10/22 Day off?

October 22nd

If you have been following the blog, you know how much walking we have been doing. Today was a day off. We woke up late and I went down to get breakfast from the street vendor. Good thing there was a lady there also getting food that knew a few English words and numbers. We got the fried dough and boiled eggs. I also got a bottle of orange juice and pear juice from a nearby store.

A man carrying fruit down the street

Leon, his mom, and his aunt joined joined us for a trip to Carrefoure for some local groceries. There were two sections of house slippers! We bought dad some instant coffee because he is running out and we also got some treats for friends.

Bulk rice

Pigs feet

Ground meat

Intestines

Mom with bugs!

Lotus Root (we actually ate a lot of lotus root)

Tomatoes!

As an industrial engineer, this is AWESOME!

I saw a post office on our way that was one bus stop away from Carrefour. I told them I would go mail some postcards by myself and catch the bus back. We were only 5 stops away. Leon drew on my hand what I needed to look for when mailing international mail. I found the post office and also the correct mailbox. Rather than jump on the bus, I decided to walk back. It was neat seeing the city from walking and not the bus, car, or taxi. I noticed some schools, stores, and restaurants that I hadn't noticed before.

Before we had left the supermarket, we grabbed some McDonald's for lunch. Again no judging! After two straight weeks of mainly Chinese food, it was a welcomed treat. However, we ordered the chicken sandwich which was spicy!

We got about 90 minutes to relax in the afternoon. I packed and worked on my latest blogs. I was starting to fall way behind! Leon came to get us for a Chinese pedicure. This was a wonderful experience. They massaged and also trimmed all of the dead skin off. It was great and appreciated by all of us after all the walking we have done. The aunts and Teresa also joined us for this treat!

We had a farewell dinner with Leon's Chengdu family. The cousin from the previous night that we had met treated us to dinner. We had tongue, pork, butternut squash, spicy rice noodles (mouth was on fire!), fish soup, chicken and potatoes, nuts, pumpkin patties, and sweet sticky rice. So much food!!!

After dinner, the older cousin and his wife, Leon, and I went to karaoke. My voice sounds like an angel... Okay an angel being strangled. Leon loved the karaoke. Songs were sung in English, Mandarin, and even Cantonese. The younger cousin had to pick up his wife from the airport so we missed him.

Tomorrow we head to Kunming!