Bob and Ann in Elder Hostel China Odyssey 2004

Yangtze Cruiser

Though Easter is acknowledged on board with eggs and greetings, all is secular. Missed seeing Fuling, Peter Hessler‘s haunt, because we passed it at 3AM while we slept. Ann was sleeping soundly by then after discomfort verging on seasickness from rolling boat on top of rich meal before we embarked. OK now and Bob better with antacids.

Wooden Coffin

Shore excursion in rain was to see historic Wanzhou city, but we saw only the new because too wet for visit to ‘free market’. We visited a supermarket, though in search of yogurt for our group. Also visited a gallery featuring rare stones and beautiful petrified wood, smooth and polished to show grain, in large sizes displayed on stands were 2ft high and 15 inches across. We visited a museum featuring the burial ceremony with large wooden coffin and 2 skeletons found high in cliffs overlooking the Yangtze Gorges.

Fasion Show

Lecture on the Gorges Dam Project was a good intro to what we will see, but marked by ‘party line’ praise of government policy about a very controversial, huge project. Captain’s reception complete with ‘Chinese champagne’ and cocktail buffet featured a very serious, non-English speaking captain who greeted each guest soberly, then circled the room to toast each group formally. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were generous and well prepared, but unexceptional. Evening fashion show with crew modeling folk costumes and dancing to choreographed themes was really delightful. Our wait people at assigned tables, Annie and Andy are gorgeous models. A very corny egg decorating contest between sets which embarrassed Ann as one of five conscripted participants was blessedly short- Roz on our tour won the prize for best decorated egg.

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