Bob and Ann in Elder Hostel China Odyssey 2004

Changsha Street Scene


Changsha Street Scene

Hunan Province, Xintu Hotel - Varied breakfast again and Bob got on Internet while Ann walked to intriguing pocket park seen from our hotel window. She entered the park eventually after sneaking through the guarded gate of the China Custom house, a large western style, classic building. The park was a pretty, serene oasis hidden between tall apartment buildings, but part way through the walk a red arm-banded official started shouting at Ann and pointed at the far gate. Ann scurried across to the closer exit and back to the hotel.

Our excursion to the Hunan Provincial Museum was marked by unpleasant incidents, namely XXX acting out very rudely. First at the post-exhibit ’lecture’ with a non-English speaking Museum Curator where she announced that it was a waste of her time and walked out. Then when we finally adjourned from an interesting, though not fascinating interview, XXX was furious that she had to wait in the parking lot because we were late. On our way back from museum to hotel for lunch, already 45 min. late, we stopped at China Bank so several tour members could change money. Unfortunately we all had to wait in the bus for bureaucratic China to tell them they could not get American dollars at the ATM, and XXX again threw a fit, mostly verbal, but after she had marched into the bank to demand that they hurry up, she backed off from Tan’s offer to put her in a cab back to the hotel on her own.

Changsha Rice Exhibition Hall

After lunch the trip to Rice and Tea farms was tepidly received. Tea tasting was better as we drank hot green tea at the chilly tea house, then walked in ranks of tea bushes watching 2 workers pick the tender young leaves. A small pack of lose tea leaves was 5 American $ so we did not buy there.

A 15 minute swim in hotel pool before dinner felt great to Ann. Chinese conversation in the evening with Yang was helpful because of much repetition.

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