JUNE 28, 2014: OLD TOWN OUTING

OLD TOWN OUTING

JUNE 28, 2014

Today, Saturday, we slept in a bit and then we decided to go out on an outing and we rode the subway to old town.  We walked around, tried a few new foods, sat and interacted with some local folks, and had a nice morning.  I spoiled the kids with lunch at McDonalds and then we went home and cleaned house!  

The canal on the way to the walking street.

 

We tried some new street food.  These were some round flat bread with pork on it.  Sort of like a pizza without sauce or cheese.

 This shop has unique employee uniforms!

 

 We had to try these cool potato spiral things!

 Would you like to order this drink??

 Mason waits patiently in his cool shades!

  We had to get a KFC ice cream cone!  Only 2.5 RMB.

We walked to an open area with a few vendors and near a temple.  We just sat and watched people and hung out for awhile.  We even found Mickey Mouse on our way!  The kids tried to barter for some toys and Amy, Bethany and I found a souvenir -- an embroidered picture.

 People love to take a picture with our gorgeous kids!

 Bethany is a star!!

We thought this man was blowing glass and then we thought it was plastic.  Once the girls and Amy found out it was candy, they HAD to go buy some!!!  It was pretty cool to watch him make all these fancy candy shapes on a stick.

His drawer of soft candy in different colors.

 

 The "Candy Man"

Our souvenier

I had fun just watching the kids play around and Rachel and David working to barter for a sword.  We also got Benjamin to go haggle for the waving cat clock and for a huge sucker!  It was a good day for all!

 Ben and Amy haggle for a waving cat

 Success!!

 Rachel found an embroidered horse picture!

 Benjamin has wanted us to get a waving cat and we found one!  

Stores have this at their entrance because it is supposed to be good luck for good fortune -- lots of money to come in the door!

 David is wanting a sword so badly but he has spent all his money on ice cream as soon as he earns it.  He wasn't very happy when I wouldn't buy it for him.

 Mason plays and plays with the bubbles that are blowing.

 A little Chinese boy joined in on the fun.

The temple near where we were sitting

 We just sat and played around here for about 1 hour.

 Bethany works to help Benjamin haggle for his gigantic sucker.

He says he has ALWAYS wanted one.  :)

 David and Rachel are still drooling over this sword.

 This guy is hammering metal for a piece of jewelry and he does it to the beat of the music playing on that loudspeaker.

I surprised the kids by heading to the door of this McDonald's!

The kids ran like horses going back to the barn!!!

 I have to agree with Benjamin that these little "Happy Meal" 

boxes were a tad creepy.

 Don't miss Rachel's photo bomb in the back right corner

 Benjamin's Big Mac Attack!!

 Mason tried a Chicken Nugget!

 He also tried Ketchup!

 Ben and his big sucker!

 

 The kids found it very humorous that the "squatter" in the Chinese McDonald's is made by a company called "American Standard!" 

This is a picture of "ICE."  We don't see very much ice in China.

"How to use a Fire Hydrant"

 

 The view out of the window at McDonald's

 Very clever advertising on the subway

 The walk back from the Dongfangzhimen subway stop

 The Landmark Skylight Apartments

 The "Pants" Building

 Walking home from the subway stop

Our apartment -- #805 -- on the top floor.

We love our Benjamin!!!