Today we drove for about an hour outside the city proper to get to a small farming village. We got the chance to observe some farmer's houses, new and old. The children surrounded us as we got off the coach, and we all gave them candy and other treats. Ed gave them fireman pins, and Tom and Ruth gave them Canadian flag pins. They loved the attention. Later we were allowed to walk around on our own and Dave and I found some kids in a courtyard playing soccer and table tennis and we picked up a game of soccer with the boys. That was a lot of fun.
In the older homes we were able to view the casket of the elderly couple that lived there. It is told that when the parents turn sixty years old, then the children out of extreme respect will build them a casket and it will be put in the house until they die.
After we went back to Xian and had lunch and then went to the Silk Factory. We watched the ladies make the silk rugs.
Later we were allowed to walk through the Market, where you could view all the different live food items they ate. Hold your nose when walking through here it can get overwhelming. I still don't know how you did it, Dan?!
At dinner that night, we celebrated Julie's birthday. She was presented with a beautiful cake that was very tasty too.
