Suzhou - Part 1

On one’s travels, when you want to avoid checking a bag, it’s crucial to choose each item you pack carefully. I checked the weather forecast and the tour recommendations prior to the start of our trip, to decide what articles of clothing were a must-have. At the last minute I removed my rain jacket. And today it rained. Doh!!  

I picked a long-sleeved shirt to wear today. First, because I don’t have any clean, short-sleeved shirts left and, second, because it was supposed to be 19 degrees. But, the lower temp doesn’t seem to compute as it’s so humid in Shanghai, I was sweltering all day in my long-sleeved shirt. (At least it was clean.) So, after being rained on all day, I’m damp and my feet are squishing in my soaked woolen socks. But we didn’t check a bag!

We started our day with breakfast at the hotel. It was great!  I really liked the baby bok choi, gyoza, and sesame-encrusted shrimp. Not a big fan of the glass noodles. The buffet breakfast for 2 people at the hotel is 60 yuan.  Roughly $11.62 Canadian dollars. 

After breakfast we headed out. Our destination today was Suzhou. It’s a very picturesque locale with canals, gardens and rain. First we were transported by bus to the subway. Then we took the subway to a train and then took another subway to our final destination. During the one-way trip, we had to show our passport 5 times. They really keep tabs on people here.  Facial scans, fingerprints. Spies. Good friggin luck hiding here, Jason Bourne!

Lots and lots of escalators. 

 

Some American told me this is a bomb detonation device (Evan told me later that’s baloney. ??)

Tatiana and I both had a sore throat when we woke up this morning so we stopped by a pharmacy enroute to get Vitamin C tablets. I’m hoping that helps. We have a long way to go yet and I don’t want to have a cold. 

Our first destination in Suzhou was the Master of the Nets  it’s a beautiful garden designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Classy Chinese lady:

Damp Canadian with a bum ankle:

 Cute couple (especially the dude) on a bridge:

After the garden the group of us (16 in total plus the guide) had lunch together. We shared many delicious dishes around a rotating table. 

Their beer is good and safe to drink but only around 3.5%  

After lunch, we visited Tiger Hill Pagoda, an impressive octagonal tower completed in 961 during the Song Dynasty.

I am done for today. Ready to drop and I still have laundry to do. Part 2 tomorrow. 

- Ruth