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It has been hot, real hot, day time temps have been high.  The heat wave that the US has experienced has been present here too.  An endearing means of dealing with the heat here is for men to role up their shirt.  Yes, just role it right up like you would a — well, I don't know.

 or you could just sorta push it up, hold it in place with your arms and role up your pants legs as you walk down the street.  (the heat often does not "break" at night)

 Any kind of shirt can be rolled up.  and there are no apparent limitations on location

 thankfully the wearing pants high seems to be part of this practice of coping with heat.

 and this practice is limited to men.  I could do a feature on the "baby doll' dresses and short shorts and short dresses some of the women wear, but this is a family friendly blog- and my wife may not approve.

 I tried it and you too can really look cool.

The old Wall at Xian

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The last morning we went for a bike ride around the top of the old city wall in Xian.  Twenty-four very gray miles.  Very gray.  Color was brief and fleeting.

 One dash of color was a small market just next to the wall where we paused for pictures

 There were some Japanese tourists we exchanged picture taking with.  I asked the old guy to join us and it pleased him immensely.

 The wall is picturesque and is rebuilt from ancient days, like this city is as old as Rome.  Marco Polo came to this city when he came to China.

 The second splash of color was a Buddhist Temple and about now, rain was starting.  And there goes Patt, heading down the wall ahead of me.  For significant stretches on the north side we were among very few tourists.

 and when we approached the home stretch of the South Gate - we were dripping wet.  And heading into crowds of umbrella carrying or poncho wearing tourists.

 The next day was a major event change.  Those are overnight bags the children are carrying going out of their apartment complex.  I am busy explaining how early I go to bed.

 Patt reading Ramona- the kids do like Ramona.  Me too.  Fast paced and a girl with interests and challenges and in possession of an older sibbling.

 After they got in their beds (pallets made on the living room floor), they got another chapter from me in the adventures of Ramona.  Then it was my bedtime.

Terra Cotta Army

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Yes-sir-re-bob we saw 'em, these boys right here.  We joined several tens of thousands of our friends and neighbors this Friday afternoon to take in this site.  This photo does not begin to capture the enormity of the place.  This place is absolutely off the charts.  The building alone — the crowds, and wow, what an army.  

 this is the front of the main building, pit one,  when for some reason there was a brief gap in the streams of people- there are a lot of buildings in the complex- think real classy theme park, then make it more classy— and much more spread out.  (This county uses space). Seriously — it is very very nicely done—and huge.

 I mentioned the crowds, tour groups galore.  From all over,  even saw a tour group flag bearer carrying a Mexican flag.  However the crowds were overwhelmingly, I mean overwhelmingly from this place.

 First things first.  This is our driver Mr. Wong and tour guide, Mary.  We did not get a hat or a flag bearing guide.  Our driver, Mr. Wong, a retired government official bought a former government official car and it and he proved very worth while.  We by passed the public parking for the Terra Cotta Army, drove through three gates, by  passed thousands of walkers and got right to the museum area.  Parked next to the Tea House beside the building that houses Pit Number One (yeah that pit). People were staring and pointing.  Tinted windows helped.  I got out of the car and did not even look back, just looked my normal oblivious self.

 Prior to Terra Cotta we went to the Banpo neolithic peoples museum.  These people, not the Banpo, but "these people" here in this county like steps and imposing entrances to buildings.  This museum housed a stone age site and many relics from 5,000 to 6,000 years ago.  Our guide was good and explained a lot of stuff to us.

 the signs were not only in Chinese but had helpful translations into English so we did not miss a thing.  Here is a particularly helpful sign next to a pottery exhibit.

This next section is subtitled 

NOW WE ARE HAVING FUN

No trip involving foreigners, a tour company and a historic area does not include opportunities for shopping.  Jade, jewelry, silk, pottery, terra cotta warriors, were just some of the offerings.

These places were full of joyful people from France, Spain,  Australia, the good ole US of A and other nations that produce western looking peoples.

 Sales clerks were not in short supply if you expressed an interest in a particular line of a product.  (actually there were more sales clerks than this working this customer as there were runners who missed out on the photograph).  This particular customer can do some serious bargaining too I understand.

