Xian

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Today Patt and I took a trip up to the historic city of Xian.  First order of business of course after checking in is lunch, so we head out into the neighborhood, past several noodle type shops and tsaw his crowd lined up next to a window getting a sandwich looking meal, so we said.  Lets do it.  There is Patt about 17 people back.  

 Chopped up aged beef —I am guessing  on the aged part, with hunks of fat tossed in stuffed into a muffin like piece of bread.  Turned out really good.  Matt had said there was good street food here and he was right on this one.  There is a significant Moslem influence on the food vendors, note the headgear below and we did indeed eat Moslem prepared food all day.

 We visited a famous collection of stone tablets of writings of Confucius.  This particular tablet was guidance for sons and I am thinking of getting a translation for Stephen.  It was moved here in 1023 AD or some time like that and goes on and on and on.

 Here is Patt avoiding the sun and meditating in shade.  Actually the weather was quite pleasant.  She is thinking about how to get the advice to Stephen.

The view from our hotel widow of the old city wall and the old part of town.  We are in a Howard Johnson, a real live Howard Johnson — and a nice one too.  a hotel, not an interstate motel of the early 60s .

 And an ancient Moslem Mosque.  We were there when prayer call was made and the assembly of the faithful took place.  Also the assembly of hosts of tourists.  Mainly European and other Asian tourists, but lots and lots of tourists.

 Like on this street in the Moslem quarter.  We were seldom without friends and neighbors.   Just about all you would ever need.

I write this in the hotel lobby — wifi only in the lobby-- and a player piano has been playing big band music, shifted to a medley of patriotic tunes like grand old flag, america , star spangled banner, dixie, yankee doodle dandy and so on.  then it was on to the sound track from the movie the sting.  Yes this place really makes sense.