a tourist thing

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went to a local tourist thing today not too far from where I am studying Chinese.  The place was crowded.  We are talking Thursday, no holiday and not terribly nice weather either.  This is one of the entrances, look under the arch, see all the people, and yes I went in.  There was the occasional lao wei, (foreigner), but they did tend to get lost in the crowd.  I had gone for a whole day on numerous occasions and seen no other westerners except relatives --yesterday for example - and I was downtown too.

 the place was of course a replica, think Colonial Williamsburg, except a couple of thousand years older replica -- the time frame being represented, not the buildings which were very new and almost smelled of fresh paint.  Did I mention the crowds.  Lots of souvenirs and trinkets, think Cherokee or Gatlinburg.

 There was one restaurant where some really pretty oriental sounding - duh - music was being played.  I went in, intending to perhaps sit, have a drink of tea (did not see any beer, but could have enjoyed one), the idea of staying and having a tea was abandoned when I saw the crowds who also heard the music and wanted to document it.  Notice the poor guy at the right trying to enjoy his tea -- fat chance of that one Jose.  Did I mention the crowds?  and with cameras too.

for the record, I did not buy any of the trinkets, though I did inquire about price a time or two in order to try out my new language skills.  They are less than good, apparently they do not get my accent - because I sure do not have their tones.