Shamian Island Tour

Sunday, May 21, 2017

After two back to back stressful days we had a free day today. 

We all slept in this morning and enjoyed a later breakfast. 

We took a cab from our hotel to Shamian Island.  The island is separated from mainland Guangzhou by a canal. Here is an older map to give you an idea. 

 

"The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs." Credit: Wikipedia 

 

Trent standing at the canal. Behind him you can see the bridge connecting the island to mainland Guangzhou. 

 

The island is known for their many statues depicting families and children. I wanted to get Ruth's picture at the most famous one which is a line of children. There is a gap between the last two children and people often like to pose their child between the two. I think because it was Sunday there were a lot of locals there and there was a line for that one. 

 

 

Ruth liked this one!

 

She was such a sweetheart in the park. 

 

This is a fishing boat on the Pearl River. We are hoping to go later in the week on a night time ferry/cruise on the river. This boat looked like a father/son team fishing. 

 

The buildings and landscaping of the island are gorgeous. 

 

 

Ruthie really did like it, but she tends to fall half asleep when she's in the carrier. 

 

We ate lunch at this restaurant specializing in American food but with typical anti-tipping Chinese customs.  It was pretty entertaining to see the posters on the wall; everything from Lady Gaga to Pretty Woman to Elvis. 

 

I ordered fried chicken. Not exactly what I was expecting as there weren't bones, but it was definitely fatty and delicious. 

 

We got there at a really busy time but Ruthie was happy to eat the dried pineapple we brought along. 

 

And to play with the nesting pandas we bought at a touristy shop on the island. 

 

There were so many great places to shop, I could have bought more and am considering going back if we have time another day. The only thing I didn't like is that when you enter a shop an employee follows you around trying to get you to buy things. It was like high pressures sales for silk dresses. :) It felt like every time I glanced at something a woman was there to snatch it off the shelf and try to get me to buy it. In my head I was thinking, "look, I want to buy things but you want to make me run away." And yet, I want to go back. I probably didn't buy some things because I just wanted to be left alone. 

I wish I could bring home a gift for everyone who supported our trip to China but there are so many of you that you'll just have to enjoy knowing Ruthie. She's the best thing we could be bringing home anyway. 

 

Jade is really popular in this part of China. You can't see it very well but there is a huge ship carved out of jade behind me. We took a cab back to our hotel. Ruthie was used to helping hail a cab when she lived in Beijing and was so adorable strapped on my back waving her little hand for the taxi. 

 

We went as a group for local Cantonese food. Our guide, John, is very proud to be Cantonese and was excited to take us to a local restaurant. Ruth looks angry in the picture but she downed the food! There is a huge Cantonese population in Guangxi, where she was born, so she could be Cantonese. She certainly ate like she was!

 

Ruth had a great day today. She is back to enjoying both Trent and me. She seems to think of us as a unit. When Trent went to exchange money before dinner he went out of sight. Ruth started whining and reaching her hand to where he went. She was content once she could see him again. During dinner she put his arm on her chair and then wrapped her own arm around him. It was very sweet. 

We got to FaceTime with the girls again. We are missing them and missing home. It will be good to be back together again. The girls enjoyed making faces at Ruthie and she would mimic them back. 

What a fun life they have in store!