Flying Day

June 28, 2007

Waking up early in the morning to catch a 10:30 flight. We quickly had breakfast so we could go upstairs and pack. After a quick packing job we went downstairs and met Elsie in the lobby. Tom drove us to the airport about 30 minutes away. We arrived at the airport at 9:30, so we had 1 hour to go through security. We were in the waiting room for about 15 minutes before Rebecca and I started getting hungry. Dad walked us over to a close by coffee/deli shop. We got "Chinese Subway Sandwiches." When it was finally 10:30 we started to line up at the gate when we realized that people were coming off the plane! Elise told us that the flight attendant said that people had to come off the plane and the plane had to be cleaned. It was 10 minutes later that we could now board the plane. We got on then shortly after we all boarded the plane we took off. Then 2 hours later we landed in my birth city, WUHAN! After going through baggage customs we met up with a travel coordinator that would be with us for our time in Wuhan, Christina. After driving for only 10 minutes we could see the Yangtze River. Christina informed us that because this is, at the time, the only brigde that is available to cross over the river there was a special law. On even days only cars with license plates ending with an even number may cross the bridge, same thing with odd numbered days. After driving for another 40 minutes we arrived at our hotel, The White Rose. After checking in and meeting the manager, Mary, we arrived in our room with our luggage. After resting for 1 1/2 hours, we met up with Christina and went sightseeing in Wuhan.

We drove about 15 minutes and arrived a the Yellow Crane Tower. The Yellow Crane Tower was built by an emperor over 1500 years ago, who had made money by having a rare yellow crane sing and dance. After a year of doing this, he had made a lot of money. He decided to build a tower in honor of the bird and called it The Yellow Crane Tower. We toured the tower and went up all 5 levels. You could see all of Wuhan from the top of the tower. You could even see my welfare home. On the 4th level, when we went outside to look around, there were 2 Chinese people who asked Dad for a picture of him with them. After they saw Mom they asked for a picture with her too. Later after they left Christina told us that the reason why they wanted pictures with Mom & Dad was because they looked so different. They don't likely see Westerners in Wuhan. On the 2nd level there were models of the Yellow Crane Tower at different stages of time.

When we got back to the hotel, we put on our swimsuits and Elsie joined us to go swimming in the indoor swimming pool. After swimming, we took quick showers and met Elsie again to go to a local shopping center called Carefore. We bought lots of soda and chips (and underwear). After an exhausting day we finally went to bed.