Week of May 4 - [More] Catching Up From Vacation - Our Trip Part 2

Having arrived safely in Hefei, we took the hotel's courtesy bus from the airport to the hotel. The hotel we staying in this time is a brand new 5 start Hilton, named appropriately enough the Hefei Hilton. Very nice hotel. Our only gripe about it is that the big hotel chains like Hitlon have now established a 15% service charge on everything. And I mean everything. Room, room service, all food and beverage, etc. etc. This is the growing trend, not just in China, of the big hotel chains. Still a bargain for this hotel as it was about $90 a night for a true 5 star hotel.

Our reason for being in Hefei was to visit Nancy's family there. Aunt, uncle, cousins, nieces. A plus this time around was we were there to celebrate Nancy's aunt and uncles 79th birthday. Three Cheers for them on number 79!!!!!!

Today I want to share some photos of Emily at play with some of the family. It took a little while when we arrived for Emily to settle down and start to get friendly. Emily does not like change too much and a house full of strangers all speaking and wanting to grab her was a bit overwhelming. But eventually she settled down and we established one of the rooms at Aunties house for Emily to set up camp, play, and sort of stake out as her very own. That seemed to work pretty well. And in these first photos, you will see Emily having some fun with her great uncle. He is a very very sweet guy and Emily warmed up to him very quickly and was giving kisses and hugs and playing together with him as we can see here.




Not to be outdone, one of Emily's Ayis managed to get in some play time with her too.


All of which finally enticed Emily to come out of her little territory in the room and adventure out in preparation for lunch time. Here is a photo of Nancy, her cousin, and Emily as they wait for lunch time.


And then of course it was lunch time, so Nancy and Emily went over to the table and Emily got an early start on the nibbles before the rest of the family sat down. I call this portrait "Momma Bird Feeds Baby Bird" :)



[Stay tuned, more to come]