Spring in Nanjing

We woke up (very) early to sunshine and springtime in Nanjing. Butterflies, bees, magnolia blooms, and birdsong, all signs of a beautiful spring day. I didn't see a lot of action today as the family played basketball, went to the tailor and checked out the marketplace. I don't know how that tailor is going to make three suits and 3 matching shirts for the family before they leave in 4 days.

That's some fast stitching - something I wouldn't know anything about. *sigh*

Nanjing is a small university town of about 8 million people. It's name means "south capital". Beijing means "north capital". It has been the educational centre of southern China for 1700 years. Nanjing University is where the in-laws are teaching English, Law, and History.

In the afternoon everyone went to the Hanshan Zoo to see the panda bears. Did you know that North Americans have only been aware the panda existed for the last 100 years? Well, the pandas were non-existent at the zoo as they were on leave to Shanghai for a few days. Apparently the family still enjoyed seeing the other animals; tigers, lions; wolves; monkeys, lynx, and speckled bear. They also saw an enormous rat eating garbage. Course he wasn't as big as this rat, but he was still pretty big. Conditions at the zoo were...interesting. The tiny, concrete, garbage-filled enclosures did not compare to the "natural habitats" created for the animals at the Calgary Zoo.

A major attraction at the zoo was the local Canadians. Chinese photographers were seen taking pictures of Miranda and Lincoln climbing trees and a local group of school girls were quite enamored with Erica and Bentley. Bentley was less than enamoured. The kids got quite tired of being rock stars and by the end of the trip became exasperated with photo ops.

After climbing the zoo, much as one would climb a mountain,

(note: in picture the pagoda in background is at the top of the zoo "loop"),

we went out for Hot Pot. Here the language barrier raised it's ugly head again, but we managed to get past it and enjoyed a very yummy meal.

Don't you just love the name of this restaurant?

You'd think that would be enough for one day, but we went back to the apartment where Erica, who was missing school, took Chinese lessons.

M.L.I.S. worked my gussets in the balmy night air to the music of all the "working cats" that keep the campus rat free.