We arrived in Xi'an mid-morning on Friday. After we got off the train and had deposited our bags at our hostel, we set off to explore. Our first goal was to find the Muslim Quarter wander through and visit the mosque. For some reason, this area turned out to be rather elusive and hard to find at first. We just saw it as an excuse to practice our Chinese and kept asking people how to get there. Eventually, we found the Muslim quarter, but, man, the mosque was a challenge to find! While on our search, we found and sampled some street food. And of course, some 冰淇凌 (ice cream).
Eating nan bread.
We found a quiet corner to enjoy our ice cream.
Dried fruit seller
Our girlie matched Andy in her determination to explore. (though that is not Andy beside her, just random Chinese man . . . I think he thought we were walking too slow)
I admit that I was ready to give up and head on, but Andy was determined to see the mosque. And find it (after wandering up and down this one street too many times to count) we did. This was one of the most unique mosques I have ever been in (and I have been in quite a few). It felt much more like a Buddhist temple here in China than a mosque.
Outside the prayer hall
Many women were taking pictures of us and requesting the kids with them in pictures, so we asked for a picture as well.
After leaving the Muslim Quarter, we walked (a very short distance) to the Bell Tower. The Bell Tower sits in the middle of the city, and all of the streets span out from this spot. We climbed as far to the top as we could and the view was wonderful. We spent quite a bit of time at the top as the kids were entertained by watching the traffic below.
At the top of the tower
Andy demonstrating just how hard it is to be a tall man in China.
Watching the street below
At the bell tower each of the girls got a chance to ring the bell. Josh whose ears are sensitive to loud noises, wanted no part of ringing the bell. And he was right, it is rather loud.
After the bell tower, we found a unmemorable restaurant and fed our weary troupes. So that concludes our first day. Yes, that was just our first day in Xi'an!
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