Last Batch...

This will be my last post as the Rossi's are heading home!  Being able to put this together for them has been awesome!  It appears as though the Gentis and Rossi Families - China Trip Summer 2013 was a vacation of a lifetime!!  -Nic

"Today we headed out early for a day trip to Zhijiajiao.  This is a "water town " outside Shanghai. It took about an hour to get there. We started off walking over the bridge to get to town.  It was breezy today, so it turned out to be a nice leisurely walk."  -Robbin

"We walked and waked through the narrow streets.  There were shops that sold everything from fashion to fans.  We stopped at an art gallery and met the artist.  He sold Ying Ying's favorite kind of colorful paintings, so we asked him to paint some for the Kelly's. They came out great!"  -Robbin 

"Like any good " water town" there is a boat ride.  We took the boat ride all the way down the river and in and out of the small canals. It reminded us of Venice....slow and picturesque."  -Robbin  

"Here is a pretty view of he canal."  -Robbin

"Here is Tian thinking deeply.  I wonder what he's thinking about? Red Sox, orange soda, lunch....who knows."  -Robbin

"I wonder what Zee is thinking about?  Snacks, souvenirs, lunch..who knows?"  -Robbin

"The kids are soaking up the last bit of free wifi in the lobby before we leave.  Thanks to Karen's friend Nicci, for posting all our pictures, for us.  We appreciate all the time you put onto it, Nicci...THANK YOU!  It was fun to be able to share our trip with everyone.  Ying Ying is homesick today and can't stop thinking about nana and papa and their pool.  She also can't stop talking about Lilly."  -Robbin 

Rossi's in Shanghai

"Well, after a great visit in Luoyang, we flew to Shanghai.  We slept late and started out at 10, which is VERY late for us.  We headed to People 's Square first.  The buildings are really cool.  That's the Shanghai Museum behind Ying Ying.  Jackie will be happy to know that Ying Ying finally got her umbrella and it works like a charm.  She's thinking of bringing this style to the states."  -Robbin

"We made a quick stop at a pearl store.  Ying Ying was interested in finding out how people find pearls. We stopped at the shop afterwards and bought some pearl moisturizer for Nana."  -Robbin

"Next we walked along the Bund.  This is a walkway along the waterfront with really beautiful views.  Shanghai is known for its architecture."  -Robbin

"Tian really wanted to go to the top of this tower.  He had seen it on Amazing Race last year.  So he and Ying Ying went up to the top.  There were 101 floors and they went to the the 97th floor.  They took an elevator that took 66 seconds to the 94th floor, then an escalator the rest of the way.  The views were unbelievable and they took great photos.  The top of this building is shaped like a beer opener... it's a long story why... we'll tell you later."  -Robbin

"Old Shanghai  was next. It was the oldest part of the city with a lot of shops and restaurants.  We saw a steamed bun place that had a line down the street.  The guide said it is like this everyday..steamed buns are Ying Ying's favorites (she has eaten about 1,000 so far) but we didn't wait.  We also Had a funny experience here on the Zig Zag Bridge that we'll tell you about when we get home..."  -Robbin

"We ended the night with a river cruise with a close up view of the Shanghai buildings.  These buildings are in the new part of Shanghai, which I believe our guide said is only 16 years old. It was really beautiful.  It reminded us of an evening Manhattan cruise that we took for Nana's birthday last year. That building in the back that looks like a bottle opener on the top is the one Ying Ying and Tian went up to the top of.  It's the tallest in Shanghai."  -Robbin

Rossi's in Luoyang

The Rossi's continue their travels!  Karen and Jackie made it safely to Boston last night.

"This morning, we headed out to Luoyang, so Zee could visit his nannies.  We found out that they moved into a new building a few months ago.  The building has 11 floors and is set up to take care of lots of children.  So many nannies were happy to see Zee.  They came from lots of different floors to say hi and look at pictures."  -Robbin

"Zee had lots of caching up to do with his with his nanny.  He asked lots of great questions and she shared some memories, too.  She used to take Zee to her house to play with her own son. Our visit was just about over and I knew Zee wanted a little more time so we invited her to dinner and she accepted.  She said she would bring her son, too."  -Robbin 

"After seeing the brand new building, we drove to the other side of town to see the old building where Zee lived for many years.  There was a gate across the entrance and we were so disappointed that we couldn't take a look inside.  Before we knew it, the gates started opening.  The man at the gate said we could go in."  -Robbin  

"Zee sat in the front yard for one more picture before we left.  He remembers playing with his friends there. The bus behind him was for the children went they took field trips."  -Robbin

"Later in the day we visited the Longmen Grottoes. We got to see many many Buddahs built into the mountains.  It was cool."  -Robbin

