Shamian Island, Walk in the park and lets get out of here!

Today was our last full day in China. Tomorrow we travel.

This morning we went to Shamian Island with our friends the Onions from Durango Colorado. They had Jessica's Mom, and their 2 daughters along with them to adopt their little boy James.

The island is where most US adoptions used to take place. The med exams and the consulate used to be on the island. Now those have moved to down town Guangzhou, and they have closed the main hotel US families stayed at (White swan) for renovations. The island has a very different feel from where we are. Very calm, quiet, peaceful, but also very isolated. We don't mind where we stayed, but we are very glad we visited the island as well.

We did some shopping, did some walking, let the kids burn off some energy and had lunch at lucy's.

he assumed that position all by himself...

Michael trying to keep up with the Onions kids

He loves walking with Momma

We were going for the picture of him standing with the statues, but he flipped out thinking they were real. so we settled for this instead

James enjoying his banana

A side note -- I swore off of all soft drinks on 1/1/2012 and held true to it until this trip. There are too many risks with the water and we need hydration. I had to take a picture of what will be likely one of my last soft drinks - until another beverage crisis happens....

The island was very quiet and peaceful today

Michael has a fetish with leaves. He picks them up and gives them to whoever is close by.

This is the view out our hotel room window. We had a number of nap times this week. I actually enjoyed watching the workers take down the structure in the picture. They finished the pieces that are still standing in the picture today. if that isn't a sign that it's time to go home, I don't know what is. :)

Oh yeah, hows that air quality look??

There is a park pretty close to the hotel ( you can see the orange entrance on the right side of the picture above) that we walked to to get a couple of final gifts and to take in the last bit of China. They are working hard on all of the decorations for Chinese New Year. The park was really nice. Anybody staying in this hotel should make a point to spend as much time there as possible.

We ordered pappa Johns Pizza for the last time and got all of our bags packed. We leave bright and early tomorrow morning for the epic day of travel. We can't wait to get home.

I think Michael is ready too!!

 

- Adam

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