Guangzhou, who know?

Hillary with Uncle Don and Charlotte
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Day 3-6: Guangzhou The train ride from Hong Kong to Guangzhou was easy. Smooth and comfortable. Some very tall and loud Dutch (a group of middle aged blonde couples, two of the men sat next to us) insisted on putting our luggage up on the rack for us, but in Dutch fashion did not seem interested in speaking. I was fine with this but did wonder what they were doing in China. It didn’t seem like a very popular destination for a retirement holiday. I had jasmine tea and peanuts for 20$HK (about 3 US) and then the nice ladies in their cute blue uniforms came around with free bottled water. I was mesmerized by the landscape outside. We saw row after row of run down looking apartment buildings, tall and grey. Many balconys with laundry hanging out.

Don and Leah's high rise appartment
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A few times we passed small farms, very beautiful, with lush green mountains in the background. This is the tropics! As the sun went down I remembered the one truly wonderful benefit to smoggy air: The most beautiful sunsets! The sun, as it grew larger near the horizon became a blood red. Sorry I couldn’t catch a photo!

Right when we got off the train things seemed so different than Hong Kong. Finally we were in China! The English and pin yin all but disappeared and the polish was gone. We had been trying to phone my uncle Don all day to let them know when we were coming but had only left an uncertain message with their Aiyee (housekeeper/nanny). So we called again and were instructed how to pronounce the name of their apartment complex in a way that a taxi driver wouldn understand. “Jeung hai ming doo……….” We chanted as we stood in line for a cab. The cab driver had no problem and we careened through the crowded streets in the warm, acrid air.

view from a window
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We arrived easily (no tip!) And there was Don with Charlotte in one arm and a plastic bag full of tall Tsing Tao beer! Ready for action!