In downtown Chongqing,
there is an Irish Pub.
It is a great place to hang out with Americans and Europeans, especially on holidays like St. Patrick's Day.
We met two guys (Charlie and Joe) from the U.S., who install and instruct clients about the usage of crash-test dummies, in car factories, all over China. They love their jobs, and spend about half their time traveling overseas.
I especially like Charlie, as he reminds me of Derek. He has a wife and daughter back in The States, and St. Pat's day is his school-teacher mother's birthday. Most importantly, he grew up with an 18-foot Burmese Python in the house, along with a Ball Python, other snakes, lizards, turtles, and iguanas. Too cool!
Chris had fun at the Irish Pub, too!
***There are lots of gorgeous women in China!
We went to the Chongqing Exhibition and Planning Gallery, and learned that Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.,
is our
"Sister City".
How cool is that!?!
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| There is a gigantic model of the city. This gallery is located out on the very tip of the peninsula. (Notice the real people, looking down onto the model, from across the way......) |
City planning....for a new district
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| Model of Chongqing's ultra-modern airport, in the planning stages |
Model of International Circus World, scheduled to open "any day now."
We also visited an Art Gallery, nearby:
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| This painting of a little Tibetan girl reminds me of a similar poster that Derek has...... |
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| Embroidered, Silk Pandas |
On another day, we explored Shaping Park, near our home in Shapingba District.
Shaping Park is in the midst of a residential area, serving people from the surrounding apartment buildings. Here, people gather near these ponds to play cards and Mah Jong on nice, sunny days.
Old men bring their bird cages to the park each day, hang them in the peach and pear trees, and let the birds socialize all day with the birds of other old men. (The old men socialize, too, at concrete tables beneath the trees.)
Of course, there are the 12 traditional Chinese Zodiac animals, made of concrete, in the park.
Our main reason for exploring this particular park was to visit the cemetery for Cultural Revolution Victims. The gate was locked, but we spent some time peering in:
Strangely, Shaping Park has its own little Statue of Liberty.........
.......and, Mount Rushmore!
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| Performance Art: We enjoyed watching this man paint calligraphy (with WATER) on this building. |
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