May 21st: We are staying in the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou (city) in the Guangdong (province) in China. This is a five star Motel for sure! Former Presidents Richard Nixon and George Bush stayed here in 1985, and Queen Elizabeth II stayed here in 1986. The city of Guangzhou appears to be the most modern and western oriented that we have seen on our trip. This prosperity is specifically related to the city's close proximity and relationship to Hong Kong. We really like it here in Guangzhou, and it will be difficult to leave the comforts and friendship we have found here.

The eating has been very good on the whole trip - buffets every morning and exquisite group meals at local hangouts. Last night we ate at "Lucy's", which has an outdoor patio area with tables and chairs.

We had a Chinese beer and ate a local version of an American cheeseburger and chicken basket, just to see how close it was to the American version. This choice was a mistake because the hamburger certainly didn't taste like beef!

Well, we did better tonight (Sunday - May 21st). Shirley, Sophia and I joined our adoption group in the lobby of the White Swan....

....got on a bus, and drove 'cross town to the Peking Hotel for a Western buffet. It was outstanding. We had beef steak (real), curried lamb, special vegetable dishes, breads, desserts and all kinds of really good stuff. We also got to listen to a really good threesome singing group that sang all kinds of songs in English.

Even the Chinese restaurant staff were getting into the music swing, and Sophia loved it.

Speaking of Miss Sophia, I had the opportunity to capture snapshots of her mood (swings) throughout the nearly three-hour dinner. The next picture can be called "Flame Off"....

....and the one after that I like to call "Flame On!"

I am sure she will not have any more of these difficulties on our river boat tour scheduled for tomorrow night!

Anyway, after the dinner was over, we returned to the White Swan Hotel. As you walk down the hallway on the 1st floor toward the elevators, you see all kinds of very expensive items for sale.

Many prices are 200,000 RMB (Chinese Yuan) and higher, which is about $25,000 USD.

Ouch! Pretty bad when you can't afford a single thing on the first floor. Capitalism is alive and well in Guangzhou!

Finally, tomorrow night is likely the high point of our journey so far. We will see, because although we have had a very good time so far, we really miss our wonderful son, Gregory, and we want to come home to see him. And Sophia is anxious to meet her new brother, too. Back in 3 days!