpful.  She would explain where we could find certain things, but would get her "left" and "right" mixed up, so we didn't get to see as many places as I would have liked.  However, she did take us to Walmart.  How about some dried chicken?

 



 

 

Or raw seafood?

 

Or fish?

 

It sure was smelly...but interesting!  Anything to make the time go by faster!



 

We went for many walks and enjoyed the beautiful flowers.

 

One day we went to the local park.  It was very beautiful.  We had thought that our boys could play in the grass...that didn't happen.  The grass is only for looking pretty and everyone stayed on the sidewalks.  :(

 

There were many of these high rises...so thankful I am blessed to live on an acreage!

 



 

 

We passed a school during recess.  We could hear the kids from at least a block away.  The only place they had to play was concrete.  Sure wouldn't want to fall and skin a knee!

 

 The only other excursion was to a Museum...I don't even remember the name.  It was rather boring other than seeing some ancient pillows made of porcelain...

 

...and some need displays.  Looking at row upon row of ancient money is not my cup of tea.  But once again, it was something to do to help pass the time.

 



Little Mr. Thoughtful at the supper table.

Jackson is a real thinker.  I can tell he is absorbing everything around him, but he rarely reacts to it.  Most days he will not play with me or interact with me unless we are in our room.  He is beginning to point at more things to communicate and is beginning to whine when he is unhappy.

 



Jeff and Sharon with Jaden and Jackson and I outside our motel waiting to go to the airport.  We were all pretty excited to be heading back to Beijing!!