Hitchin' a ride

Today was our consulate appointment. Funny thing is that this was an appointment we were not to attend. Instead, our representative turned in all of our paperwork and answered any last questions that needed to be completed. We spent the morning at the hotel and let Sadie & Henry play in the Mattel sponsored playroom and then went for coffee at the local Starbucks. Henry's indoctrination into product branding is coming along nicely. In the afternoon we went to a jade market somewhere in the heart of Guangzhou. We got there easily enough by taxi with our rep Molly, but getting home was another situation. There was not a taxi to be had. Or at least not a taxi that would pick us up as a fare. It seemed no one wanted to get stuck in the traffic jam getting on & off Shamian Island.


Our morning coffee break. This Starbuck's is new since the last time we were here with Sadie.


Our trip into a Guangzhou neighborhood.


Our rep Molly (back to camera) doing her best to flag a taxi down. She spent most of her time standing in the middle of this intersection.


Emily & Henry making faces while waiting for a taxi. It was rush hour so the streets and sidewalks were full of people. Many were fierce competitors in the battle to get a taxi.


Success! After over 20 minutes we finally suckered someone into picking us up. The safety regulations in the cab states that only "ladies and children are permitted to ride in the front." Sadie opted to sit with Erik.


Henry spotted this advertisement on the back of the seat. It is of a white woman with two Chinese children. We have no idea what the ad is for but in his current view of the world he looked at it and said "Mama!" He took this photo.


Back at the White Swan with Molly.

Tomorrow we go to the US Consulate and swear our oath to become a family!