3/06/05
The main order of business for today was to organize and triple-check all of the paperwork for the Chinese Visa appointment tomorrow. Everything appears to be in order!
The White Swan Hotel is wonderful! It is one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in, 5-star all the way. The level of service is impressive.
There are probably at least 70 adoptive families who are staying here the same time we are. There are a number of things the hotel does to make us feel welcome. Just one example: The first time housekeeping made our room up, they left a special Barbie doll of an American mommy with a Chinese baby.
The atrium area in the middle of the hotel is beautiful, with a waterfall and goldfish pond.
The whole hotel is filled with incredible works of art; wall scrolls, wood carvings, intricate jade carvings, and porcelain.
On the second floor, there is a sitting area with live piano music and a very large bird cage filled with parakeets and love birds. You can see the cage in this picture, but unfortunately the birds didn't show up:
The hotel is located in a part of Guangzhou called Shamian Island. It is much cleaner here than in Nanchang, and there are several parks and shops within a few blocks of the hotel. We spent some time this afternoon just walking around and shopping.
Here is a picture of Macey playing with Maleah (also from Tonggu), and Makenzie (Meleah's new older sister) in the room next door.
OK, time to go, Bye!