We did have an enjoyable last day in Zhengzhou. I had talked to a few moms about trying out a different store the opposite way from WalMart. We decided to meet in the lobby the next morning to walk over together. When we went to the lobby, our entire group of seven families was assembling for our outing. Let me tell you, we made for quite an entertaining sight with our stroller parade.
We figured we had to rival the droves of scooters that are everywhere in Zhengzhou.
With the crazy traffic, it makes sense to ride a scooter. Scooter riders even have their own scooter wear. With the cold weather, we saw many scooters with attached giant mittens and a lap blanket.
We have come to realize that really anything goes with driving. What we thought was a sidewalk became a roadway at one point. It's hard to see in the picture, but there is actually a curb to the left of those cars that are on the sidewalk.
On our walk we saw workers doing a job you could not pay me enough to do. They were putting taking down an old ad and putting up a new one on the windows of a tall building.
Once we got to the store, we were happily surprised to find a ball/brown rice pit on the 6th floor. We made another spectacle of ourselves by congregating there. The little girls were not as keen on it as my oldest girl.
In the evening back at the hotel, we were told there was a Christmas program. We certainly did not want to miss that. When we got down to the lobby, we were treated to appetizers and the hotel staff singing "Jingle Bells," "Frosty the Snowman,' and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." I don't think they are paying this poor man enough money.
And what celebration would be complete without a Chinese Santa Claus and a slightly inebriated general manager from New Zealand to light the Christmas tree? (Sorry, none of the photos of the general manager came out well).
At last it was time to say good bye to Zhengzhou (yes!!!!!!) and hello to Guangzhou. Naomi sat on Pam's lap and did not enjoy the flight. As Pam said, "She was doing 360s on my lap in the seatbelt." For Lydia's part, she did really well when she was sleeping or eating. When it was time to land, however, she clearly wanted to be with Pam (I'm persona non grata) and started howling. Loudly. Once we landed and it was time to deplane, then she wanted me. Whenever we get up to leave somewhere she often panics and wants to be held.
We made it to the hotel safely and we were happy campers. This happy camper is a tired camper as Lydia woke up several times in the wee wee hours which means I woke up several times in the wee wee hours.
Tomorrow is a tour of the city and hopefully less rejection by my daughters. :(
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