General Exit, Stage left.

Another in-transit day. Unsettling as we have to gather up our belongings old & new and get out of the hotel. Fortunately check out is 14:00 and our airport pick up is 18:00 so only 4 hours to kill. Probably at Xi'an History Museum.

We were going to cycle round the City Wall today but it's cold and windy, threatening heavy rain so we settled for a about 6 miles walk, to, from and on the wall. No spectaculars but we did arrive at the access point just in time to see the end of a Guard changing session c/w toy soldiers and a troupe (?) of drummers. Caught these two, above, shooting off to the pub, or wherever Chinamen go after work. Probably to a street food stall, as the Chinese seem to eat constantly, in between haughing & spitting, their other national pastime, second only to staring-at-westerners.

Totally avoided tourist traps this morning, buying nothing but some sannys fur wur lunch.

Out of touch now 'till after our visit to the Great Wall tomorrow. Being taken there by an ex-business contact who resides in Beijing. She tells us that this weekend will be very busy there, and everywhere in China, as it is a holiday leading up to Labour Day next Tuesday, by which time we will be home. Should be an interesting experience - Tiananmen Square here we come!

G&S