Woke up early this morning to dark and dismal rain.  SO GRATEFUL that today is supposed to be an indoor day.  Cannot even imagine our Beijing excursions in this weather.

Our local Xi’an guide is a young man named Arnie in his late 30’s.  We loved his willingness to speak openly and not just the party line. We learned a great deal from his perspective and we all appreciated his candidness.  He is married to a Communist but his choice on the matter is “never”.

Our first stop today was another adventure in supporting the economy: jade shopping. Do note that these shopping experiences are all government subsidiaries.  I do believe we are being offered good quality goods at a fair price.  Or maybe not.  Either way, it is part of the itinerary.

Today’s jade shopping was an education, including understanding that jade craftsmen are not considered artists so their wages are lower. REALLY?  Watching them work looked like artistry to me.

We enjoyed looking at the beautiful work, while conversing with our fellow travellers.   But once you show interest in anything, you magically are assigned to a sales person who follows you through the showroom.  I was attracted to the jewelry …. REALLY?  WHAT A SURPRISE!

And lo and behold, I was blessed with a jade ring ….

And I said I wasn’t going to buy anything on this trip …

Anyway, back on the bus we go and we drove a little more towards The Terracotta Army. But first …. you guessed it ….. another educational shopping stop.  This time for all things Chinese featuring how the Terracotta Army was made and lacquer, a major local resource.  There were many rooms full of beautiful pieces, all of which could be shipped to your home.  So after much consideration, we chose these boys which should arrive in Sahuarita by mid June.

And on the top floor …. BUFFET LUNCH. And the best part of this meal …. not just Chinese food!  It was enjoyed not only by our group but by ALL of the bus tours before and after us.  Hey …. even the government needs to make a living and tourists need to eat.

Speaking of making a living, I think Dennis is working on his next gig … soldier modeling. It took two takes in front of the camera …. but I think he nailed it on Take Two.