The visa has landed

Yesterday was a much better day. We had breakfast, then took the boys outside to an actual kids playground (unlike the one in Shenyang, which was an adult's playground plus a slide. We like the idea of an adult playground, just not to the exclusion of munchkin ones). We saw the playground a few days ago but it was roped off; the day before yesterday we saw kids on it, though, so off we went! Just an hour of morning climbing made such a difference for the day. The playground is in Shamian Park, and we saw around a hundred people playing hacky sack, doing tai chi, and that game that we bought in Beijing that looks like tai chi with a racquet.

Then we came back to the hotel and changed the boys into traditional Chinese dress for the obligatory "red couch" picture (now posted on flickr). They both looked great, but it's pretty clear that they'll both outgrow their outfits by Chinese New Year so we bought another one in a bigger size.

Then we spent an hour destroying the playroom and had lunch. While the boys were napping, Jim and I took a quick excursion to case the subway (how far to the Safari Park? How many transfers? Are the signs in English?). All indications were good and a nice subway attendant practiced her English on us so it looks pretty good for today. Then we walked through the QingPing market, an open air market that is what Whole Foods wishes it could be except for the pig knuckles. I have never seen so many mushrooms in one place, and no idea what most of the stuff was. It was the same principle as the Electronics City and the Wholesale Pearl Market; 100 vendors selling exactly the same thing. I don't understand it, but it works.

After nap we went to the pool for a while, where the boys have a love/hate relationship with the waterfall, and then Jim went to pick up Jed's visa (no misprints this time). Then I foisted off the other half of my tablecloth rebozo on another family and we went out to the French place for dinner with them. The boys enjoyed their food, I had some really good fish, and Jim ate the peppers that were served with his quail and instantly decided it was a mistake. They burned for almost an hour.

Bedtime was much easier, but the boys woke up with me at 6:30 this morning so we've already had one timeout, one dirty diaper, and a couple spurts of whining. Today the big plan is for the Safari Park. Tonight I will be doing some serious packing, and then tomorrow we head to Korea.