Leaving Beijing-Headed to Xi'an

On our way to the airport we had one last stop at The Temple of Heaven. This is a magnificent blue-roofed wooden tower in the middle of the park.  This tower was build with no nails, and it is designed around the calendar.  Although this structure is impressive, what impressed us all were the large group of dancers (couples, singles) all dancing outdoors to a variety of music.  We were told that the majority of the group were seniors gathering daily in the park to dance, sing, play cards and chess, talk, drink tea, and engage in other activities.  It was such a busy yet relaxing place.  Once again we were witness to the importance of exercise and community members actively living out of doors.

We checked in for our flight to Xi'an arriving there an hour late and although we were met by our bus and guide, May, we were too late for dinner.  We made it to our hotel, The Empark Grand Hotel, which was truly grand in elegance, size of rooms, and style.  We could easily have had dinner in the restaurant at the hotel, but the group decided to chance going out to a neighborhood family restaurant.  This experience turned out to be a highlight of our travels.  We entered the restaurant and were immediately escorted to a rather large dining hall upstairs.  One waitress spoke a tiny bit of English.  After much laughter and pointing, she brought us a large notebook that we surmised the cooks used in the kitchen, so they would know how the dishes were to look - it had pictures.  We all took turns pointing to a selection.  Much gesturing and laughing on both sides of the aisle and we managed to each point to one choice to be shared.  After that ordeal, we smiled and laughed to the "crowd" of workers gathering around our table staring at us and laughing.  Eventually, dish by dish began to arrive.  The first 4 dishes were great and we shared and passed them around, however, the dish I chose turned out to be chicken claws (chicken legs) and another dish was piles of red peppers with some sort of meat mixed in.  A few of us tried these dishes, but most of it was left on the plate.  It must have been near closing time as the neighboring tables began to fill with workers and their bowls.  We found ourselves dining with the help.  Finally, one chef with his hat on turned around and looked at us and said in clearly a western accent, "How do you do?"  When we responded, he took off his hat and shook his head that he only knew those words.  It was hilarious and a never to be forgotten experience.  We tried to tip, but they would not accept it.  Instead, they discounted our bill because we were so patient (I think) or we were the entertainment.  Total cost of six of us turned out to be the equivalent  of US$39.70.  We found out later that chicken claws are delicacy.

We headed home to enjoy our hotel and get ready to go see the Terra-Cotta army the next day.