Day 5 with Audrey

Yesterday was one of our "free" days. We would not have our guide with us and were left by ourselves to do whatever we wanted. We woke up, had breakfast, and headed out for the park again.

It was another beautiful day to wander around, enjoy the sights and sounds, and let Audrey stretch her legs...

I noticed many more fishermen here today but Jason said there were just as many the other days. There is so much to look at here I guess it's good we are going back several times.

I've never been to Central Park in New York City, but I wonder if it doesn't have this same sort of feel...an oasis in the middle of the bustling city.

It is amazing to me that with the loud noises of the traffic, CONSTANTLY honking horns, construction noises, etc., that once you are inside the gates of the park, all you hear are people talking, laughing, birds chirping, wind wafting through the tree branches.

Because this is the park where Audrey was found when she was just a baby, I've thought it's most likely an elderly person found her since they are the majority of those that congregate at the park in the mornings.

And I've wondered if that person happens to be here today as well.

There was a plethora of people dancing again.

 

And this time, some people were out in paddle boats, slowly circling the little lake.

Audrey was having a grand old time with her freedom to run about, yell and laugh.

Although there was, of course, the obligatory melt down at one point...I'm telling ya, this girl has a quick little temper!

 

But she's learning to control herself and calm down quickly after her outbursts. It's frustrating for both of us because of the language barrier. While Amelia is very verbal and talkative now, she wasn't at all when we first got her. Audrey babbles a lot in her cute little Chinese that we can't understand :-)

So we decided to head back to the hotel and take a nap. We encountered this truck navigating the walkways of the park. I guess they do this periodically to clean off the trees and wash everything down?

I think we will probably go back tomorrow (which is today now) since it is another free day. It's about a 20 minute walk from our hotel and helps to pass the time for us.

We did take some naps then head out to a nearby department store. We wandered around, bought a few items and then headed to the grocery store to stock up on some supplies. We are really looking forward to Guangzhou (and hoping we get in before tropical storm Kai-Tak hits mainland China and the Guangdong province - where Guangzhou is!)