Guangzhou and Shamian Island - waiting for the US Consulate to open after New Year's Day

We are in Guangzhou on Shamain Island - it is the old colonial capital from British Times.  Lots of parks, outdoor waterfront promenades, and beautiful old buildings.  We also found the play room in the hotel:

There is a thing here for taking wedding pictures just for fun even if you are not getting married.  The waterfront is beautiful and there are faux brides and grooms everywhere getting pictures taken.

Lots of historic statues of children that everybody gets their chidren's pictures taken in front of.

This one is for Wholly Terra in Hampden - some inspiration!

And this one is for the up and comer at Hord Copeland Macht!

Watching TV in the hotel with his bros.

At the playground on the waterfront.

The Guangzhou Zoo.

This sweet old lady talked our ear off while we ate lunch at the zoo.  We had no idea what she was saying but neither she nor we cared.  She was really nice.

A red panda!!

C  and A met these new friends at the Shamian Island playground on New Year's morning.  The little girl was excited to practice her English once she warmed up to us and told us she has a grandmother in LA.  The little boy let C ride his skateboard.  C LOVES all the attention he is getting for his cute smile and brown hair and eyes.  He commented tonight that "everybody in China loves me" which seems true so far.  Our oldest - on the other hand - is burned out on the traveling, attention for his blonde hair, and multiple marraige proposals and is spending more and more time with his hood up and face in his kindle.

The sign at a pain clinic in town.

Street vendor cooking quail eggs.

Gege surveying the fresh fish and turtles at the local grocery.

Didi playing badminton (they are wild for it here) in the park

For M + C in Cali - a set of twins!!

And another!!

Shopping

The old colonial city

A Buddhist monk we happened upon in the city.