"We met Zee's nanny for dinner and we were so happy that she brought her son along.  He and Zee were buddies when they were younger and spent time together. He was so funny and nice and was glad to see Zee.  He spoke a little English, too...he actually called it Chinglish... he and his mom were so cheerful and fun.  Mr. Lee, our guide was there to translate for us.  Zee's nanny brought a photo album of pictures that she had of Zee and his friend from Luoyang.  They went through each photo reciting the names and where the children were."  -Robbin

"Zee fond the playroom where he used to play wit his friends. Ying Ying wanted to take a picture of Pikachu that they found on the wall."  -Robbin

"At the end of the evening, we had to be kicked out of our private room. We were there for a leisurely 3 hour dinner.  We talked about everything from music to politics to Calvin Klein underwear.  We heard that it cost 500 yuan for one pair of Calvin Kleins.  Ying Ying suggested that we send some underwear overseas... what an idea!  After we took our final photos, we said goodnight. It was a really great day for Zee."  -Robbin 

"This is a special nanny who took very good care of Zee when he was little.  She heard that we were coming and drove to Luoyang to see Zee.  She had retired a few months earlier.  I recognized her immediately because she was the nanny who brought Zee to meet me 10 years ago."  -Robbin 

Mag-Lev Train to Changsha

"We got on the mag-lev train in Changsha. Our trip to Luoyang took about 4 hours.  The train goes so fast, but you don't even feel a thing.  Ying Ying explained that it hovers along the track magnetically.  It was a great way to see the area.  The landscape was beautiful and green, with some cities in the background. I was worried because we only had 2 minutes to get off but luckily we made it.  We met our guide, Mr. Lee, a former high school history teacher, so we learned a lot of information in the 30 minute drive from the airport!  We'll be all ears on our way to the Shaolin Temple and the Longmen Grottoes tomorrow."  -Robbin

"Today we stared with the Shaolin Temple. It was a 2 hour drive, up a mountain, too.  This is the home of Kung Fu.  People come from all over he world to train in Kung Fu.  It is also the home of Buddhism, I think.  We saw many beautiful and large buddhas."  -Robbin  

"We were in time to see the outdoor show.  The people used weapons, as well as lots of movements.  Some of these artists performed at the 2008 Olympics. It was a good show."  -Robbin

"Mr. Lee taught the kids how to relax...I think it worked because everyone dozed off in the van, on the way home!  He has been a fun guide, with lots of good stories and information."  -Robbin

"We have never seen so many pagodas.  Some were single and some were shared. The boys wandered up into the forest with Mr. Lee.  Ying Ying naturally got some mosquito bites, so we nurtured them, down below.  Mr. Lee got some tiger balm for the bites and that seemed to do the trick."  -Robbin 

Last Day in China for Karen & Jack

"Jackie found a music store.  Owner was very talented and played multiple instruments."  -Karen

"Shopping in older section of town."  -Karen

"Karen and Jackie at zig zag bridge."  -Karen

"The flowers looked like shower heads before they bloomed. Later on we found them in the marketplace as they're edible."  -Karen

"So many cool buildings in Shanghai.  We wanted to take the riverboat cruise on our last night to see them all but after a full day of touring with Jean (great guide) we were looking forward to swimming at the hotel pool and a great relaxing dinner.  Goodbye Shanghai.   We will miss you.  For that matter goodbye China!  Our flight departs tomorrow AM.  Hard to believe our trip is coming to and end.  It's been fantastic! Zai Jian."  -Karen

Block Party in YiYang

"After dinner we decided to return to the old site of YiYang.  When we got there we saw the storekeeper we had met earlier in the day.  He was really welcoming again.  Before we knew it, all the neighbors came out to say hi.  One woman cut open a watermelon and before we knew it, we were having a block party. It was so much fun."  -Robbin

"We were so glad that we visited the old site.  The street was so clean and everyone was so friendly.  One old woman told us that Tian and I looked perfectly matched... we both had the same smile.  That was nice.  The storekeeper told us that the old part of town would be torn down and rebuilt next year, so I'm glad we made it this year.  He and his wife were happy about the new construction.  It was a great way to end the day."  -Robbin

Hotel Dinner

"We decided to stay in and have dinner at the hotel tonight.  It was a great call.  They had a buffet to die for.  Only 227 yuan for the two, so $35 got us all the seafood we could eat.  I think Jackie went back for 5 servings of the king crab legs.  Chopsticks proved helpful for pushing out the crab meat!  Their dessert bar was something else as well with tiramisu and a chocolate fountain, too."  -Karen

Seafood Feast

Chocolate Fondu

Fireworks - View off Balcony (video)

Karen said it was a great way to end the day.