But back to the reason for the trip.  The Terra Cotta Army facility at Xian is very very impressive, spread out over acres and acres and the buildings themselves are thousands of square feet in size.

 and the people who come.  streams or people. rivers of people 

 Where's Waldo?

He was on his way to see these ancient metal horses from the tomb of one of the emperor's who wanted his war chariot available after death.  It was impressive and so very old and with advanced technology and such.

 However, this was the big deal.  It was almost more than you could grasp- and comprehend undertaking.  Like 700,000 laborers 37 years to complete.  That is a lot of noodles to cook for somebody to eat.

 and they are so unique and different.  Oh yeah, the laborers were all killed after the job was completed to keep the site a secret.  So much for job security in doing a good job.

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.

Happy Birthday Lydia

Lydia turned five on the 15th and it was a big deal.  Princesses were the order of the day and Cinderella was one of the favored.  Lydia celebrates hard and well and we enjoyed being part of her day.  

No detail is to small to be left to chance for Lydia on her birthday from menu planning, we had Honeynut Cheerios for lunch, to decorating cupcakes.

 There were several rousing games of pop-up balloon.

 I think I mentioned there were several games of pop-up balloon,  this activity starts and stops easily, fortunately no one got a cracked head, close, but no injuries, and adults can and do join.   Yours truly is a pretty good player from years ago, like about 30 some,

 Her youngest brother Luke, while happy most of the day, seen here with his favorite person, did not fully participate this year.  Mobility seems to be his limitation, charm is not.

 and the newest brother, John Paul, sure was in awe of what was happening and will, I am fairly certain play a rather prominent role in future celebrations.  He is going on two years old ( January birthday for this boy coming up) and you all know what two year olds can add to family activities.

Life Skills

Life Skills are important and so Patt and I attempt to impart as many as we can in the time we have with our grandchildren.  Here is Julianna working on Spider Solitaire.  She is working on single suit now, but in a couple of weeks, we will move on up.

Physical as well as mental skills are important and winking may be a year or two away for Isaac.  Lesson one did not result in any marked improvement in the ability to wink - a long recognized life skill.

Lydia now worked hard, twisting her face in a number of directions, none of which resulted in a wink.

She was however unwilling to totally give up, an important step in learning, she does show promise.

Now Julianna, who has had benefit of lessons during our last visit, can indeed wink.

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And she is proud of her ability — as she should.  She can also be quite serious  about it.

Consider this one life skill in the accomplished column.

just some of a day

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A day or so ago Patt got several photos of the kids and me shooting one another with squirt guns.  Luke about doubled up with laughter as seen here with the activity.  I got soaked.   

Lydia is full on willing to be soaked in return and you know what that means in a squirt gun battle, you are going to get wet.  Isaac is attack and retreat, laughing all the while.

 Dinner time ought to be photographed - it is a real adventure, sometimes we eat American, sometimes local with chop sticks.  In either case it is not a time for a quiet glass of wine though one sure would be nice ( and helpful I think on occasion ) Five kids ages six and under makes the case many years of lots of food to be consumed at meal time and fun times at the table.  Patt and I have suggested a second refrigerator.

Also lots of dishes to be done.  The helper does them most of the time, but on weekends and sometimes other events require washing.  Lydia is a great helper and willing companion at the sink.

 Also a great companion at the market.  There is Lydia under Patt's arms in the crowd buying vegetables.  Think farmer's market, then think larger, much larger and way more crowded with a greater variety of stuff.  To pay,  I pretty much just hand over a few bills, sometimes get change, sometimes have to hand over a few more bills,  We are not talking big pieces of money here.

 Some new "I can Read Bernstein Bears" books were a hit yesterday and even Luke just up form his nap enjoyed being read to- or held while he chewed and slobbered on a toy - probably the latter.

 And later Matt introduced the newest member of the family to the being read to with help from Isaac making the sounds of "Going on a Bear Hunt"  - a great book by the way.

Meanwhile, the Olympics and this time synchronized swimming by the silver medal winning Chinese team has one ardent fan.  She watched this clip from the video library of NBC more than once.  As a beginning swimmer, she was impressed and asked often about their breath holding ability.

 And little boy Luke eventually tired of being read to and showed off for the camera- and his grandDad, a most willing observer.