To Xi'an at Dawn with a Yawn

The yawn, or one of many. Now I listen to the snore:)

The view from the gift shop they send you through at the City Wall so you can take a nice picture. There was a lady playing a Chinese instrument and she played one of the boys' favorites, Oh Susannah! This is small town Xi'an. The wall around the city that stretches forever into the distance.

Some Huns who managed to get past the drawbridge and moat.

This morning we were up at 4:30am to catch a flight to Xi'an (She-on). Once we arrived, drowsy and hungry we went to see the city wall that used to protect the Imperial Family - like a castle with a drawbridge. You can walk all the way around the 13. km wall high above the bustling city inside. We thought Xi'an would be smaller town feel. The ride from the airport showed trees and fields and open landscapes that were a nice change from Beijing. But half the size of Beijing is still 7 million people! It is a little more humid and smells better. It seems a little slower pace and friendlier than Beijing.

We opted out of the trip to the Wild Goose Pagoda and dinner to catch up on sleep and the blog. Google shows all the blogging page in Chinese, so these blogs are not as good as when Brian does them. Also, I don't know how to get videos on here, so maybe when he wakes up these will be vastly improved:)

Tomorrow we see the Terracotta Warriors and hopefully are well rested for the next stretch of the trip. The shopping was such a rush that it really took it out of Brian. He loved every second and wonders what job in the states could truly utilize these newly discovered skills.

As for the food, we are more than tired of Chinese food at every meal. We eat out of necessity and try not to look back:) The food was a little more like American Chinese food here in Xi'an - some had peppers and pineapple - but what we really want is something else, anything else! I have consumed the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten in the past couple of days more than once and "the breakfast" the first day at a "fast food" Chinese restaurant combined with the horrific airplane food literally made me sick. Besides seeing the boys we most are looking forward to good American food and fresh air.

Another bonus will be drinkable water - all you want for free! Here they take it to you in the bottled water, but the tap water is not drinkable, so we just ration and I am sure are dehydrated half the time. Isn't America wonderful that way? Also in the "Western toilets" we have:) This has been a very fun adventure and we are so grateful for all of you who made it possible! We are so lucky to not have to worry about the boys and we are sure they are having a great time at all their "slumber parties". Until tomorrow...

Just saw your pictures boys!! Looks like lots of fun! Good job eating your dinners and fattening up! Be good and we love you!