JP and Wanda Are here

Hi Everybody.

It is 7 am on Monday. We are waking up to 44 and sunny. Yesterday it went up to 70. The pollution index said it was 180 - the sky was blue but that is the harmful range.

We met a Chinese friend and has dinner at a top duck place. They roast the ducks than slice them at the table. They put all this food on a giant glass revolver lazy Susan - and you eat. There was so much food - we took some home. The bill was $62 for 5 people! No tax. No tip.

After that we went to Tiananmen Square and then qienman way. After that - we took the subway and bus home.

JP and Wanda slept all night and are up reading at 6 am. They are ready to go. We plans a visit to the Wall and Terra Cotta Warriors this week.

Lulu is prepping today for her class tomorrow. Fulbright is going to come to her Tuesday class.

We have been having good weather and touring and shopping a lot. Nancy loves the silk market and the Pearl market. She has been back there several times. She doesn't spend much but she loves the dealing. I am considering getting some pants made. Mine are tight - not a good sign.

We usually eat 2 meals home and one meal out. We shop for most of our food at WuMart downstairs.

Our Apple TV works good. We watch amazon prime and Netflix from home.

My worst problem over here is internet. Two factors - censorship and speed slow down. I had excellent am service from t-mobile but I use a local China mobile tower and I think they throttle me back from using room much. I was watch lots is tv over it - etc. I plan to get a cable modem going here - but I must find the cable company. Strange thing in China - talking with folks to get stuff done. Language barrier.

I can send all the emails I want - pictures are a problem - video - forget about it! It has me bummed.

Other than that - everything is better than expected. - food - apartment - transportation - weather - people - tourist sites - safety - all great. Our health has been flawless - no water issues.

I got a haircut lulu is craving about. There is a barber school in our building. $7. I also got a manicure and pedicure in our building for $3 each. They do the whole thing with scalpels! A beautiful job. Lulu had her feet done too.

We spend money with WeChat an app on our phone. We also get cash out of an atm at our bank of China. We seldom use credit card. The 100 yuan bill is red and gas chairman Mao on it. It is worth $15. The atm machine records all serial numbers it gives you - for reference against counterfeit. Really lulu loves her WeChat. We have a card for bus and subway. 15 cent bus. 45 cent subway. At 22 mile cab ride to airport was $13.

My favorite news source is cnn radio Sirius and cnn tub on our Slingbox. News in China is heavily censored. Nothing about kingkong or USA.

Nancy was like a rock star at Tiananmen Square. Lots of kid approaching her. Little kids.

We followed the latest storm crossing Florida. George said all is fine. Just pine needles.

We do miss everyone back home. We miss our house and cars and scooter. I definitely miss my cable modem and uncensored WiFi. They announced a new fiber optic cable company coming to town. Tallahassee hates Comcast right now because they are NOT carrying the Seminoles! Even though the noles are 3-4 we still wanna see them!

Staying this long in China makes one appreciate what you have. China will some day pass the USA as lead in GDP etc. they already have 4 times the people. They knock of all our designs over here with no royalties etc. it is just so darn different.

The n was test thing is when it is 7 am here - it is 7 pm back in Florida. Exactly opposite.

I will try to post more stories.

Harry.